Bernice "Bee" Falk Haydu Autographed Photo
The Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) was a paramilitary aviation organization that was staffed by female pilots, thus freeing up male pilots for combat service. By the end of the program, a total of 1,074 female WASP pilots served, accumulating over 60 million miles in every type of military aircraft.
Women who applied to the program were required to already possess a pilot license. Even with them all being existing pilots, all WASPs that were accepted into the organization still had to undergo flight training by the U.S. Army Air Forces at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas. Although they received essentially the same training as male aviation cadets, they did not receive gunnery training, and received little instruction in formation flying and aerobatics. After completing training, the WASPs were stationed at 122 air bases across the United States, at which they fulfilled various flight-related missions. They would ferry aircraft from manufacturing facilities to ports of embarkation and military training bases. They would also tow gunnery targets for live anti-aircraft artillery practice, conduct simulated strafing missions, transport equipment and non-flying personnel, and flight-test aircraft that had been repaired.
Army Air Force Commanding General Hap Arnold championed the WASPs, and tried to get Congress to officially designate the WASPs as members of the United States military, but his request was denied. It took until 1977 for the WASPs to finally be granted veteran status, entitling them to the programs administered by the Veterans Administration. In 1984, each WASP was awarded the World War II Victory Medal, and in 2009, the WASPs received further recognition of their wartime contribution by being awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.
Bernice “Bee” Falk Haydu (born December 15, 1920) completed her WASP training in March 1944, after which she was assigned to Pecos Army Airfield, where she served as an engineering test pilot and utility pilot for the remainder of the WASP program. In her later life, she remained active in aviation and served as an advocate for women pilots. She served as President of the Order of Fifinella, an alumnae group for WASPs, from 1975 to 1978, and was later President of Women Military Aviators. Her WASP uniform is on display at the National Air and Space Museum, and there is a plaque commemorating her achievements at the Aviation Hall of Fame and Museum of New Jersey at Teterboro Airport.
The item in my collection is an autographed photograph of Bernice “Bee” Falk Haydu.
Women who applied to the program were required to already possess a pilot license. Even with them all being existing pilots, all WASPs that were accepted into the organization still had to undergo flight training by the U.S. Army Air Forces at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas. Although they received essentially the same training as male aviation cadets, they did not receive gunnery training, and received little instruction in formation flying and aerobatics. After completing training, the WASPs were stationed at 122 air bases across the United States, at which they fulfilled various flight-related missions. They would ferry aircraft from manufacturing facilities to ports of embarkation and military training bases. They would also tow gunnery targets for live anti-aircraft artillery practice, conduct simulated strafing missions, transport equipment and non-flying personnel, and flight-test aircraft that had been repaired.
Army Air Force Commanding General Hap Arnold championed the WASPs, and tried to get Congress to officially designate the WASPs as members of the United States military, but his request was denied. It took until 1977 for the WASPs to finally be granted veteran status, entitling them to the programs administered by the Veterans Administration. In 1984, each WASP was awarded the World War II Victory Medal, and in 2009, the WASPs received further recognition of their wartime contribution by being awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.
Bernice “Bee” Falk Haydu (born December 15, 1920) completed her WASP training in March 1944, after which she was assigned to Pecos Army Airfield, where she served as an engineering test pilot and utility pilot for the remainder of the WASP program. In her later life, she remained active in aviation and served as an advocate for women pilots. She served as President of the Order of Fifinella, an alumnae group for WASPs, from 1975 to 1978, and was later President of Women Military Aviators. Her WASP uniform is on display at the National Air and Space Museum, and there is a plaque commemorating her achievements at the Aviation Hall of Fame and Museum of New Jersey at Teterboro Airport.
The item in my collection is an autographed photograph of Bernice “Bee” Falk Haydu.
