Originally published in 1993
The women who trained in the only all-woman military flight school during World War II were honored Saturday, May 22, 1993 at Sweetwater, Texas, 50 years after the women made history.
U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno, Gov. Ann Richards, and a number of other dignitaries praised the 1,830 members of the Women Airforce Service Pilots who trained in Sweetwater, Texas, at Avenger Field in 1943-44. Governor Richards expressed “profound gratitude for the legacy you have given to us and the legacy you pass on to young women who are only children today.”
WASPS bravely and proudly served their country during WW II. Although they were granted civil service status rather than military, they ferried planes, towed targets, flew tracking, smoke laying, searchlight strafing and simulated bombing missions, did radio control, flight tested aircraft, gave instrument instruction, and performed many other duties. Thirty-eight of these women gave their lives serving their country.
At the banquet honoring the WASPS, guest speaker U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno spoke of her WASP aunt “Winnie” (Winifred Wood) and how she grew up hearing stories from her aunt and WASP friends at air shows. She was 7 years old when the WASPS were disbanded, but she still remembers her aunt coming home from the war to Miami in “that blue uniform.” “She was a hero to me,” Reno said. “I made up my mind that if those ladies went out and flew planes, I could do anything I wanted to do.”
WASP Dorothy Swain Lewis, a professional artist, sculpted the bronze statue of the WASP that was unveiled at the ceremony. This statue now stands in a place of honor in the original Wishing Well in Sweetwater, Texas where the WASPS were traditionally thrown into upon graduation. A Walk of Honor listing each of the women who trained at Avenger Field fills two walls on either side of the walk. The names are listed as they were in the class rolls when they entered the WASPs. A Texas Historical Commission plaque stands by the statue.
Of the 25,000 applicants, 1,830 were accepted; 1,074 won wings and flew 60 million miles for the U.S. Army Air Force. The memorial is to preserve and keep alive their spirit, their contribution to their country and their contribution as pioneers for women in aviation.