6 Pioneering Female Aviators of World War II
WKMG News 6 ClickOrlando / YouTube
When World War II erupted, it wasn’t just the men who soared through skies in defense of their countries; hundreds of women also took to the air, making vital contributions to the war effort. Among these brave souls, a select few stood out, carving their names in the annals of aviation history.
Jacqueline Cochran
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Before the turmoil in Europe turned into a full-blown conflict, Jacqueline Cochran foresaw the crucial role women could play in wartime aviation. In 1941, she handpicked a squad of 27 elite U.S. female pilots to join the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) in Great Britain, assisting in military aircraft ferrying duties, at a time when most male pilots were engaged in combat. Cochran’s ambition didn’t stop there. In 1942, at Army General Henry “Hap” Arnold’s request, she set up the Women’s Flying Training Detachment (WFTD) to prepare civilian women pilots for America’s growing need for military pilots. Initially based in Houston before moving to Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas, the WFTD provided these women with military aircraft flight training under the guidance of seasoned military instructors.
Nancy Love
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Parallel to Cochran’s efforts, Nancy Love recognized the impending shortage of pilots capable of ferrying aircraft. Love took action and identified a group of highly skilled U.S. women pilots for such tasks. In September 1942, the Army Air Corps’ Air Transport Command established the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS), under Love’s leadership. Love’s passion for aviation blossomed long before the war; she learned to fly at 16 and later contributed her piloting skills to various aviation projects, even running a successful aircraft sales business. Post-war, she continued to pursue her love for flying both for business and pleasure.
WASP or Women Airforce Service Pilots
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In 1943, Cochran’s WFTD merged with Love’s WAFS to form the civilian Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), combining the expertise of both groups under Cochran’s direction, with Love continuing to helm the original WAFS unit. Over a span of just a few years, these women pilots flew more than 60 million miles, performing tasks ranging from ferrying aircraft and personnel to towing aerial targets and more. Despite their disbandment in 1944 and the challenges they faced in integrating with the USAAF’s Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC), the WASP left a legacy that was finally honored with retroactive military status in 1977.
Cornelia Fort
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Cornelia Fort’s place in history was cemented on December 7, 1941, when she narrowly avoided a collision with a Japanese plane during the attack on Pearl Harbor, becoming one of the few airborne eyewitnesses to that pivotal moment. Having become a flight instructor after college, Fort was teaching in Hawaii at the time. Invited by Cochran to join the ATA, a delay in leaving Hawaii led Fort to become a sought-after instructor and speaker back in the U.S. Tragically, in 1943, while ferrying an aircraft, Fort died in a mid-air collision, becoming the first female pilot to die in the line of duty for the U.S. military. A marker at Cornolia Fort Airport in Tennessee honors her with her own words: “I am grateful that my one talent, flying, was useful to my country.”
Hazel Ying Lee
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Hazel Ying Lee broke barriers as one of the first Chinese American women to earn a pilot’s license, amidst a backdrop of war between Japan and China. Lee’s desire to serve saw her traveling to China, only to be relegated to a desk job due to her gender. Nonetheless, she persisted and found opportunities to fly commercially. When World War II demanded increases to America’s pilot workforce, Lee joined the WASP, flying advanced fighter aircraft. She tragically died in a collision in 1944, marking the end of a pioneering journey as the last of the WASP casualties.
Willa Brown
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Willa Brown, though prevented from joining the WASP due to racial barriers, did not let this hold her back. Alongside her husband, Cornelius Coffey, she made significant contributions to aviation and the war effort. They established CAP Squadron 613 at their aviation school, the Coffey School of Aeronautics, which was selected by the Civil Aeronautics Administration for the Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP). This program was crucial in preparing thousands of pilots across the U.S., including those who would go on to instruct and train at the Tuskegee Army Air Field, thus paving the way for African Americans’ inclusion in the Army Air Forces.
