The Women's Flying Training Detachment was a group of women pilots during World War II. Their main job was to take over male pilot's jobs, such as ferrying planes from factories to United States Army Air Force installations, in order to free male pilots to fight overseas. They later merged with the Women Airforce Ferrying Squadron (formerly the Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron) to form the Women Airforce Service Pilots.
While on a trip to England, Jacqueline Cochran observed that an organization had been founded for English women pilots to do jobs for male pilots, such as plane ferrying. Being quite interested, she contacted General Henry H. Arnold suggesting that a similar organization be founded in the United States. He approved on September 15, 1942, and the Women's Flying Training Detachment was born.[1] Around the same time, some other women pilots, such as Nancy Harkness Love, were also founding similar organizations in which female pilots replaced male pilots in order that the men could be moved to more important duties.[2][3]
Trainingedit
Initially, the training in Houston, TX, lasted 23 weeks and included 115 hours of flying time. However, not long after, the program moved to Sweetwater, TX and the training increased to 210 hours flying time and became 30 weeks long. To be accepted, trainees were required to be between 21 and 35 years of age and had to have at least 200 hours flying time before entering. This later dropped to 18 years of age minimum and at least 35 hrs. flying experience. The training consisted of mostly cross-country flying with no gunnery.[4]
Veteran Statusedit
Because they were not considered a real part of the army, they and other women pilot organizations were not guaranteed all the rights of veterans. If a woman pilot was killed while on duty, her family would pay for her body to be shipped home, and they couldn't hang a golden star in their window to show the sacrifice they had made. Also, any women pilots who died in training didn't have the right to have an American Flag draped over their coffin.[5]
^. www.nationalmuseum.af.mil. Archived from the original on 2007-08-29.
^staff, Kalamazoo Gazette (20 September 2009). "WWII women pilots to get 'long-overdue' honor; Local woman who died while serving as a WWII pilot is among them". MLive.com.
December 15, 2023
women, flying, training, detachment, group, women, pilots, during, world, their, main, take, over, male, pilot, jobs, such, ferrying, planes, from, factories, united, states, army, force, installations, order, free, male, pilots, fight, overseas, they, later, . The Women s Flying Training Detachment was a group of women pilots during World War II Their main job was to take over male pilot s jobs such as ferrying planes from factories to United States Army Air Force installations in order to free male pilots to fight overseas They later merged with the Women Airforce Ferrying Squadron formerly the Women s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron to form the Women Airforce Service Pilots Contents 1 Early history 2 Training 3 Veteran Status 4 See also 5 ReferencesEarly history editWhile on a trip to England Jacqueline Cochran observed that an organization had been founded for English women pilots to do jobs for male pilots such as plane ferrying Being quite interested she contacted General Henry H Arnold suggesting that a similar organization be founded in the United States He approved on September 15 1942 and the Women s Flying Training Detachment was born 1 Around the same time some other women pilots such as Nancy Harkness Love were also founding similar organizations in which female pilots replaced male pilots in order that the men could be moved to more important duties 2 3 Training editInitially the training in Houston TX lasted 23 weeks and included 115 hours of flying time However not long after the program moved to Sweetwater TX and the training increased to 210 hours flying time and became 30 weeks long To be accepted trainees were required to be between 21 and 35 years of age and had to have at least 200 hours flying time before entering This later dropped to 18 years of age minimum and at least 35 hrs flying experience The training consisted of mostly cross country flying with no gunnery 4 Veteran Status editBecause they were not considered a real part of the army they and other women pilot organizations were not guaranteed all the rights of veterans If a woman pilot was killed while on duty her family would pay for her body to be shipped home and they couldn t hang a golden star in their window to show the sacrifice they had made Also any women pilots who died in training didn t have the right to have an American Flag draped over their coffin 5 See also editWomen Airforce Service Pilots Women in aviation Timeline of women in aviation Jacqueline Cochran Nancy Harkness LoveReferences edit NMUSAF Flying for Freedom The Story of the Women Airforce Service Pilots PDF National Museum of the United States Air Force Teacher Resource Guide Archived from the original PDF on 26 December 2010 WASP WWII Resources www wingsacrossamerica us WASP WWII Records www wingsacrossamerica us Fact Sheets Women s Flying Training Detachment Women s Flying Training Detachment www nationalmuseum af mil Archived from the original on 2007 08 29 staff Kalamazoo Gazette 20 September 2009 WWII women pilots to get long overdue honor Local woman who died while serving as a WWII pilot is among them MLive com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Women 27s Flying Training Detachment amp oldid 1105580934, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
