Song of the Ninety-Nines by Julia Lauria-Blum
Elise Raymonde Deroche was born in 1882 in Paris, France. As a child, her interest in sports began, and later, she developed a fondness for motorcycles, automobiles, and ballooning. As […]
Trainers & Heavy Bombers | The WASP & the T-6 ‘Texan’, B-17 Flying Fortress, and B-29 Superfortress by Julia Lauria-Blum
On December 7, 1944, the Commanding General of the USAAF, Henry ‘Hap’ Arnold, addressed Class 44-W-10, the very last graduating class of WASP. During the course of his address General […]
An Extraordinary Day in March | A WASP Congressional Gold Medal by Julia Lauria-Blum
On an extraordinary day in March of 2010, I stood before the steps of the U.S. Capitol, admiring the majestic beauty of its immediately familiar white dome rising over 285 […]
A Day in the Life | From Houston to Avenger Field by Julia Lauria-Blum
In November 1942 the very first class of the WFTD (Women’s Flying Training Detachment) Class 43-W-1, arrived in Houston where they trained at Houston Municipal Airport (briefly called Howard Hughes […]
Mary “Marty” Anna Martin Wyall 44-W-10 | WASP in the Spotlight 4-28-2023
Mary Anna Martin was born on January 24, 1922, in Liberty, Indiana to Reverend Sumner L. and Bernice Smith Martin. In 1939, she graduated from Shields High School in Seymour, […]
Dorothy A. Lucas 44-W-7 | WASP in the Spotlight 4-28-2023
Dorothy A. Lucas, born on December 4, 1922, in Norfolk, Virginia, was the youngest of four children. Despite the challenges of the Great Depression and her family’s constant relocations due […]
Gloria Heath 44-W-7 | WASP in the Spotlight 4-28-2023
Gloria Heath was born on May 7, 1922, in New York City to Royal Vale and Lillian Hart Heart. She graduated from The Putney School in 1939 and from Smith […]
Rosa Charlyne Creger 44-W-10 | WASP in the Spotlight 4-28-2023
Charlyne Creger was born on December 24, 1918, in Noble, Oklahoma to her parents, Charles and Rosa Creger. Her father worked as a blacksmith and played the Tennessee Bluegrass fiddle, […]
Shirley Chase Kruse 44-W-6 | WASP in the Spotlight 4-28-2023
Shirley Chase Kruse was born on June 22, 1922, in Kearny, New Jersey and grew up in Newark. Her father worked as a Wall Street Accountant, while her mother was […]
Nell “Mickey” Stevenson Bright 43-W-7 | WASP in the Spotlight 4-28-2023
Nell Stevenson was born on June 20, 1921, in Canyon, Texas. When she was eight years old, her father paid a dollar for her to ride in a World War […]