HIST 3364 Video Project Sources Curation

This site contains several government documents (primary sources) that surround the formation, status, and eventual termination of the Women Airforce Service Pilot's program.

• Press release regarding Jacqueline Cochran's appointment as Director of Women's Flying Training, September 14, 1942
• Memo regarding Hiring Civilian Women Pilots, September 15, 1942
• Memo from General H.H. Arnold appointing Jacqueline Cochran director of the Office of Special Assistant for Women Pilots, June 21, 1943
• Suggested report to be released in response to unfavorable reports to proposed militarization of the WASPs, 1943
• Memo from General H.H. Arnold deactivating WASP program, October 1, 1944
• Letter, Cochran to WASPs regarding disbandment, October 12, 1944
• WASP Final Report, June 1, 1945

This book follows the early years of women aviators from the end of World War I through the madcap years of the 1920s to the establishment of aviation as a serious part of defense and commercial activities during World War II.

This book details the climb of american aviation involvement, specifically within the realm of outlying female pilots, during the pre-war era.

Before there could be women flying combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, there were the pioneers of the Army Air Forces of World War II.

This book reveals the story of Nancy Harkness Love who, early in World War II, recruited and led the first group of twenty-eight women to fly military aircraft for the U.S. Army.

This is a link to the typed speech that Commanding Gen. Arnold presented to the last graduating class of the WASP program on Dec. 7, 1944.

Demographic information pertaining to the Total Force and civilian employees.

This book examines the origins of the WASP program and the social pressures which culminated in their disbandment in 1944-even though a wartime need for their services still existed-and documents their struggles and eventual success, in 1977, to gain military status and receive veterans benefits.

Pilots from the 4th Fighter Group sharing a smoke in front of a Spitfire at Debden air base. The pilot in the centre holding a pipe and a piece of paper is Lieutenant-Colonel Chesley G. Peterson. Third from left is Captain W.T. O'Regan. Passed by the U.S. Army censor on 30 March 1943. Printed caption attached to print: 'Lt. Col. Chesley G. Peterson D.S.O., D.F.C., U.S. Army Air Force 4th (crossed through with censor's red pencil) Group Britain, who formerly commanded the old Eagle Squadron, seen at an Air Force station somewhere in England with his flight group.' And '23478. Lt. Col. Chesley G. Peterson (centre) in front of his Spitfire has a talk with his flight group, and they seem very pleased with the raid they are going to carry out. S&G D.M.'

L-R: Bob Boock, Jim Clark, Abe O'Regan, Chesley Peterson, Dick McMinn (in back), Stan Anderson, Oscar Coen.