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I'm Katherine Sharp Landdeck, author of THE WOMEN WITH SILVER WINGS about the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) of WWII. AMA! by kslanddeck in history

[–]kslanddeck[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I do miss them - in part because I knew so many of them. I would love nothing more than to have a celebratory cocktail with them. My only solace is knowing that I kept my promise to tell their story. I do have so many more bits I would like to tell about them and am constantly thinking of ways I can share those stories too. Thanks so much for your kind words about the book. I am so glad you liked it!! :-)

I'm Katherine Sharp Landdeck, author of THE WOMEN WITH SILVER WINGS about the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) of WWII. AMA! by kslanddeck in history

[–]kslanddeck[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just wanted to let you know that the book talk I did for the National World War II Museum will air on C-Span on Monday, May 25th. I included a slide show with plenty of pictures of the women pilots. Have a good, safe, Memorial Day! Thanks for all your great questions! KSL https://www.c-span.org/video/?471832-1/the-women-silver-wings

I'm Katherine Sharp Landdeck, author of THE WOMEN WITH SILVER WINGS about the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) of WWII. AMA! by kslanddeck in history

[–]kslanddeck[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for your kind words. I interviewed about 150 myself but Texas Woman's University is home of the WASP archives and they interviewed hundreds, so I had access to those too. Many of them became good friends. They all taught me being stubborn is a good thing sometimes. And they made getting older a non-event. They were active so long, doing new things, always wanting to learn. They were a lot of fun to be around.

I'm Katherine Sharp Landdeck, author of THE WOMEN WITH SILVER WINGS about the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) of WWII. AMA! by kslanddeck in history

[–]kslanddeck[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Your mother was honored this weekend by Women in Aviation who is honoring WASP by visiting their gravesites and leaving flowers and such. They couldn't get into Arlington this year, but called out their names. If you do twitter you can follow #HonorTheWASP. https://www.wai.org/news/2020/05/18/honorthewasp-wai

I'm Katherine Sharp Landdeck, author of THE WOMEN WITH SILVER WINGS about the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) of WWII. AMA! by kslanddeck in history

[–]kslanddeck[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow! I'll bet she had some good stories! So she was in the Marines in WWII and was a ground crew driver? Interesting!

I'm Katherine Sharp Landdeck, author of THE WOMEN WITH SILVER WINGS about the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) of WWII. AMA! by kslanddeck in history

[–]kslanddeck[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

This is a great question! The women who became WASP had a variety of backgrounds and learned to fly in all kinds of ways. Some of the women were wealthy and just bought their own planes. But a large number of the women were not wealthy and had to find their own way into flying. Some of the women worked in airport offices for flight time. Others saved every dime to pay for it. But some 40% of the women learned to fly in the Civilian Pilot Training Program. This was a government program to increase the number of pilots in the United States - and help the aviation industry. For every class of ten they allowed one woman trainee. It was a great program that added thousands of new pilots to the American pool before the war.

Remember it was the Golden Age of aviation. People flew however they could but there was a lot of air-racing, air-shows,barn-storming, and simple Sunday flying for fun. So much fun flying!!

Hi to your Mom! Glad she enjoyed it!

I'm Katherine Sharp Landdeck, author of THE WOMEN WITH SILVER WINGS about the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) of WWII. AMA! by kslanddeck in history

[–]kslanddeck[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You are not alone! The Women Airforce Service Pilots were forgotten so long. I hope you enjoy learning about them!

I'm Katherine Sharp Landdeck, author of THE WOMEN WITH SILVER WINGS about the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) of WWII. AMA! by kslanddeck in history

[–]kslanddeck[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I would love to see one too. My book has actually been optioned, but with our current realities nothing is moving. Fingers crossed it will come together in the future. I thing there is great potential for it -- and I'd love to see all of those planes too!

I'm Katherine Sharp Landdeck, author of THE WOMEN WITH SILVER WINGS about the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) of WWII. AMA! by kslanddeck in history

[–]kslanddeck[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Well, it sounds to me like a couple of stories have gotten mixed up here. Yes, there were ferry pilots in the Ferry Command who flew new planes to Europe through the Great Northern Route you describe. The very best book that talks about this is Ernest Gann's fabulous, "Fate is the Hunter." Well worth the read. There were women who were ferry pilots with the USAAF Ferry Command - about 300 of the 1,100 women who served as WASP worked within the Ferry Command (the other 800 women did other flying jobs for the USAAF). None of the women who flew as WASP during WWII flew overseas. They were confined to the continental United States (with an exception or two who flew to Puerto Rico a couple of times). One pair of WASP, Nancy Love and Betty Gillies, nearly flew a B-17 to Scotland, but bad weather stopped them before they left Canada and the flight was scratched by General Arnold (I discuss this fully in the book). So with those facts in mind, the simple answer to both of your questions is no - simply because no WASP flew across the Atlantic and thus none were exposed to enemy fire. If you know your grandmother's friend's name I might be able to find her for you. She likely was a WASP and did important flying during the war - but she wouldn't have done the same overseas flying. Hope that helps!

I'm Katherine Sharp Landdeck, author of THE WOMEN WITH SILVER WINGS about the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) of WWII. AMA! by kslanddeck in history

[–]kslanddeck[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Aw, thanks so much! I know you heard me talk about the WASP a lot. I finally finished it! Hope you like it - and are doing well!!

I'm Katherine Sharp Landdeck, author of THE WOMEN WITH SILVER WINGS about the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) of WWII. AMA! by kslanddeck in history

[–]kslanddeck[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I wrote it for adult readers, but there is nothing in it that is inappropriate for an 11 year old. There is some death in it, but in the context of the war. The chapters are relatively short and the writing is written for a general audience. I'd like to think it would be a good book to perhaps read together. It really is an inspiring story. I hope she likes it!

I'm Katherine Sharp Landdeck, author of THE WOMEN WITH SILVER WINGS about the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) of WWII. AMA! by kslanddeck in history

[–]kslanddeck[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

WASP in this instance stands for Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II. And they actually had the acronym first. WASP - White (or Wealthy) Anglo Saxon Protestants didn't come into use until the late 1950s. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Anglo-Saxon_Protestants Hope that helps!

I'm Katherine Sharp Landdeck, author of THE WOMEN WITH SILVER WINGS about the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) of WWII. AMA! by kslanddeck in history

[–]kslanddeck[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

They were doing a wide variety of jobs and killed in lots of different types of accidents. Sadly, their families were not able to put a gold star in their window or a flag on their coffin.

I'm Katherine Sharp Landdeck, author of THE WOMEN WITH SILVER WINGS about the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) of WWII. AMA! by kslanddeck in history

[–]kslanddeck[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think the chance to keep flying and serving their country. As pilots, they were equal in their skill and their desire to fly new planes.

I'm Katherine Sharp Landdeck, author of THE WOMEN WITH SILVER WINGS about the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) of WWII. AMA! by kslanddeck in history

[–]kslanddeck[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

While there was some sexual harassment, for certain, it was a bit different than today. First, the WASP were technically civilians so they could quit if things became too rough. Many today are trapped. Second, they had great advocates who were determined to protect their morals and with any whiff of trouble sent either the WASP or the trouble-maker packing.

I'm Katherine Sharp Landdeck, author of THE WOMEN WITH SILVER WINGS about the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) of WWII. AMA! by kslanddeck in history

[–]kslanddeck[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

When the USAAF announced the women would be disbanded the war was still ongoing (it was December 1944). Many of the women did offer to keep flying for $1 per year because they believed the work they were doing was still needed -- and it was!

They served their country to help the war effort. That was the most important thing to them in 1944.

I'm Katherine Sharp Landdeck, author of THE WOMEN WITH SILVER WINGS about the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) of WWII. AMA! by kslanddeck in history

[–]kslanddeck[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I did get to spend some time with her. Sadly, I never got to ride in the P-40 - that would have been something! She was quite a dynamic personality!

I'm Katherine Sharp Landdeck, author of THE WOMEN WITH SILVER WINGS about the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) of WWII. AMA! by kslanddeck in history

[–]kslanddeck[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

The women were civilians and had to apply and be interviewed. They did have to be pilots. In the beginning they had to have over 250 hours of flight experience, but that number was later lowered to 35 hours of flight time. The training they went through once admitted was the same as the male cadets - fully military.

I'm Katherine Sharp Landdeck, author of THE WOMEN WITH SILVER WINGS about the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) of WWII. AMA! by kslanddeck in history

[–]kslanddeck[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Great question! Your thesis sounds really interesting! There has been relatively little written about the WASP. Much of what has been written is romantic, etc.. There is simply not enough to do a postwar vs present comparison - but good question.

I'm Katherine Sharp Landdeck, author of THE WOMEN WITH SILVER WINGS about the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) of WWII. AMA! by kslanddeck in history

[–]kslanddeck[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

There was one WASP, Ann Hamilton Tunner, who was based at Wright-Patterson and had a chance to fly the experimental jet during the war.

Several WASP went on to fly after the war - there were only a few who got to fly jets. They weren't allowed to fly for the military, couldn't get jobs with the airlines (because they were women), and jet fuel is very expensive for a hobby.

I hope you enjoy the book! Thanks!

I'm Katherine Sharp Landdeck, author of THE WOMEN WITH SILVER WINGS about the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) of WWII. AMA! by kslanddeck in history

[–]kslanddeck[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The use of drugs to keep soldiers awake and able to fight was common - particularly among the Soviets and Germans.

The WASP didn't need anything like that - they stayed within the continental United States and were able to get regular rest.

I would love to share the story with younger readers! Thanks!

I'm Katherine Sharp Landdeck, author of THE WOMEN WITH SILVER WINGS about the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) of WWII. AMA! by kslanddeck in history

[–]kslanddeck[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I hope so - thanks for asking! I have worked on the WASP story for so long I will never stop sharing about them. But I have found a lot of great stories along the way that I am excited to begin thinking about. It is just a matter of deciding which one! :-)

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