The Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) of WWII

During World War II over one thousand women served as Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), freeing male pilots for combat roles at a critical time during the war. The WASP ferried planes from factories to embarkation points; performed engineer test flying of repaired aircraft and did target towing for gunnery training. By the spring of 1944, every P-51 Mustang flown in combat had already been flown by a WASP. This presentation shares their stories as fliers, patriots, and women who had to fight for the right to be called veterans.

Natalie J. Stewart-Smith has been an educator for over 25 years and taught at the elementary, high school, and college levels. As a former Army officer and historian, she is interested in women’s contributions to the military, particularly those who served as military aviators.