WASP pilot Bernice Falk Haydu pulls back the chair of President Barack Obama after signing S.614, a bill to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Airforce Service Pilots, in the Oval Office Wednesday, July 1, 2009. At far left is WASP pilot Elaine Danforth Harmon, and at right is Lorraine H. Rodgers. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) is at right in green. Current US Air Force pilots are in the background. Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) was established during World War II, and from 1942 to 1943, more than a thousand women joined, flying sixty million miles of non-combat military missions. Of the women who received their wings as Women Airforce Service Pilots, approximately 300 are living today. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Commenter at the White House Flickr site adds:
The WASP have had veteran's status since 1977. In 1977, the WASP took their case to receive status as official World War II veterans to Congress. They faced strong opposition from many veteran groups. No group of wartime civilians had ever been granted veteran status in America, and many felt it "demeaned" the service of those who had actively served in WWII, although the WASP training and service is almost indistinguishable from the men, except for service overseas. The first WASP veterans bill had been defeated in the House late in 1976. In 1977 Senator Barry Goldwater introduced a bill "..deeming such service to have been active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States for purposes of laws administered by the Veterans Administration." Among other supporters were Congresswoman Lindy Boggs, mother of TV's Cokie Roberts, Asst. Sec'y of the AF Antonia Chayes, and Bruce Arnold, son of Gen. Hap Arnold. Rep. Margaret Heckler helped the new WASP bill to be the only piece of legislation in history to be co-sponsored by every woman member of Congress. During Senate hearings on that bill, the strong opposition by veterans groups became clear. After 10 months of emotional debate, the Senate bill passed on Nov 4, 1977. But there was no joyous Oval Office ceremony for the WASP that year. Days later, and with no fanfare, President Carter signed the bill giving veterans status for the Women Airforce Service Pilots of WWII. Yesterday, the WASP finally got their signing ceremony and overdue recognition. The book "Those Wonderful Women in Their Flying Machines" by Sally Keil, will tell you the rest of the story.
