WASPs
“WASP: The Women Airforce Service Pilots
The Women Airforce Service Pilots of the "WASP" flew every type of plane the United States used during the war in every role flown by male pilots except combat. The History Guy recalls the service and sacrifices of the WASP.”
Click HERE for the video from The History Guy.
We had the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) in the UK -
The ATA recruited pilots who were considered unsuitable for either the Royal Air Force or the Fleet Air Arm by reason of age, fitness or gender. A unique feature of the ATA was that physical disabilities were ignored if the pilot could do the job – thus, there were one-armed, one-legged, short-sighted and one-eyed pilots, humorously referred to as "Ancient and Tattered Airmen" (ATA). Most notably, the ATA allowed women pilots to ferry aircraft. Jacqueline Cochran who subsequently founded WASP was one of those women.
The ATA took pilots from other countries, both neutral and combatant. Representatives of 28 countries flew with the ATA. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Transport_Auxiliary
Sapiens qui vigilat... "He is wise who watches"
Cool addition Flash, thanks. I also like how, regardless of nation, military people will invariably find a way to mess with official titles and designations. For instance, in the dark ages the USAF called it’s training arm ATC. Officially it was Air Training Command. We called it Allergic To Combat and American Toy Company (with corresponding Tonka Toys logo) amongst others. They have since changed it to AETC; Air Education and Training Command I believe. It became Air Etcetera.
Another often-overlooked facet of history, and World War II. Good spot, Joe.
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