Rank #353 in NON FICTION
As a salute to all the many women who fought in World War II, at home, in secret, in the service, we give you this collection of stories of real-life women. Like Agent Peggy Carter, too often their sacrifice and service was...
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Elizabeth "BettyWall" Strohfus, WASP Class 44-1
By: Fly Girls
"We worked so hard for our country, and they forgot about us for 35 years..."
After Betty earned her wings in 1944, she was stationed at Las Vegas Army Airfield and was assigned to Gunnery Training. There she piloted the B-26 Marauder, towing targets for fighter target practice, dove at bombers in pursuit aircraft, and at infantry in the AT-6 for gunnery and aircraft target practice.
Responding to the call for instructors, Betty was accepted and sent back to Avenger Field for training. Once she earned her instructor certification, she returned to Las Vegas and became the first woman to teach instrument flight male cadets. "You see, they didn't think a woman could do it, but they learned soon enough." Betty was stationed at Las Vegas until the WASP were disbanded on December 20,1944.
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When it was announced in 1976 that women were about to fly military aircraft for the "first time", Betty and six other WASP went to Congress and showed them their credentials. They were partly responsible for the 1977 bill that gave them their veteran's status. In 1979, Elizabeth received her DD214, an honorable discharge and became a United States Veteran.
On July 11, 2015, at 95 years old, Betty went up in Julie Clarke's T34. Julie is one of the top aerobatic pilots in the nation, and close friends with Betty.
"I never got sick flying planes when I as younger, I don't expect to start now at 95. As long as Julie kept speed I was fine." In mid loop, they pulled 4.5G's.
"It reminded me how I use to give the guys a good scaring. They didn't expect to see a female pilot, let alone a female instructor going that fast".
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For the past 25 years, she's been telling her story as a WASP, visiting 32 states. Most recently she told channel nine news in Saint Paul she intends to die with "shoes on and mouth open."
From Fly Girls Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Flygirlstheseries/posts/1117232881637480
Betty passed away in March. Here is a beautiful article article about her on her passing: http://www.startribune.com/obituary-betty-wall-strohfus-wasp-pilot-and-advocate-for-women-who-flew-during-world-war-ii/372709861/
To learn more about Fly Girls the series visit: http://www.flygirlstheseries.com/
