Originally published in 1998
The Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASP) first came to Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas during February I 943. The arrival of WASP trainees made Avenger Field the only coeducational flying field in United States history, subsequently, it became the only all-female training base in the world to date. Given only Civil Service status, WASP students trained under military discipline wearing “zoot suits” designed and sized for men. Of the 25,000 applicants, only I ,830 were accepted, with 1,074 earning their wings. The original seven month course included 180 hours of ground school and I I 8 hours of flight training. WASP trainees advanced from light aircraft to piloting every model in the Air Corps’ inventory at that time. Women pilots ferried planes, towed targets, flew tracking missions, and did smoke laying. They flew simulated bombing missions, did radio control, searchlight strafing, gave instrument instruction and flight-tested aircraft, among other duties. Thirty-eight WASPs died in service to their country.
When the WASPs were disbanded, an alumni organization was formed, which has been active until the present, with semiannual reunions held throughout the nation. Sweetwater is honored to announce that it has been selected as the site for the last official reunion of the WASP organization, to be held in the year 2000. Following the 2000 reunion, the surviving WASP membership, along with the Kids of WASPs (KOWS), will become members of a more recently-formed national organization called Women in Aviation. The WASPs were pioneers in aviation. A memorial to these courageous ladies was dedicated at Avenger Field in I 993 during their 50th anniversary celebration and features the WASP motto, “We live in the wind and the sand and our eyes are on the stars.”