History Presentation and B-25 Flight Demonstration WASP and WAFS–Flying the Hot Aircraft

Saturday July 18, 2026

Doors Open at 8am     Presentation Begins at 9am

The Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASPs) were a brave and dedicated group of aviators who helped the United States win the air war in World War II.  As women, they were not eligible to participate in combat, but they did carry out vital aviation missions that cleared the way for men to fly in combat against the Axis powers.  These missions included ferrying aircraft between factories and operational airfields, flight instruction, towing gunnery targets and military liaison flights.

Jackie Cochran and Nancy Harkness Love, both famous aviators before the war, founded two separate programs for women pilots—one called the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS) and the other the Women’s Flight Training Detachment (WFTD).  They were merged in 1943 into the Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASPs).  The WASPs flew 77 different types of aircraft, including the fastest fighters like the P-51 Mustang and the heaviest bombers such as the B-29 Superfortress.

After April 1944 ferrying fighter planes became the main WASP activity.  A few exceptionally qualified women were allowed to test early jet aircraft. The women encountered the same flying conditions and problems faced by male pilots. The WASPs were deactivated in December 1944.  During 27 months of service, the WASPs completed 12,650 missions covering millions of air miles.

On Saturday, July 18th, 2026, at 9:00 am, Museum docent and podcast co-host Rob Gale will present the WASP story focusing on their experiences with the many combat aircraft types they flew.  Weather permitting, the museum’s B-25 will conduct a flight demonstration.  The B-25 was one of the many combat aircraft flown by the WASPs during the war.   Please join us for the presentation and flight demonstration.