Frequently Asked Questions

Why Sweetwater, Texas?

You think it’s the middle of nowhere? It’s on the way to everywhere…and a wonderful destination all it’s own!

Sweetwater is the one place in the world that can claim to be the home of the WASP. Over 60 years ago, citizens of Sweetwater participated in a unique experiment–and helped make a difference in the world.

Originally begun at Howard Hughes Field in Houston, Texas as the Women’s Flying Training Detachment or WFTD, the program moved to Sweetwater to take advantage of larger facilities and better flying weather.

Annual average temperature: 66 with sunshine an average of 327 days a year. The museum is just 193 miles west of Ft. Worth, 220 miles west of Dallas, 42 miles west of Abilene, 123 miles southeast of Lubbock, and 107 miles east of Midland.

——————————————————————————–

When are you open and what’s inside?

Thanks to the City of Sweetwater, the Museum now has 55 acres of land on the same landscape as Avenger Field. The Museum is located a renovated 1929 hangar filled with WASP displays. It was officially dedicated in May of 2005.

Visit “Hangar One” (named for the original WASP Hangar) Wednesday through Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. Call or e-mail for group tours or visits at other times.

——————————————————————————–

What do you have planned for the future?

Fund raising efforts are underway to build a climate-controlled facility that will enable us to showcase delicate memorabilia and uniforms, provide education classrooms and research tools, and share exciting new interactive exhibits. This two-story structure will evoke memories of the old tower at Avenger Field and provide a scenic look-out to the site of the training base.

——————————————————————————–

Why should there be a National WASP WWII Museum?

Proper Honor. WASP history was greatly overlooked for 60 years. The opportunity to honor these pioneering heroes where they trained may never come again. It’s the right thing to do, at the right time.

Education and Inspiration. Our mission to educate and inspire all generations (especially children) with the extraordinary lives and testimonies of the first women in history to fly American military aircraft will give these students the kind of role models that embody values that will inspire everyone. In addition, our educational programs for Girl Scouts seeks to inspire girls and young women to explore the fields of aviation and aerospace. Summer Aviation History camps for students entering grades three through five, Fly Girls/Fly Boys, provides both boys and girls the opportunity to spend time at the museum learning the history and science of flying.

Entertainment and Appreciation of History. The Museum seeks to provide an easily accessible destination for fly-ins, lectures, concerts, symposiums, jamborees, camps and other events that will bring entertainment and history together. Let us know when you’d like to book an event, and watch for upcoming public events on our home page.

——————————————————————————–

What can I do to help?

Volunteer. Volunteers are needed to give school tours, welcome visitors and assist with light repairs. Volunteers will always be the heart of the Museum.

Join the Museum. You can join us by making a donation or a gift in honor or memory of someone special or by becoming a member. Click on “Membership” on the tool bar on our home page. Semi-annual newsletters will give you the inside scoop, and you will receive special membership discounts.

——————————————————————————–

Who is in charge?

Sharron Davis serves as Museum Director. She reports to the Board of Directors, listed below.

President: Bill Johnson

Vice-President: Peter Fox

Secretary: Carol Cain

Treasurer: Jeannette Bryant

Membership Chair: Sandra Spears

Director: Alan Carmichael

Director: Dr. Peggy Chabrian

Director: Judge Tim Fambrough

Director: Tom Henderson

Director: Marilyn Kinsey Jamison

Director: Larry Ludlum

Director: USAF Major Bridget McNamara

Director: Amy Goodpaster Strebe

Director: Marianne Wood

Director: Mickie Wright

Director: Dave Zobrist

Advisory Board Member: Johnnie Lou Avery Boyd

Advisory Board Member: WASP Mary Alice Putnam Vandeventer

Advisory Board Member: WASP Betty Jo Reed