Women Pilots of World War II by Wendy Cole
Collected by one of the forty-nine members of class 44-W-2, Jean Hascall Cole's interviews with her former classmates document their valuable contribution to the history of women, aviation, and the military. Women Pilots of World War I presents a rare look at the personal experiences of the Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASPs) by recording the adventures from one of eighteen classes of women to graduate from the Army Air Forces flight training school during World War I. This unique oral history verifies the flying accomplishments of these women pilots from as early as 1943. The women pilots of class 44-W-2 flew every type of aircraft, including heavy bombers, transports, and pursuits. Their experiences include crashes on takeoff, midair collisions, forced landings, parachute jumps from sabotaged aircraft, and many other exciting tales. Women Pilots of World War I starts with their training at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas, follows them to their bases, and documents what happened once the WASP program was deactivated in December 1944. In conclusion, the pilots speculate on the changing roles of women in our society, the value of their service to their country, and their contribution to the women's movement and society in general."Absorbing, well written, and a pleasure to read"—Library Journal
"[A] celebration of vitality and courage."—The Women's Review of Books
"Clearly written and a pleasure to read.... Cole maintains a historical context while relating the stories of these courageous pilots."—Military Review
“By detailing the background of each woman, telling who she was, how she came to aviation and to the WASPs, Cole has provided a valuable portrait of a unique historic group. A pleasure to read.”—South Dakota History“Like a beautiful patchwork quilt, Jean [Cole]’s book combines many bits and pieces into a lovely pattern alike with vibrant colors.”—WASP News
“Enriched by many humorous anecdotes. The book captures the overwhelming energy and dedication of these women who were truly pioneers of their time.”—Texas Books in Review
“A contribution to both women’s history and to that of the West, not to mention also to aviation history.”—The Western Library
“Oral histories are only as good as the characters they deal with, and Cole has tapped a gold mine. Histories of the best sort, the kind that demonstrate that history is not simply a study of how the famous accomplish remarkable deeds, but of how people do what is required of them in remarkable ways.”—Castro Valley Forum
Jean Hascall Cole until her retirement in 1979, was editor for Research News in the Graduate College at Arizona State University. She has a B.A. and M.A. in English from Arizona State University and is a member of the Women's Air Force Service Pilots
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780874804935 |
| ISBN 10 | 0874804930 |
| Title | Women Pilots of World War II |
| Author | Wendy Cole |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | University of Utah Press,U.S. |
| Year published | 1992-03-30 |
| Number of pages | 188 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |