First Female WWII Airforce Pilots Get Gold Honor

[Johnny Bravo]

First Female Airforce Pilots Get Gold Honor: 'I Never Thought It Would Happen'
Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II Receive Congressional Medal, Six Decades After Service
By HUMA KHAN
WASHINGTON, March 10, 20

When Dori Martin and Marylyn Myers Peyton joined the U.S. Air Force in the 1940s, little did they know that they would one day become a part of history.
Myers Peyton
Marylyn Myers Peyton is seen in this WASP "Class of '44" photograph. Peyton was one of the 1,074... Expand
Marylyn Myers Peyton is seen in this WASP "Class of '44" photograph. Peyton was one of the 1,074 Women Airforce Service Pilots who were awarded the Congressional gold medal today for their service to the United States. These women were the first females to fly military aircraft for the U.S. armed forces. Collapse


Martin, 88, and Peyton, 86, were part of the thousand or so women who were recruited as civilian pilots in the U.S. military at the height of World War II. These Women Airforce Service Pilots -- better known as WASP -- became the first females to fly military aircraft for the U.S. armed forces.

"We never thought of ourselves as making history," Martin said.

Today, nearly 66 years after their service, the first fly girls will be awarded the Congressional gold medal.

"I never thought it would happen," Peyton said of the recognition.

"It's wonderful," Martin said. "Nobody even knew about us."



About 175 WASPs and more than 2,000 representatives of deceased WASPs attended the ceremony on Capitol Hill today to accept the Congressional gold medals, which rank with the Presidential Medal of Freedom as the highest civilian honors bestowed for courage, service and dedication.

"You gave all that you could to save the United States of America and the world that was at war," said Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., who sponsored the bipartisan legislation to grant the award.

"You fly high and into the sky," she said. "Today, instead of giving you the gun, we will give you the gold." : 'I Never Thought It Would Happen'

[PegLeg45]

Great story, JB.

God bless them...shame it took this long for proper recognition.

[fightingquaker13]

Great story, JB.

God bless them...shame it took this long for proper recognition.

Very cool. I agree it took too long to get them this honor they earned. The real sad thing is that female personell, WACs and WAVEs etc, were not covered under the GI Bill. A lot of gals who served in support positions (which we all know are as vital as the guys on the front lines) didn't get the same opportunity to better themselves their male counterparts did. Its easy to dismiss this stuff as "feel good" fluff, or, if you're more cynical to say, "yeah that's great, but it's a day late and a dollar short, and where were you when it mattered"? Still its like the the Vietnam Wall. It too may have come 20 years too late, but its not just about honoring our vets. Its reminding ourselves that we F@cked up and need to make sure never to do it again. Just my .02.
FQ13

[tombogan03884]

 Any body remember Jackie Cochran ?


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacqueline_Cochran

[crusader rabbit]

Saw that on the news last night.  Thought it was a great honor just to see these brave women on my tv while they are still breathing the same air I breathe.  Thought it was about time they got proper notice.  Thought it was a shame they had to wait this long.

[Sponsor]

[shooter32]

About time!!  Truly great women and long over due!

[tombogan03884]

Some of those girls landed ferried planes in England and turned them over to male pilots who had much less flight time than they did.

[jframesmith]

'Bout freakin time!  Used to watch a gal named Sue Parrish perform at air shows in a pink P-40 Warhawk. She was well into her 60's & 70's performing barrel rolls, and aileron rolls and stuff.

True Patriots all of them.

[m25operator]

Definitely about time, 1 of my clients mother did that, I cannot remember which part of the service she was in, but she flew to the UK a lot. A very sharp lady maybe 18 yrs ago, and would now be in her 70's - 80's. She passed it off as nothing. Her son is 1 of the most musically talented, nice guy, good for nothing bums I ever met. Perfect pitch and could play any stringed instrument. Never had a job, he gigged some, and hung out at pawn shops and fixed equipment for trade. Smart guy, but totally off the grid, ( now that is not necessarily a bad thing ) probably still driving his 1974 Volvo 144, which is how we met.

[twyacht]

Each and every one of these women deserved this recognition long ago. From Rosie the Riveter, to every single woman who has served and sacrificed since than, they do their duty, serve their country with distinction, and I'm very glad they were finally recognized.

God Bless Them All.