- November, 2003 -
Women Airforce Service Pilots

38 WASP RECOGNIZED ON VETERANS DAY

The following was provided by Julia Lauria-Blum from the American Airpower Museum at Republic in Farmingdale New York.

On Veterans Day, Tuesday, November 11th at 10:30 a.m., at Long Island National Cemetery, Pinelawn Road, Farmingdale, Congressman Steve Israel presented a Congressional resolution that finally honors the sacrifice of 38 Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) some sixty years after they gave their lives supporting World War II.   After the names of the 38 were read, a lone Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, similar to the type that many WASP, flew from the nearby American Airpower Museum at Republic over the cemetery in salute.   Attending the ceremony were WASP survivors, 38 Farmingdale students holding lilies representing the lives lost, and many others.   Included in this ceremony was a visit to the grave of WASP Rita McArdle, 43-2, who died on May 29, 1998.

More information: Newsday.com - link may stop working over time, and Julia's summary.

Eleanor Collins Faust, left, and
Margaret Werber Gilman of 44-10

WASP NOVEL RECEIVES WILLA LITERARY AWARD

Sarah Byrn Rickman is the author of THE ORIGINALS: The Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron of World War II.

Sarah has been named a finalist in the WILLA Literary Awards (named for Pulitzer Prize winning novelist Willa Cather) -- Original Softcover category -- for her WASP novel FLIGHT FROM FEAR.   The award is given by the professional writing organization Women Writing the West for books about women set in the West.   FLIGHT FROM FEAR is set in the heroine's native Colorado and, of course, Avenger Field in Texas. Refer to the press release for more information.

A VIEW FROM THE DOGHOUSE OF THE 319th AAFWFTD

The following was provided by Celeste Graves, the author of A VIEW FROM THE DOGHOUSE OF THE 319th AAFWFTD and one of the women who supported the WASP training program in Houston.

Celeste has been working for years on her book about the WASP training program that started in Houston, Texas, in November, 1942.   The first three WASP classes did most of their training in Houston.   The forth class was split between Houston and Sweetwater.   Her book will be available soon.

THE SWEETWATER MOVIE MAKING PROGRESS

The following was provided by Deborah Hernandez, Producer Sweetwater Productions LLC.

The Cameron Diaz WASP movie is not our Sweetwater movie, and has nothing to do with it.   Our project is moving along very well.   We are finishing up some of the last details so that we can start pre production soon.

WASPS ATTEND BOOK RELEASE PARTY

Cindy Weigand is the author of TEXAS WOMEN IN WORLD WAR II.

Madge Leon Moore, 44-4, in the back on the far right, and Dorothy A. Lucas, 44-7, in the back fourth from the left, were present for Cindy's book release party on November 2, 2003, in Georgetown, Texas.   Madge, Dorothy, and 9 others written about in the book, were there to help Cindy celebrate the release of her first book.   Also present at the party was a B-25.