--.:-:,...

-:-_~

-.ll_..l'",,

. .

Vol. II, No.1 Edited and distributed by the Staff of the WASP NEtiiSLETTER. Ithaca, New York

January 25, 1945 NEviSLETTER Staff Mary Strok Peter Ruth Mary Petry --------------_._-----

Burrowing from out of the depths of a blizzard and an already snow-bound community - we greet you from our new headquarters~ temporary though it may be. Here we have all the remotemess and austerity of the Siberian wasteland compared with the roaring, throbbing noisiness of an Army Air Field to which we're so accustomed. This nunnery-like stillness is broken only occasionally by the sound and sight of a cocky little ski-shod Cub strutting its stuff in the gray sky,dazzling figure eights, wicked S turns, a steep spiral or two, - then it speeds away and leaves us with the memories of what we once had --- an open sky and a powerful ship and someplace to go, - and what good little V1ASP would want more than that to be happyZ Until someday when those memories can once more become realities, we at this end say. "Hi gals, we hope you like our stuff."

AIRCRAFT INSPECTORS: From headquarters of the Army Air Forces Training Command in Fort horth, we have received the following: "The Army Air Forces Air Technical Service Command has indicated an interest in procuring former hASP personnel as t Aircraft Inspectors!. "Those interested should vlrite to the: Commanding General Mid4,est Procurement District AAF Teclmical Service Command .,.ichita, Kansas. "At the time of writing for further information, standard Form 57 should be filled out and accompany the letter. This form may be proctrred at any Post Office or Civil Service Office~"

RED CROSS: The following statement has just been received from the Amer~can Red Cross office in New York City, and will be of great interest to the many V[ASPs who have asked for information on overseas work with Red Cross: AMERICAN RED CROSS NEEDS STAFF The tempo of the war is increasing. American boys are fighting on the German homeland and land-based B-29's are striking at the heart of Tokyo. More women are needed by the American Red Cross for the foreign club program. More women are needed in our hospitals to continue the work of v'elfare and recreation for the men who are finishing the job. More women are needed to keep the club and hospital recreation programs going long after hostilities cease, and until the Peace Conference plans are in successful operation. Red Cross women must be versatile. They must be able to do the unexpected, depending upon the need at the time. It's facing danger while huddled in a ITlliddy foxhole, or waiting at an airstrip, scanning the skies for that "missing" plane to return. It's using ingenuity in pl~~ning an entertainment with limited supplies. It's interesting that bedridden youngster in arts and skills, or giving words of comfort to the boy on the stretcher "'Iho played ping-pong at the club a few weeks before. But it's satisfaction in being right there giving the servicemen a llhome away from home" in their precious hours of leave from the battle-front, or a refreshing drink. when they return from a hazardous mission, or just a smile and an American "hi-yall The American Red Cross needs more of these ingenious women to serve in clubs throughout the viorld and in military and naval hospitals. If you are interested in going overseas, write to the Director of Personnel in your Area. OPENINGS and QUALIFICATIONS are as follows: Staff Assistants ARC recruits women for Staff Assistants, who assist the Program Director in planning the recreation activities in the clubs. Overseas - Age range: Salary: Hospital Staff Aides Hospital Staff Aide is the non-professional vJOrker. The v:ork consists of assisting both the social vlOrkers and the recreation vlOrkers in their duties in the hospital. Overseas - Age range: Salary: Domestic - Age range: Salary: 25 to 40 years. $150 plus maintenance - uniforms furnished. 23 to lj.5 year s (preference given to tho se between 25 and 40 years of age). ~140 plus lodging and uniforms~
- 2 ....

24 to 35 years (preference given to those up to 30 years of age). $150 plus maintenance - uniforms fLrrnished.

Hospital Recreation torkers Hospital Recreation vJorker must be experienced in planning various types of recreational activities for large groups. ThEoy should especially have initiative and organizing ability. Overseas Age range: Salary: Overseas Secretaries Secretaries must be competent stenographers; fast typists willing and reaay to take a stenographic test. They are as signed to oither AIi.C hospital units or AHC central offices, Overseas - Age range: SalaI'Y~ 23 to 35 years. $150 plus maintenance - w1iforws furnished. 25 to 45 years (preference given to those under 40 years of age). ~175 plus maintenance and uniforms.

Addresses of National Headquarters and Jurisdictions and Addresses of Art-a Offices NATIONAL HEADQUhRTERS - 17th and D Streets, N.V.., Washington, D. C.

EASTERN AREA - 615 North st. Asaph street, Alexandria, Va.: District of Columbia, Indiana, Kentucky, Mc.ryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, v, est Virginia. (Joseph L(;verenz, Personnel Director) . 1,;IDWESTERNAREA - 1709 Washington Avenue, st. Louis, Missouri: Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, f.,ansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, V,isconsin, v,yoIYling.(l1rs. Helen Cobol, Dirctor of Dnployment). NORTH ATLANTIC AREA - 300 Fourth Avenue, New York, N. Y.: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, ~lassachusetts, Nev,' HaInpshire, New York, New Jersey, Rnode Island, Vermont. (l~Ir~ rank S. Chase; F Director of Personnel). PACIFIC MiliA - Civic Auditorium, Larkin and Grove Streets, San Francisco, California: Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, v'-ashington. (H. E. Downey, Personnel Director). SOUTHEASTERN AREA - 230 West Spring Street, Atlanta, Georgia; Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiano., Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee~ (William C. Hunt, General Supervision of both Eastern and Southeastern; AdIIlinistratorof Area Services. Ramone S. Eaton, Manager of Eastern Area. Nat. C. Wilson, Manager of Southeastern Area. Wallace Donnelly, Director of Personnel). INSULAR AND FORLIGN OPTR.';'TIONS 17th and D StrE;ets, N.VJ~, V''-ashington, .C. D Canal Zone, Guam, Hawaii, Philippine Islands, Puerto Rico, Samoa, Virgin Islands. ("Richard Allen)~ ~ 3 "":'

AERONAUTICAL

CHART SERVICE:

The Aeronautical Chart Service is offering a position in ~.ashington, rating P-2, starting at ~2600 a year. This job includes photo analysis and aids to navigation. Applicants should send thr88 copies of form 57 to the following address: Aeronautical Chart Service Army Air Forces viashington 25, D. C. VvANT TO INST.tWCT? Ruth Vloods, 44-2, t811s us that she has some information about instructing jobs, and if anyone would like to hear more, write to Ruth at 1818 Marydale Ave., Dallas, Texas. Ruth says that she doesn't guarantee results, though. VIe quote from a letter from Helen Turner of Cairo, Nbbraska: rtLastweck I had a vlire from Dallas con~erning a position as instrument ground school instructor at Great Falls, Montana, - salary $3100. Don't know whether the job is still open, but anyone interested might write." MORE JOBS? Mary A. Nelson generously volunteers thL follpwing information about job possibilities in California: "After a preliminary check of the major aircraft manufacturers in this vicinity which included Consolidated-Vultee, Douglas, North American, Lockheed, Hughes, Northrop, Ryan, and Boeing, it appears that no WASP are needed or desired in flying jobs with these companies. There are, however, numerous openings in the various companies in both skilled and unskilled catsgories, for which WASP might be qualified. As an example, herevIi.th indicated the type of jobs open at North AmE:rican is Aviation, Inc. North American l1ecds personntl in th8ir engineering department. They need draftsmc;rl.dE;signers, mathematicians, aerodynamics experts, and stress analysts. These are skilled jobs end thE.; inimum requisites m would appear to be a college degreE.; with at least tVl0years of college I~thenBtics or particular experience in one of these lineSl for example. for draftsmen a college degree with some drav:ing experience. These skilled jobs pay from ~.80 to ~1.20 per hour according to your ability and expe~iE;ncewith advancements in the lower cat8gories occurring at regular intervals. In thi.unskilled divisions inspectors are needed. You need haVE; no experience what8ver for this kind of job. Fay begins at :i;.75 er hour with advances in pay every 16 weeks. If p any ViASP are int8rested in these types of jobs it is suggested that they write ~~, Floyd Graham, Personnel DirGctor, North American Aviation, Inc., 5701 Imp(;rial Highway, Inglewood, California." vve want to thank Mary Nelson for this unusually thorouch and concise summary of job possibilities; anc for the trouble she has taken to hunt up this information. This is just the sort of information vie need.

AIRCRAFT DISPATCHER: There is a job open dispatcher starting to G,mter. at at Gunter Field, k.onte:;omery, ~16CO per year. Interested Alabarr.a ~ASPs - as an aircraft should apply

ATA HWCRl\fATIOF: This wire is one received by Clara

f. rsh a

and

forwarded

on to

us

for

publication:

..c.

ATA CITIZEN3HIP REQUIREMEr~TS I.,ORIvlALLY BRITISH, BUT A rim. BE?. Ol U. S. vrOlViEN ARE I:El'''ER S. THESE WERE RECRUITED EI THEE BEFORE J.J,;ERICAN l\OBILIZATION OR WERE BO:A FIDE RESIDllTT3 IE BRITAIF. ALL AL.ERICl,1I'3 It.UST OBTAIn PERKISSIOl'J FROM DEPART:l\'lEJ:.IT STATE TO LE;.vE comiTI-.:Y TO TJ,.KE UP OF WAR WORKABROAD, l\l~D, ACCORDJi'G TO OUn IEFORIvJl. ION, THIS PERlv.ISSION T ~OT BEING GRM,TEL AT PR~S1N1. BRITISH FFOREATION SEhVICES.

Janet

Hatch

writes

as

follews

from

the

West

Coast:

"Thing,s are a little slew on the coast here on non-comrnercial flyin~, but I did find one fellew who wanted a corrmercial pilot with A 0; E. Bill Eastman is the name, at the airport at Burlin6ame (south of San Francisco); He has one UC-78, I knew .' Charter trips. fI

FERRYING - ATTEKTIOF MID-WESTEHN ii,ASPS: If any YiASPs in the h.id-~iest who have their corrur,ercial teresteo in ferrying libht planes to Tu'cson, Arizona, Wendell Barclay at 1052 N. Olson, Tucson, hrizona. CAl\. licenses expenses paid, arl in- contact

The followinc, is an excerpt from Col. James D. I~clntyre

from a letter to of the Legislative

Senator and

Vandenburg of 1viichi~an Liaison Division, AM'

Branch:
1I~'ihile there presently are discussions of means whereby certain mal-' adjustments in the overall manpower pool can be corrected: there is.no current shortage of qualified pilots in the ~ir ;orces. Should the pilot situation chan6e, the Con1~andins General, Army Air ~orc~s, will act accordi .:[:,ly, and the former V,ASPs could expect to hee r from the lJirector of Viomen Pilot s if any inadequacies in the Mr' pilot proE,ram require the reemployment of civilian women pilots " /S/ James D. l;:cIntyre Col. (:.S.C. Army Air Forces Branch Legisla tive and Liairon

Division

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----~.1:lc::l"""'C:;:,l~::5

STATUS

OF FOREIGN

DUTY FOR ~ W~PS: article

In: the .wa~h.ine:tO.l.!:..:Q9-11;y: ]ie",!?., Dec. 23, 1944, "Te find this intereGting by Karl Hess:

nRumored hf)"pesthat the disbanded Women's Army Service Pilots might take off for some foreign country to continue their cockpit career were today grounded by an almost ceiling zero attitude of disinterest among air attaches at embassies here !lIn one case "ras there a reported opening attaches at the Bolivian Embassy aGserted their country 1tTQuldbe "Tilling to assign any or all of the women fliers to active piloting IF also they could get cargo craft to go with them. liThe Chinese Embassy said the WASPs chances of flying in the Far East are no better than hundreds of applications frem men pilots land we can't even consider those novr.' The State nepartment also cast gll'lomon the proposal, declaring the dEpartment couldn't issue passports to the women unless a specific and urgent request for their services vras made by a foreign government and Army and Navy approval granted." And so, there it is, - nothing really defini te, but it r::;s much as vre t ve been a able to learn. To the many girls who have written us asking about these pos::;i ble openings, this is all ",e have t" offer for the 't-imebeing.. Junt as soon as vre receive more definite information from official sources, weIll let you knovr immediately. (Unless you buy yourself a_C-47 ,and a job in Bolivia.) ********'\' We quete from a letter from Mrs. Ethel Sheehy, vrhich concerns that many of you have asked about from time to time: numerous items

n The delay in replying is due te the difficulty of getting the CAP Bill over from the Capitol, - Miss Edwards say~ to tell you that this Bill is killed by reason of no 'action havj.ng been taken by the last Congress and will have to be reintroduced. Also, I believe Mr. Reynolds (the man vTho originated the Bill) is ne longer a Senator.

~ . As to General Arnold's statement on openings for WASP in foreign service, - we have heard nothing whatever of such a statement. and. it probably can be classed "lith the rumors going around that WASP are to be recalled. A.lso. vle knovl of no bill pronosed to put WAoF on reserve status, - other than Miss Cochran's ~ention of the ide~. Foreign service is still nebulous. nothing definite having turned up ... "

It is evident from your letters that many girls did not receive any iss~~s of the NEWSLETTER until the Christmas edition, which was sent to the heme addresses. Six issues have been sent out so far, including three single-sheet specials: No. 1 - Nov. 20, 1944 NO.2 - Nov. 24. 1944 N~. 3 - Nov. 25,' 1944 No. 4 ~ Dec. 1, 1944 Nc, 5 - Doc. 10. 1944 N0 6 - Dec. 20, 1944
4

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R E COM

MEN

D A T ION

There has been much agitation lately from'iIASPs urging that some action be taken attempting to realize, by utilizing us, the fully and expensively trained group of available personnel that we represent. In vievi of the stated manpower shortage, a.nd pending National Conscription, including essential farm l/1orkers,it has seemed reasonable to request that an investigation of this possibility be made. Many of us have wired and vlritten our Senators and Representatives and asked others to do the same, urging this action. Many have asked whether any project or bill is being planned to recall VJASP . The staff of the "Order of Fifinella" and the Ne"l'isletterditors have E investigated these rwnors and possibilities. A report on the status of V[ASP reorganization and possibilities of use in other capacities is being compiled for the Office of the Secretary of Vial'. This report v'ill be submi ttect to you as soon as it is received by the Chairman. There is now no bill or plan proposing the further utilization of WASP that the hASP administrati.on in VJashington is aware of .It is reasonable to asswne that when ~~ct if such planning is evolved, the WASP headquarters v;ill continue to not only be aware of, but responsible for, the basic plarillingand coordination of any future projects. At the present time, with no definite projed on which to focufi our thinking and plans, our urgency, if it takes the form of wiring and writing v~ashington, may defeat our future needs as a group IMhen and if a feasible plan is made ready for presentation to the Legislative body. . Vie will be a more determining force and a more valid one if we do not divide our activities in unrelated wires and letters. Legislators must be presented with a plan, not a series (.1' disjointed questions. Any proposals or sources of assistance in promoting such a project would be more valuable if organized and used in a coordinated campaign to back future legislation regarcing our utilization or vlelfare or cietermination on our status. Correspondence and contacts established are valuable in that the3T have caused an awareness of our organized and sincere eagerness to serve in the capacity for which we have been so carefully anci thoroughly trained. As individuals, each of u;s is qualified anc1 free to work on any project we select 1 and r/e are free to use vlhatever means we jud?, wise. It is the considered reconunendation of the Staff that a related campaign would prove more effective and conserve our firepower until the time it v!ill be the most valid. We, as your representatives, mendation. will value your opinion on this recom-

.., 7

LATEST CAA AMENDMENTS PERTAINING TO WASPS: (Letter to Regional Managers,11/15/44) flIt1tTi1l noted that therer~~veral changes in amendment 20-5 as compared to be the present military comnetence regulation: (1) (2) 20-5 al10VTs the certification of an applicant <Tho is on solo flight status as a rated military pilot. It provides a twelve-calendar month period for a qualified anplicant to obtain his certificate after discharge instead of the 60 days prescribed in the existing 20.129. It provides specifically for the evidence that must be presented by . the applicant.

(3)

(4) .It pr.ovi.9-es the issuance of aircraft type, class, and horSep01tTer for ratings on 'aircraft "flo1tffi less than 10 hours during the twelve not cf:l.lendar months preceding d.ate of application. To be eligible for a Commercial Pilot Certificate, the appl'icant, in addi tion to passing the 1tTri tten examination on Civil Air Regulations , needs present proof of three things: (1) .That he is, or ",as at the time of honorable discharge or return to inactive status, a member of the armed air forces. (2) That he is, or was at the time of discharge, on solo flight status as a rated military pilot. That he has served on solo flying status for a period of at least six consecutive months, which neriod may be construed to begin at the date of first solo in military training.

(3)

In connection vTi the solo flying time requirements, your attention is th directed to the following amended excerpt from a letter to all Regional Managers dated October 5, 1944, from the Acting Chief, General Inspection Division: '(1) A regular Army Air Forces nilot or WASP is eligible of a Commercial Pilot Certifi cate unon presentation priate credentials regardless of the amount of solo sho1tffi, inasmuch as they are considered graduates of courses.'tl for the issuance of the appro., flying time anproved flight

In case some of you are 1tTondering \'There you can get these certifi cates of pilot status, 'tIe rf!~e:yO\l to AAF Letter 40-41, 8 December 1944, flIssuance of eM Pilot Certificates to WASP Personnelv., paragraph 3: nIt is desired that the commanding officer of each station having assigned WASP personnel execute a certificate of pilot status for each WASP 'assigned to that station \'Tho is in good standing on 20 December 1944, the date of VIASP deactivation. This should include \vASPs \'Tho resigned subsequent to 20 November 1944 in accordance with paragraph 2a (2) of A.AF Letter 40-34. These certificates \'Till executed and presented or be fonrarded to WASPs at the earliest "possible date. An information copy of each such certificate \'Till fonTarded to this Headquarters! Army be Air Forces, AC/AS, OC&R, Attention: Office, Director of Women Pilots .

PUBLIc-'

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BOB HOPE 1TALKS ABOUT THE WASP: The follovTing is an article in a California nevTspaper Yvonne "Shorty" Stafford, vTritten by Bob Houe contributed by 44-2:

"'ite vTere flying in the lead ship in a forma~ion of B-1?' s the other day on our ",ray to the army air base at Clovis, N. M., and after we had been in the air about an hour I went uu to talk to the pilot and discovered a girl flying the ulane. Imagine my amazement ~ I should have knovTn it vras a "Toman pilot because another B-1? ",as flying alongside trying to rub noses, This girl, Mary A. Gresham of Pl~i~field, N. J. is a l,'lASP, one of those girls vTho have been flying planes for our government these past few years and have been m~ing a great contr'i but ion to the "Tar effort. I found out from one of the cre".! vThy they call them "WAS'pSII If you get too cl')se they sting. I understand the air force is going to drop all the civilian girl pilots this year and before it's too late I think vre all should make them a bo"r because any time a girl can pilrt the lead shi~ of a formation of Flying Fortresses it certainly makes a sucker out of that phrase 1"vrea.ker sex~ I"
I

The DeCEmber issue of the National Aeronautics Association has an account of Miss Cochran1s address at the National homa City. She spoke on "ramen in civil aviation. Also, article in the FEbruary about WASPs, issue of ...Flying, page 81, there is

Magazine (uage 30) Aviation Clinic in Okla-

a rEply

to Barbara

FooU.s

****"'****
FIFlNELLA Fifinella, the littlE 'fringed uilot, is a symbol of our organization ancl a.ll that we stanc, for, - for creating her and giving us uermission to use her, 'iTe thank Walt Disney. The following is a wire from Walt Disney, in connection with Fifi, , "'Thieh vTe thought you might be interEstecl in reading: THIS WILL SERVE AS YOURAUTHORIZATION TO USE TSE NAMEAND INSlrr~~ OF FIFlNELLA IN AND IN CONNECTIONWITH T~~ POST INACTIVATION ORGANIZATIO~ OF THE WASPS WHICS IS T:SNTATlVELY CALLED THE ORDER OF FIFINELLA. THE NANE AND INSIGNE MAYNOT BE USED FOR CCMlA.ERCIALURPOSES OR IN COm"'Ec.,::.;. P 'IroN WITH ANY MEP.CF.ANIHSING ENDEAVORSFROM \V5ICH PROFIT IS DERIVED WITHOUT OUR SPECIFIC PERMISSION IN WRITING.. ALSO YOU WILL BE OBLIGATED TO APPEND COPYRIGHT NOTICE TO ALL PU:i3LICATIONS. WAL~ DEEMS IT AN HONORTO BE NUMBEREDAMONGYOURMElviBERS1nTH THE UNDERSTANDINGT~ BECAUSE OF SIS MANYCOMMITMENTS HE 1;1ILL BE UNABLE TO TAKE ACTIVE PART OR ASS~~ ANY OBLIGATIONS UNLESS SPECIFICALLY AGREED TO IN EACH IK~ STANCE. I TRUST YOU WILL UNDERSTANDTHE VALID REASmrS FOR THESE RESERVATIONS. WE REGRET Y01JR ORGANIZATION'S INACTIVATION BUT YOU ARE ENTITLED TO REST ON YOUR LAURELS ''HTH Th.'"ECONSCIOUSNESS OF A 1,'lONDERFVL WORKWO~DERFULLY AND EFFICIENTLY PERFO~lliD DURING TI~ffi OF GREAT STRESS. WALT DISNEY PRODUCTIONS BY GUNTHERR. LESSING, VICE PRESIDENT.

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CONTEST: Here is the first entry in the contest for the most amusing flight experience, written by Elaine Jones, 43-3. Remember, there's a $50 War Bond prize1 "Writing from the humbler level of one of the less salty pilots, I think perhaps the most amusing incident that happened during my ViASP career was the time 1 bestrode the (then) monstrous AT-6 and taxied perilously from Avenger Field in a cloud of dust on a triangular cross country trip. Having hit the first field on the button, and with that feeling of "Ah, vlOnderful, -- this is making historyll (even though at a lofty altitude the first field could -practically be seen from Avenger), 1 proceeded on course sitting my airplane like a professional and a millionaire in happiness. Now the second point of this cross country journey was a small pasture at Vihich y.le were to land, check with the control ship, take off again and return to our base. At the proper elapsed time when the pasture with a parked control ship should have been - it wasn't: (1 look ha~k now and wonder how 1 expected to find a pasture when 1 was truly high enough to spot China, - furthermore; itls amazing how 1 survived without oxygen). Phoo-phooing the possibility of getting lost, I buzzed a handy water tower at some small town to try and identify my position. After carrying on an outrageous flirtation with the water tower and finding the letters "APfJ on same, which told me nothing, 1 flew on to another town directly east, and circled the water tower there, which was an absolute blank. The ra~lroad station was the next bet, but it was located sO'close to the heart of the business district that 1 couldn't get low enough to identify the name on the depot. Being influenced by the lack of gasoline and oil vThich was running down in the bottom of the cockpit due to a loose oil cap, - and realizing the need for live WASPs rather than dead vIASPs, 1 began to look for a good long pasture to sit down in and inquire as to my exact position in this cow country, rather than be forced down in just anything. At this point in my heady adventure 1 would have gladly traded flying for any parlor sport or a cart, - any old broken down cart, - and two tired and boney horses. Spotting what appeareG to be a nice long pasture, I drug it, and landed gear down, no damage to aircraft. ~hew, that was settled; there we sat, blended beautifully - aircraft and pasture - lonely in the Texas pasture deserted even by the little ground hogs. Feeling like a cactus, stiff and dusty, 1 crawled out of the plane (wanting much more to lie down and expire) and started for the highway clad in "zoot suitll "lith map in hand, heading for the nearest farmhouse.. I had hiked only a short way when a man, who was an employee of the Southwest Bell Telephone Company, stopped his truck and offered me a ride. After 1 had related my tale of woe, motioning to that mechanically driven heavier-than~air thing nestled in the weeds with its fixed wings _ and its dynamic reaction, he stopped the truck, plugged a set into a telephone pole, - and applying the technique of a telephone sitter, I notified my base regarding my awkward situation. Being lost in an airplane is not to be relished, I'd much rather pursue the dangerous occupation of "eating mushroomsfJ

LAST CALL FOR SUBSCHII:TIONS TO THE ROSTLRl,l ! The V\ASP Roster is now going to press, so if any of you still haven t sent in your money, do so at ~, sending it c/o the viASP lJE\,SL1TTER.
I

WASP DOINGS: Gene French, 43-8, and .To Baker, 44-3, 'oath of Mardo Crane, 44-1, in Playa del Rey, Cal. stationed together at March Field where they tracking for raa.?r? Gene ,created. some stir and landed \'Theels up L'l a rough field - and in a los Angeles paner ~1 spent a cou-ple of days at the home recently - they . rere all three were towing targets and doing ",'hen she ran ,Jut' of gas in a PQ, 14 to ton it off, \-ras IEuortecl dead

Ty Hughes, 44-8, an.r11,Iary J'ane Isham, 44-8, .. rere traveliag to Yuma, 4rizona, from.Childress, Texa::l, in IFifinclla", their '41 Fac8.nl, ir!hen I'ifi 'oecame tempuraEiencal an,l 'ole;rJ a tire Dld a 'oack flip, e1'J.c1ingQ? on the roof, - no one hlJ''G, t::1011gh,not c,/en ;ic;.osportll, one \-I'AS? mas8ct, a cat, no less, Latest reuorts indicate that they 1:Tere enjoying Mexican hcsp:::.ali ty living at t the Sheriff's home over the local ?ub. Fifi is on the road tc recovery. Kit HacKethan ",rites to tell us that the Signal Corps Has out at Avenger that last month and made a snecial Hal Roach movie, Whether or not it will De released to the 1Jli'olic is not kncvD, 'out it definitely ir,ill go into official Air Corps Annals. It incl1..',ded r;uch scenes as drilling, Fl.ight Line, l'ishing "',ell ceremonies, etc" - and, incidE:ntally, irras maele vTith E;oun.Q, Kit says ... there 1 s no telling ltlhere thi s movie ,:rill turn up --- remem'ber the one that 'tlas made 'oack in the summer of '4:4? Who irTCulel ave thought l,Te \'Tould De seeh ing ourselves in I1Unusual Occupations.ll Kit adds that she 'tTalked into a local drugstore in her home t01:m, Fayetteville, North Carol ina, and thought she irlaS having an hallucinati.on 'tThen she sa".' a sister WASPmaking a telephon~ call. Anyhow, the t~anSlent liA~r was P~ances (Pete) Giin'ole from Tyler, T(;xas, just in from Maxton Ann] 1'. l F.:.eld, i j?at Houran from Boston, ~!Iass., 'vTaS around the corner at the StaJGior! si'jting on a duffle 'oag. Both WjSFs "Tere mem'oers of 44-10 and haG, 'oeen 'oriefly 'ou'c enj oya'oly assigned to Aloe Field, Victoria, Texas. Pat and Pete and Kit had quite a reunion, - they stopped at the Officers' Clu'o for supper Defore returning to Kit's home to RON. Class 44-9 is sponsoring memorials to Marjorie Davis and Gleanna Ro'oerts, Doth of Hhom "ore killed ",hile in training. The memorials are sets of books for neVT courses in aviation 'tlhich are 'oeing offered at UCLAand the Universi ty of Wisconsin, res~ective alma maters of the two girls.

Can any of you help us find girls? Evelyn P. Brier, Tri-City Airport Cit~T??? Carol
~'l,

the comolete, correct

addresses

for

the

folloltring

44-9

Mary H. Nes'oit, 44-5 2022 Columbia Rd.,N.W. Dorothy B. Hines, class? 9217 Winchester Ave. Ci ty??? Eleanor Kurten, 43-5 532 Huntington Drive, City? ??
Cit~T???

Brinton; 44-5 2318 Vineyard Ave. City???

Louesa Thomnson, 43-6 (Have no addresa)

Vi.rginia Clair, 43-4 No. and Street??? .Wi .;hi ta Falls, Texas

Margaret Wissler, 43-6 No! and Street??? Berkeley, California

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From Nancy Lee Baker, 43-4, in Ngw York City ccmes an idea for a 1Jossible WASP NEST \'Ie could finance there as a grou~, in some hotel or building. She suggests a.small suite \'Ihere the girls could feel free to come and go as they ~lease, \'There they could s'Oend the night, 1,rhere they could clean U'O after shopping and the like. Some of it'might be financed by contributions from the girls who have used its accomodations, but New York being such a crossroads and central 'Ooint of contact, she thought it would be a good idea. What do yo~ tpink, WASPies, of its 'Oossibilitiesr Margery Taylor, 43-6, suggests for consideration a fund to act as a retroactive insurance in 'Olace of the government 'Ooli cies for \'rhich \'Ie,

Ruth Woods, 44-2, suggests having WASP chapters throughout the country; possibly it could be done by states, maybe by classes. Beryl Cwens, 44-3, sends us a long letter in which she OK1S our procedures anQ agencies of organization. Among other ideas and suggestions, she a'Oproves our present title WASP NEWSLETTER, above all others mentioned so far, - as do we. Beryl doesn 1 t think "Te should join up \'Ti th any other organi zation, maintaining that vTe are strong enough \'Ii thout it, and di sa'Oproves the distinction bet"reen charter and regular members, saying that all WASPs should be charter members. From Ele~nor Patterson, 44-2, comes the suggestion of yearly reunions of the various classes for as many of the WASPs as could get there . those would be reunions to end all reunions~ Also she says, "I'd prefer a monument as a memorial to the WASPs "'Tho died in service rather than a scholarship, - just sentiment, I guess. 11 .. --

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MORE

WASP NESTS:

For the 't-randering WASP ""ho might chance to be in the Northeast, Martha Potter, 43-4, invites anyone interested to a WASP NEST at her place. It is 50 miles from Bangor, (AAB-Do\'1 Field) and 10 miles from Bar Harbor at House-in-the-Field, South"Test Harbor, Maine, in the \'Tinter; and Pine Ledge. South"'est Harbor, Maine, in the summer. And down South, Anne Howell, 43-4, of Thomson, Georgia, suggests her place as another \'/ASP 1tJS'l'. Daniel Field, Augusta, Ga., 30 miles a",ay, is the nearest airport. Her home can accomodate 10 at one time, - phone Thomson 19. Ruth Woods, 44-2, has fixed UP her room over the garage, "rhich she used to use as a flying den, and it is now available to any or all WASPs. It has bath, cooking facilities, etc. and shelll be hap'Oy to share her room with any of the gals. Her address is 1818 Marydale Ave., Dallas, Texas. Mardo Crane, 44-1, wants us to list her home as a WASP NEST, It1s just 3 miles from Mines Field - Los Angeles Airport. Her address is 8617 Rindge Ave., Playa del Rey (phone number - Santa Monica 63738).
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CHAFGEOF ADDRESS: In th{'\ last issue of the NEWSLETTER(Vol. I, No.6) we gave the wrong; addtt:Jss for N~rgaret Helburn in the list of Advisory Council members. It ~hould be 40 Huron Ave., Cambridge, l\.:ass. (instead of 71 Fresh Pond Lane, Cambrid",eJ fuass)

SPECIAL! Becky E&vards, 43-6, has lost her WASP wings and would very much liB to buy another pair from some ~irl who has more than one - how about it, some l'ind. WASP? Becky's address is, fr:rs. L. D. Edwards, Jr., 341 Ivlonroe St.,. Yazoo ... ., ... City, lliississippi.
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FOUND- ONE PAIR OF GLP_SSES ~Crs. Leaton reports that in cleaning up at Sweetwater, she found a pair. of glasses and she is wondering whether they belong to one ot the girls. They are in a case from the Thomas Optical Company, Dallas, Texas. The anner can get in touch with Iv:rs. Deaton c/o Major R. L. Clark, Phot.o Soction, BoX:276,Ran~ dolph Field, San Antonio, Texas. FIfANCIAL STANDHTG- ORDER OF FIFIlJELLA The Order of Fifine lla continues to grew by Ie s.ps and bouno s. Our membership is new nearly up to 600 and we have over ~2400 in the bank not includin~ the money coming to us from the Avenger Field Vielfare Fund. And the memberships are still rolling in keep 'em comingl SONGBOOKS furs. Deatc~. also reports on the SOD6books. They have been delayed due to the fact that 1:he original printer's copy was lost in the Imil. However, she has duplicated it and the new copy is now at the printers. So it won't be long, naw.

WAS SUP GOSSU:r And now for the l'iASP Matrimonial Bureau which is ever prevalent: l"ary 'jvater:s, 44-3 was wBrried last January 4, to Lt. Alberic de Laet in ~ddlGtown, Pa. They will rrake their h()me in biddletown, where Lt. de Laet is Public Relations Officer at Olmstead Field. Jo Wallace became l\.rs. Robert Lunkerson Orr at her home, Scotsmoor, in Lon~eadow, Nass. Jo is 44-2. Anrie Dessert Oliner, 43-7 was married a while back to Lt. Col. J. F'. Oliner of .the Anti Aircraft Battalion he is now overseas . Anne is expe ctinS in April. ('rances Jensen of 43-8 resigned at l".arana Army Lir T-1ase some time a(~o to marry a Captain Blakeslee. Cappy ~hitaker, 43-6 is soon to be wBrried to a B-24 pilot from Victorville, California, where she was stationed. His name - Lt. Lyall Johnson. The wedding will take place in "a couple of months probably" accord ins to Cappy. Jeanne Robbins, 43-8 former Squadron C. O. at karana, was married to Captain Rice, now overseas, and 1i;ary Nesbitt, 43 .. also 4 of i.:arana, is thinkin;~ of takino the step (accordino to Jeanne R. Rice). Emma Coulter of 43-3 from Biggs Field was married to ~~jor B. Ware, and Rita fuurphy, of 44-3, ~as married on January 6, to a P-47 pilot at Bradley Field, Conn. She is naw lllrs.

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~ischmeyer, Jr. Virginia Eatherton, 44-9, became enga~ec to a forrrr instructor at Avenger Field and who it is Virginia hasn't yet said, but we Ire all waitin/!;! Mary Him s of 43-4 was rrarried way back in Nov. to Richard J. Grant, Jr., 1'_0 Nil~ 3/c - and is now livin~ in San Diego with her husb&nd. Dorothy Baumeister, 44-6 and Lt. Richard Hamilton were married on January 21 at Pasadena .Lick is an instructor at Gardner. 1~rybelle J. Lyall, 44-4 married Capt. Joseph Arduan~o on the 28th of Dec. and they are both living in Hastings, leeb. as 10niS as he is stationed at Harvard ME. At the farewell party to the :,ASPs biven at Easle Pass, Edith Smith, 44-3 announced her ensagement to Lt. Ivan - wedding date not certain. Julie Jenner of 44-3 became krs. ~allace T. Ste~e on January 20 she will live at binter Field, Bakersfield, Cal. And finally, but not iastly, Marie Barrett, 43-7 was married last June to John E. Marsh of the En~ineering Dept. of Western Cartrid~;;eCo. in Alton,. Ill. - both are now livi':1~,n Alton at i 408 Brentwood. And now for Department A5 --- rumored marriages and en",ag;ements. \.e hear that Jimmie Parker, 44-3 is new fur~. Russell Glasser - that Betty Hartz, 43-7 is soon to be married - that V.anda Robedee, 44-5 is now l\;rs. lierrill. Also that Fran Smith and Dorothy Hawkins, both 44-2 are soon to wed pilots. iTo details other than the above are known, but we hope that this .rill encoura6ethem to write and tell us more. To get away from weddings - who said June was the month of brides - Beryl ~vens, 44-3 was weathered in at Birmin~ham, Ala. over Dec. 20thl Weather and the fact that she had no cowling for her BT, her prop havLng sliced it off bit by bit enroute from Greenville, Tex, Just made it horra for Christmas. Debbie Truax of 43-6 is the new buyer of accessories for the ~ay La. Dept. Store in Los Angeles,. Cal. Virginia Yates, 43-6 librarian at Fort I\ccClellan,Ala. expects to leave for APO 957, CPBC. And where that is, your guess is as ~ood as oursl Pat Jones, 43-8 returned home to Auburn~l. where she is restin~ up until she returns to her studies at the Uni~. of Cal. Frances Cou~lin, 44-6 will be burning the midnite oil at her home in San Diego while she is finishin~, her thesis for her Masters Degree. trom Jeanne kcSheehey, 44-5 comes a 10n6 letter and lament on the troubles of gettin6 CAA Ratin6s - especially since private flyinb isn't allaved in the San Diego area. The Marana Field Group hald a reunion with Jeanne, kary ReineberS 44-6, Adele Schafer, 44-7 and Jeanne R. Rice, 43-8 particir,:a in8;. t
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The Gardner Field Gang" l<:abe11e Tynan, 43-7, Catherine i"urphy, 44-1, Norma Hall, 44-6, Frances Cou,,;hlin,44-6 and Gene Shaffer, 44-1 - all had one honey of a trip to Arcadia, Fla. from Dos Palos, Cal. in PT-13's. They're still in a semi-frigid state, from all ~eports, and listen to this, they returned to Cal. in s spe cial Pullman car attached to a troop train; The girls from the Provins Ground Command rrade hay before the 20th ...Earline Flory, 44-5 che:kad out in the P39. P47, B25, A20 at E~lin field. At the same place, Mar ,jorie roster checked out in the E25 and P39, Gwen Clinkscale s in th e B25 and Darlene Calkins in the P39 and P47 -- all 6irls are 44-5. Ruth Adams, 44~2 is hoping to start a small airport in the East somewhere around Philadelphia. We received a lon~ letter from h~ about her activities before inactivation - Ruth holds the distinction of bein~ the only member of 44-2 to fly pursuits for the ATC. She he.s checked out in the P47, P39, P51 and loves
lem all!

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