Below I have listed reference material
about the WASP that might be useful for all who desire more information.
Many of these sources I have used for the background information presented
on this website. This list is not meant to be a complete arrangement. I'm
still searching for more and I would be very happy about everyone who can
recommend further interesting material.
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Official Sources
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| Personnel, Civilian, Wearing of the WASP
uniform, AAF Regulation No.40-9, Headquarters, Army Air Forces Washington,
14 February 1944 |
.. |
Complete list of all official
WASP uniform clothes that were issued or could be purchased optionally.
Explains how and when wearing of which WASP uniform attire was prescribed.
Contains illustrative drawings of parts of the uniform.
The complete AAF regulation
can be found online here: USAF
museum - AAF regulation No.40-9 |
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|
|
| Women Pilots with the AAF 1941-1944, AAF
Historical Study 55, AAF Historical Office, Headquarters, Army Air
Forces, 1946. |
|
"The study describes the adoption
of the programs for training of women pilots, the uses made of them, and
the attempt to incorporate them into the Army."
The complete study can be found online here:
USAF
museum - AAF historical study 55 |
| . |
|
|
| A Wardrobe for the Women of the
Army by Erna Risch, Q.M.C. Historical Studies No. 12, Historical Section
General Administrative Services Division Office of the Quartermaster
General, 1945. |
|
Detailed description
of the development of all WWII uniform garments of Army Nurses, WAACs/WACs,
WASP, Army Hostesses and Librarians. |
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Articles, Magazines, Books
.
 Life
Magazine, July 19, 1943 |
. |
This issue contains
a cover story about Jackie Cochran’s Training Center. Some female pilots
heard about this program the first time through this Life magazine article
and were encouraged to join it. |
| . |
. |
|
 American
Women in Uniform
by Mary Steel Ross,
Garden City Publishing Co.,Inc. (1943) |
|
Description of several
women's wartime organizations (for example Red Cross, AWHRC, AWVS, AER,
USO, and many more) especially their uniforms and insignia. Contains information
of Nancy Love's WAFS as well as Jackie Cochran's WFTD. |
| . |
|
|
 Ladies
in Uniform
by Margaret Sprague,
Acwell Press (1943) |
|
A complete guide to
the women's services in the Armed Forces of the United States (WAC, WAFS,
Waves, Marines Reserve, Spars). Detailed information about their purposes,
recruiting requirements, payment, uniforms etc. with the intention to encourage
more women to become ladies in uniform. |
| . |
|
|
 Who's
Who & What is What in the Women's Civilian Volunteer Organizations
by
Affilinated Aetna Life Companies, (1942/43) |
. |
Fold-out brochure that
presents colored drawings of the uniforms of several WWII civilian women's
organizations plus pictures of their special insignia. For example, Red
Cross, AWVS, WAFS, USO and OCD. |
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WWII Movies
.
Ladies Courageous (1944)
directed by John Rawlins, black and white,
Type: Drama / War |
. |
This movie tells the
story of the Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron. It doesn't stick to the
real facts, but nevertheless nice to watch. It pleads for the military
status of the female pilots.
Alternative Titles:
Fury in the Sky (USA) (reissue title)
When Ladies Fly (USA) (working title) |
| . |
|
|
 Wings
and the Woman directed by Herbert Wilcox, black and white, (1942)
Type: Drama |
|
The movie is about
the life of the British pioneer aviatrix Amy Johnson, a very famous flyer
during the 1930's. Amy Johnson ferried fighter planes for the RAF during
the War and died on duty.
Although this film is about a British female
pilot who did the same job as WAFS/WASP performed in America - it is interesting
to watch.
Alternative Title: They Flew Alone |
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History Books
.
 On
Final Approach. The Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II by
Byrd Howell Granger, Falconer Publishing Company (1991) |
. |
Most extensive work
about the WASP program. This thoroughly documented narrative history gives
excellent background information, tells anecdotes, lists interesting statistics
and includes many fantastic pictures. |
| . |
|
|
 Yankee
Doodle Gals –Women Pilots of World War II by Amy Nathan,National Geographic
Society, 2001, ISBN 0-7922-8216-7 |
|
Excellent overview
about the history of WASP with many vivid interesting details and b&w
photos. Interesting close-ups about some female pilot's biographies. |
| . |
|
|
 Clipped
Wings: The Rise and Fall of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPS) of
World War II
by Molly Merryman, (1998) |
|
The author draws upon
military documents, congressional records, and interviews with the women
who served as WASP during World War II. |
| . |
|
|
 The
Wings of the WASPs by Joe Weingarten, 2006-2010 |
|
Detailed history of WASP Wings
and an example of how they were made compiled by Joe Weingarten:
The Wings of
the WASPs
Weingarten's businesscompany www.1903.com
is specialed in selling very high quality reproductions
of US Wings from the 20th century (including WASP wings). |
| . |
|
|
 In
Defense of a Nation - Servicewomen in World War II by Major General
Jeanne M. Holm, USAF (Ret.), Vandamere Press (1998) |
|
This book contains
excellent overviews of several WWII women's organization (like WAVES, SPARS,
WAC, ANC, NNC, WASP, Women Marines) illustrated with nice black and white
photographs. The part about the WASP is written by Lieutenant Colonel Yvonne
C. Pateman, USAF (Ret.). |
| . |
|
|
 Dressed
for Duty. America's Women in Uniform 1898-1973 (Volume Two) by Jill
Halcomb Smith, R. James Bender Publishing, ISBN 0-912138-85-8 (2004) |
|
The two volumes about
women's organizations of the last century cover all military branches and
especially give interesting details about several mostly forgotten civilian
organizations.
They contain many original photographs and
some color pictures of uniform items.
The chapter about the WASP is in Volume 2. |
.
Memoirs and Novels
.
 Love
at first Flight by Elizabeth Strohfus as told by Cheryl J. Young,
Vera Press, 1994, ISBN 0-87839-090-1 |
. |
The impressive life
story of WASP Elizabeth Strohfus who even flew a jet when 71 years old.
Many interesting details about her life as WASP and several b&w photos. |
| . |
|
|
 How
High She Flies
by Ann L Cooper, Ann L. Cooper, Dorothy Swain Lewis, 1999 |
|
This book is about
the life of Dorothy Swain Lewis, an extraordinary woman. She was an artist
and sculptor, a teacher and mother and a WASP. She has created the bronze
statues to her fellow fliers at the Air Force Academy and the Air Force
Museum, among other sites. This book includes pictures of her statues,
paintings and cartoons. |
| . |
|
|
 A
Wasp Among Eagles: A Woman Military Test Pilot in World War II
by Ann B. Carl, 1999 |
|
The WASP Ann Carl was
the only American woman to test-fly experimental planes during WWII and
the first woman to fly a jet. This memoir is extraordinary and a
spirited story about staying aloft in a male-dominated profession. |
| . |
|
|
 Flying
Higher. The Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II by Wanda
Langley, Linnet Books, 2002, ISBN 0-208-02506-5 |
. |
The book tells the
story of the WASP seen through the life of Marie Michel, a 19 year old
WASP who died while serving her country. The author has conducted extensive
interviews with former WASP members and includes the insider's details
of their adventures, training and service. |
.
.
.
 Fly
Girls directed by Jacqueline Shearer, 60 min.
(1999)
Type: Documentary |
. |
This PBS Home Video
documentary is part of their "American Experience"series. It shows how
mothers, wives, working women and others joined the Women Airforce Service
Pilots and made an important contribution, test-piloting aircraft, ferrying
planes and logging millions of miles of airtime. |
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|
|
 Women
of Courage. The Story of the Women Pilots of World War II by K.M. Productions,
(1998) |
|
This Video tells the
story of the Women pilots of World War II. Former WASP who saw this documentary
praised it as very well done. |
| . |
|
|
 Free
a Man to Fight! Women Soldiers of World War II by Mindy Pomper &
RYS Productions, Inc. (1999) |
|
Great documentary that
features rare archival footage interwoven with intimate interviews of women
who served during WWII. Includes interviews with some former members of
the WASP.
Unfortuntaley, the documentary contains a
few mistakes. More information about these inaccuracies can be found here |
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WASP on the WEB
|
. |
Most extensive site
about WASP that offers many information. Excellent list of resources that
provides many articles about WASP or written by WASP from WWII up to now
and official documents online. It also contains a lot of other extras like
audio and video clips, WASP paper dolls, a WASP coloring book, a quiz and
much more. Information about the WWII - WASP Museum. Only the arrangement
is a little bit confusing. |
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National
Museum of the
United
States Air Force
|
|
The USAF museum offers
many detailed information about women pilots in WWII: historical background,
biographies of several female pilots , real player format video, official
sources, photographs and uniforms. |
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Texas Woman’s university
website for WASP
|
|
Excellent homepage that offers historical
information, photographs, oral history projects, a big bibliography list
and much more. The TWU has an own extensive archive about the history of
WASP. |
| . |
|
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The American Experience:
Fly Girls
|
|
A part of the Public Broadcasting Service
(PBS) website that gives additional information about their documentary
"The American Experience:Fly girls". The homepage includes interview transcripts,
a timeline, an interactive map, a teacher's guide. |
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Women of Courage
|
|
This homepage has a
good historical overview, nice stories from and about several WASP and
a WASP quiz. It also offers some products like DVD/VHS, WASP-Artprint,
T-Shirts. |
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Fly
Girls
|
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Nice homepage with interesting details about
the WASP |
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[ I. Development ]..[
II. Facts about the WASP ]..[
III. Uniforms ]..[
IV. Sources ]
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