Women Airforce Service Pilots to receive congressional medals

In September 2007, I was a young AF Lt at the 121st ARW in Columbus, and my unit hosted an airshow called the "Gathering of Mustangs and Legends". This airshow had over 100 P-51 Mustang aircraft along with many veterans of World War II. These legends included a number of Tuskegee Airmen as well as flying aces and WASP pilots. WASP pilots were the Women Airforce Service Pilots, and they were a brave set of women who risked their lives in World War II to support the fighting force, but are seldom recognized for their service. These women were the heart beat of the war effort bringing aircraft, supplies and more to the men fighting the opposition overseas. The WASP force was over 1,000 strong, and was developed in 1943 by record setting pilot Jacqueline Cochran. Although these women tirelessly fought for their country, they were never recognized as full fledged service members and veterans. The whole time they were shuttling aircraft to the front lines, they were still considered civilians, and 38 of these women that were killed in action were never given military honors or even flags at their burials.

Now, President Obama has signed a bill giving all 300 of the surviving WASPs and the families of the departed the Congressional Gold Medal, one of the highest awards given to civilians. This bill quickly passed through Congress in only three months, giving long overdue recognition to these WWII pilots.

At that airshow in Columbus, I met one of the most interesting women I have have ever had the opportunity to meet. Her name is Betty Blake, and she was a WASP during WWII. Betty began her flying career at the age of 14 in Hawaii, and experienced Pearl Harbor first hand. She flew over 36 different types of aircraft from the factory in Long Beach, CA to Newark, NJ three times a week. Her effort greatly impacted the availability of war fighting aircraft to the men flying them overseas. While she was in Columbus for the airshow, she spoke to everyone about her experiences, and even posed for pictures with fans. When some girls in my office and I asked for pictures, she was ecstatic. How great to get my pictures taken with real Air Force girls, she said. Betty we were the ones who had the privilege!

Here is a picture of WASP Betty Blake with Tuskegee Airman Roscoe Brown, who met while touring the F-22 aircraft at the airshow.

"You don't need legislation to prove something...you can be whatever you set your heart and head to be, and don't let anybody tell you can't be, because 1078 women pilots did it in World War II."
WASP Annelle Henderson Bulechek 44-W-2

Thank you veterans for your service to our country, and thank you to all those who will serve. Freedom is not free, and that is something I know I will not soon forget...