WASPs

the long version

Vera S. Williams' "WASPs: Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II" chronicles the history of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs), a group of women who served in the US military during WWII, performing essential non-combatant duties, including ferrying planes and towing targets. Here's a more detailed overview: Purpose of the Book: Williams' book aims to document the history of the WASP program, using both text and photographs to tell the story of these pioneering women. The WASP Program: Established in 1942 and deactivated in 1944, the WASP program, led by Jacqueline Cochran, trained women to fly. Initially, 25,000 women applied, with 1,830 being admitted, and ultimately 1,074 WASPs were trained. WASPs performed essential non-combatant duties, including ferrying planes from factories to airports, towing airborne military targets, and test-flying new and repaired aircraft. They flew over 60 million miles in every type of military aircraft at the time and ferried over 12,650 planes. Content of the Book: The book includes numerous photographs, both historical and contemporary. It features quotes from former WASPs, providing a personal perspective on their experiences.