WASPs a national treasure

It wasn't quite walking in the footsteps of history but Ann and I were privileged to talk to four individuals who made those prints. The four were real live surviving WASPs and they were totally delightful! The occasion was "Women's History Month" and location the Fantasy of Flight Museum near Polk City, Fla. While "trapped" by weather in Florida last month we drove to Kermit Week's wonderful (especially for me) collection of airplanes and aviation in general. http://www.fantasyofflight.com

The ladies were Bernice "Bee" Falk Haydu, Barry V. Smith, Betty Tackaberry Blake and Helen Wyatt Snapp, each about ninety (yes 90) years old. One used a patriotic red, white and blue walking cane, one could hardly see to write her name but each possessed a mind still as sharp as a tack. Each was dressed in a replica of her original World War II service dress uniform for you see WASP stands for Women Airforce Service Pilots. http://wingsacrossamerica.us/wasp/index....

WASP and WAFS were the young women who served their country by flying Army aircraft all over the United States during World War II. They did a myriad of necessary jobs such as teaching men to fly, towing aerial gunnery targets, ferrying brand new aircraft from factory to wherever they were needed thereby freeing up male pilots to go into combat. They flew everything the Army had, from trainers to cargo to bombers, even the B-29, and one even flew the first experimental jet.

When younger these special women had to have been adventurous spirits stepping out from the female social constraints of the day. Amelia Earhart and Jacquelyn Cochrane, famous women pilots of that era, were their idols, ladies they looked up to and emulated in attitude, dress and lifestyle. Then these young women pilots of the '40s themselves became pioneers, heroes, and role models that in my eyes carry the same status today!

Betty Tackaberry was already a civilian flight instructor living in Hawaii in December 1941. She told the crowd, she was supposed to have been teaching a flight lesson on the morning of the 7th when the Japanese Navy aircraft struck Pearl Harbor.

Instead, her words, she was in bed that Sunday morning nursing a hang-over from having been escorted to the officers club by three young Air Corps pilots the night before. Her student had canceled and she heard the sounds of the bombs exploding, but figured it some Navy exercise so turned over and went back to sleep. I could speculate that had she actually had been airborne she could have earned the dubious distinction of having been in the very first American aircraft to be shot down on that beautiful Sunday morning that lives in infamy!

Instead she was in the first graduating class, 43-W-1, of Women Airforce Service Pilots, one of those who led the way for women to serve two short years later.

Part of the occasion, we luckily happened upon, was a book signing by author Beatrice "Bee" Falk Haydu. Letters Home 1944-45, is the second printing of her adventure filled life story. The letters referenced were written to her mother during the years she served her country while flying military aircraft all over the United States.

Going through the book-signing line, I asked each in turn if they knew Evelyn Sharp, one of their contemporaries, from Ord, Nebraska. (Reference the book "Sharpie" by Lincoln author, and friend, Diane Bartels) "No, I didn't know her."

"No I didn't know her but she was one of the WAFS."

And then Betty said, "Why yes, she was my good friend! She was a real character and we had a lot of fun together. She lived just across the hall and down from me and I remember every morning after her shower she would stand naked and rub oil all over her body. She wanted to keep her skin young and healthy!"

Now put that picture in your mind, a lithe Cornhusker body there in an open-bay barracks rubbing healthful oil into her skin! Betty continued, "It was a real shame that Evelyn got killed in a P-38 in Pennsylvania. She was a good friend!"

When the crowd thinned out and departed Ann got the chance to sit and visit with Barry Smith whom she describes as a "stitch."

Ann asked if someone was going to drive her back home. "Well no, I drive myself!" was the reply. "Well I don't drive very much by myself since my 'accident' but my home in Avon Park isn't very far away. That day I had to get up at 4:30 to go to a doctor's appointment at "(some military clinic evidently a ways away from her home).

"Driving into the sun that morning," she said, "I fell asleep and drifted into the guard rail. It ruined my car but they (?) gave me another one!"

Ann had taken several pictures of them and Betty of course wanted a copy. "Well just send it to me at :"( and she gave her email address)! Ah to be ninety and living independently with all one's facilities still sharp. These ladies are something to admire! Each is truly a national treasure.

That is the way I saw it!