The Women with Silver Wings: The Inspiring True Story of the Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II
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- Create Date：2021-04-27 17:31:16
- Update Date：2025-09-06
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- Author：Katherine Sharp Landdeck
- ISBN：1524762822
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Summary
"With the fate of the free world hanging in the balance， women pilots went aloft to serve their nation。 。 。 。 A soaring tale in which， at long last， these daring World War II pilots gain the credit they deserve。"--Liza Mundy， New York Times bestselling author of Code Girls
"A powerful story of reinvention， community and ingenuity born out of global upheaval。"--Newsday
When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941， Cornelia Fort was already in the air。 At twenty-two， Fort had escaped Nashville's debutante scene for a fresh start as a flight instructor in Hawaii。 She and her student were in the middle of their lesson when the bombs began to fall， and they barely made it back to ground that morning。 Still， when the U。S。 Army Air Forces put out a call for women pilots to aid the war effort， Fort was one of the first to respond。 She became one of just over 1，100 women from across the nation to make it through the Army's rigorous selection process and earn her silver wings。
The brainchild of trailblazing pilots Nancy Love and Jacqueline Cochran， the Women Airforce Service Pilots （WASP） gave women like Fort a chance to serve their country--and to prove that women aviators were just as skilled as men。 While not authorized to serve in combat， the WASP helped train male pilots for service abroad， and ferried bombers and pursuits across the country。 Thirty-eight WASP would not survive the war。 But even taking into account these tragic losses， Love and Cochran's social experiment seemed to be a resounding success--until， with the tides of war turning， Congress clipped the women's wings。 The program was disbanded， the women sent home。 But the bonds they'd forged never failed， and over the next few decades they came together to fight for recognition as the military veterans they were--and for their place in history。
"A powerful story of reinvention， community and ingenuity born out of global upheaval。"--Newsday
When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941， Cornelia Fort was already in the air。 At twenty-two， Fort had escaped Nashville's debutante scene for a fresh start as a flight instructor in Hawaii。 She and her student were in the middle of their lesson when the bombs began to fall， and they barely made it back to ground that morning。 Still， when the U。S。 Army Air Forces put out a call for women pilots to aid the war effort， Fort was one of the first to respond。 She became one of just over 1，100 women from across the nation to make it through the Army's rigorous selection process and earn her silver wings。
The brainchild of trailblazing pilots Nancy Love and Jacqueline Cochran， the Women Airforce Service Pilots （WASP） gave women like Fort a chance to serve their country--and to prove that women aviators were just as skilled as men。 While not authorized to serve in combat， the WASP helped train male pilots for service abroad， and ferried bombers and pursuits across the country。 Thirty-eight WASP would not survive the war。 But even taking into account these tragic losses， Love and Cochran's social experiment seemed to be a resounding success--until， with the tides of war turning， Congress clipped the women's wings。 The program was disbanded， the women sent home。 But the bonds they'd forged never failed， and over the next few decades they came together to fight for recognition as the military veterans they were--and for their place in history。
Reviews
Katelyn
，
Fantastic story capturing the many challenges of women before， during， and after WWII。 Very well told！
Victoria L。 Biarnesen
，
If you are looking for a good non-fiction book， I recommend this book。 It is about the women pilots during WW II who ferried the fighter planes from where they were built to the Air Force bases for the soldiers to fly。 Good history lesson about WW II and the woman who also served。 Very well written and detailed。 Good timeline given。
Richard
，
If you have any interest in the logistics of WW II， you should read this book。 If you've ever wondered what role women played in WW II， you should read this book。 If you think women were treated fairly for their role in WW II， you should read this book。The story is compelling， though the timeline gets lost - I went for pages thinking I was in 1942 and all of a sudden discovered I was in 1944。 The description of the conflict between Nancy Love and Jackie Cochran takes up more space than was neces If you have any interest in the logistics of WW II， you should read this book。 If you've ever wondered what role women played in WW II， you should read this book。 If you think women were treated fairly for their role in WW II， you should read this book。The story is compelling， though the timeline gets lost - I went for pages thinking I was in 1942 and all of a sudden discovered I was in 1944。 The description of the conflict between Nancy Love and Jackie Cochran takes up more space than was necessary to tell the story。I thoroughly enjoyed the book and highly recommend it。 。。。more
David
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Pretty encyclopedic exploration of WASP and its fliers in the war years。 Includes a sizable chunk covering the postwar years。
Joyce
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Nonfiction can easily become boring but this book about the women who became the Women Airforce Service Pilots （WASP） read like a narrative。 Beginning with WWII and the bombing of Pearl Harbor， women who had been pilots wanted to serve their country。 This book traces the service of some of the 1100 women who would join and recognizes the 38 who gave their lives。 Although the women would never serve in combat they dedicated their lives to testing the planes， moving them across the US and they wou Nonfiction can easily become boring but this book about the women who became the Women Airforce Service Pilots （WASP） read like a narrative。 Beginning with WWII and the bombing of Pearl Harbor， women who had been pilots wanted to serve their country。 This book traces the service of some of the 1100 women who would join and recognizes the 38 who gave their lives。 Although the women would never serve in combat they dedicated their lives to testing the planes， moving them across the US and they would train the men who would serve overseas。 This is a good book to read if anyone is interested in reading about how women serve their country and their fight for recognition as Veterans of WWII for their service。 。。。more
Julie Morton
，
A non-fiction book that made me cry。 I can't help but admire these women and what they accomplished in their lives。 A non-fiction book that made me cry。 I can't help but admire these women and what they accomplished in their lives。 。。。more
Carey
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Thorough book that uses storytelling to trace the history of these ground-breaking women。 It is amazing how much women in aviation still face today （male-focused flight gear， encouragement and camaraderie amongst the women， etc）， but the most interesting lesson is how much they overcame that made women's careers in military aviation so much better。 Thorough book that uses storytelling to trace the history of these ground-breaking women。 It is amazing how much women in aviation still face today （male-focused flight gear， encouragement and camaraderie amongst the women， etc）， but the most interesting lesson is how much they overcame that made women's careers in military aviation so much better。 。。。more
Karina
，
This piece of informative， historical nonfiction was surprisingly emotional。 I enjoyed getting to know the personal lives of a handful of the WASP。 The dedication， intelligence， and class these women had during the 40's when men were trying to undermine them is moving。 This piece of informative， historical nonfiction was surprisingly emotional。 I enjoyed getting to know the personal lives of a handful of the WASP。 The dedication， intelligence， and class these women had during the 40's when men were trying to undermine them is moving。 。。。more
Lily
，
Covering the lifetime of the WASP （Women Airforce Service pilots）， this was very well done since the author studied them for her thesis at the University of Tennessee。 Like so many others， I had not heard of these brave women who broke the barriers as women pilots。 They were denied for so many years official recognition of their service of their country。 They were deemed civilians and not authorized to fly in combat， but they ferried airplanes across the country to be delivered overseas during W Covering the lifetime of the WASP （Women Airforce Service pilots）， this was very well done since the author studied them for her thesis at the University of Tennessee。 Like so many others， I had not heard of these brave women who broke the barriers as women pilots。 They were denied for so many years official recognition of their service of their country。 They were deemed civilians and not authorized to fly in combat， but they ferried airplanes across the country to be delivered overseas during World War II for men to pilot。 It took many many years for them to be recognized and be given veteran benefits and medals， due to the work of themselves， congresswomen， military officials， and others。 It is a long book， but necessary to cover it all; so many books skip to the end and leave out a lot。 This one even includes the love stories of these women， their hardships on and off the base， and their later careers （or not）。 Each chapter has a photo， too， which I always appreciate。 。。。more
Gail
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I absolutely loved this non-fiction book about the women who fought so hard to gain their silver wings。 These women were the mavericks paving the way for the future pilots of today。 Their story was one of heroism， bravery， tenaciousness and the undying can-do philosophy。 I would recommend this beautifully written book to anyone！
Tom Boyle
，
What a great history of woman who flew airplanes during World War 2。This book was well written and allows the reader to feel like they are right there with these great hero's！ What a great history of woman who flew airplanes during World War 2。This book was well written and allows the reader to feel like they are right there with these great hero's！ 。。。more
Margo Stocker
，
3。6
Jan
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I really wanted to love this book but I found it awfully repetitive and that bored me。 Also， I wanted to know way， way more about what kind of missions/work the women pilots did。 Instead， I got lots of info about political/military infighting behind the scenes which， while important， I didn't need to know every single detail of。 Still， it's chock full of history I never knew before， stuff they definitely don't tell you about in school， and I'm glad someone is trying to honor some of the women wh I really wanted to love this book but I found it awfully repetitive and that bored me。 Also， I wanted to know way， way more about what kind of missions/work the women pilots did。 Instead， I got lots of info about political/military infighting behind the scenes which， while important， I didn't need to know every single detail of。 Still， it's chock full of history I never knew before， stuff they definitely don't tell you about in school， and I'm glad someone is trying to honor some of the women who made the Allied victory in WWII possible。 。。。more
Marcia
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Outstanding， extensively researched book about the the lives of， the discrimination and harrassment the women pilots faced， both during and after WW II。 Very interesting story of another side of WW II。 It also told of the political problems they faced in trying to become part of the military。 Very interesting read that is well-told。
Allison Berkowitz
，
I see this book in two or three sections。 Mainly: 1） leading up to and explaining the women’s flying programs （this half of the book was thrilling and informative）。 And 2） the aftermath， which was so sad。 I’m struggling with reading sad content right now， so this was hard to get through。 Overall， good book though。
Tamara
，
The story of the W。A。S。P。 began in 1942。 I cannot say enough about the excellent job the author has done to capture the path of the individuals took to serve their country。 The risk and hardship are real。 Along with the discrimination which was extended until 2016 [Yes， I said until 2016]。 Many years in the making， I appreciate the authors efforts to seek out and interview the women's firsthand accounts。 Denied the benefits and pay that the men received at the time， this book is a snapshot of wh The story of the W。A。S。P。 began in 1942。 I cannot say enough about the excellent job the author has done to capture the path of the individuals took to serve their country。 The risk and hardship are real。 Along with the discrimination which was extended until 2016 [Yes， I said until 2016]。 Many years in the making， I appreciate the authors efforts to seek out and interview the women's firsthand accounts。 Denied the benefits and pay that the men received at the time， this book is a snapshot of what women in general have fought through the years in most industries。 It is their efforts and the women like them that established a foundation for the next generations to come。 ttA person born in 1942 would be about 78 years old at the time this book was published。 It is a history lesson for anyone the dreams of "the good old days"。 I can't help but be reminded of how easily someone without will look at someone else and claim the right to possess what other have acquired。 Good book。 It will not be to everyone's taste … But， if you like history … this is it。 。。。more
Caroline
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 I’m grateful that this book exists。 It’s the work of a historian who spent about 20 years collecting oral histories and archives on the WASP， Women Airforce Service Pilots。 The WASP were the first American women to fly for the US military。 They were supposed to be civilian volunteering to “release” men from jobs on home soil during WWII， and indeed all volunteered for a dollar a year despite the personal costs incurred。 Yet in practice they were treated like military personal， from the rigorous I’m grateful that this book exists。 It’s the work of a historian who spent about 20 years collecting oral histories and archives on the WASP， Women Airforce Service Pilots。 The WASP were the first American women to fly for the US military。 They were supposed to be civilian volunteering to “release” men from jobs on home soil during WWII， and indeed all volunteered for a dollar a year despite the personal costs incurred。 Yet in practice they were treated like military personal， from the rigorous training to their release papers。 Their pseudo-military status drew confusion about where the women fit within the structure of the American Air Force， and they have continuously been denied recognition on a technicality。 The WASP program was described as an “experiment” by military personal to see whether women were able to fly military planes， yet the women were the ones training male pilots。 Amongst other duties the WASP were used to show that “anyone” could fly a plane that experienced male pilots did not want to fly anymore after it had been implicated in accidents。 The leaders of the WASP program spent a lot of time worrying about the public and military perception of these women， mandating a weekly visit to the beauty parlor amongst other rules。 The program was disbanded before the end of WWII following the pressure， politically and in the press， of male civilian pilots who were eyeing their jobs as they did not want to be drafted。 Over 1’000 women completed the training and went on to be stationed at 126 bases across the US。 Thirty-eight of them lost their lives during service， and at least one committed suicide as she struggled to find a job after the war despite having risked her life for her country。 The WASP were indeed never an official part of the military and did not have the privileges and benefits attached to it， such as veterans’ preference in jobs or retirement。 The WASP kept fighting for recognition well into their 80s and 90s。 They were given the Congressional Gold Medal in 2009， but that was too little， too late。 All they got in return of their service in the end were some medals， medical assistance and a flag on their coffins at their funerals。 While the writing is sometimes repetitive and often gossipy -which can be explained by the reliance of the author on oral histories- the thrilling story of the WASP truly deserves to be told and more people should know about it。 My one negative criticism of the book， besides the writing style， is that it was painfully obvious that the author is white and writes about history from her white perspective。 She goes so far as to describe white as “the right color skin”， without quotation marks。 She brushed over the fact that black women were actively discouraged from applying to the training program。 There is only about two pages of the entire book dedicated to women of color， despite several women of Asian descent flying for the WASP， including at least one who lost her life during her service。 。。。more
Chelsea
，
I enjoyed learning about our country's first women airforce service pilots; I had never heard of them before。 They were so brave and strong and， boy， did our country neglect their recognition for way too long。 I enjoyed learning about our country's first women airforce service pilots; I had never heard of them before。 They were so brave and strong and， boy， did our country neglect their recognition for way too long。 。。。more
Turtle
，
I don't usually read nonfiction books， I tend to read lots of fantasy and adventurous books。 Just so you know， I am only 12 years old and I've have only gotten through a few chapters of this book。 But， I absolutely love it so far。 I am actually friends with one of Mrs。Landdeck's daughters。 A couple weeks ago her daughter told me about an interview she was doing for a YouTube channel through zoom， I only intended to watch a few minute but it captured my interest and I ended up watching the enti I don't usually read nonfiction books， I tend to read lots of fantasy and adventurous books。 Just so you know， I am only 12 years old and I've have only gotten through a few chapters of this book。 But， I absolutely love it so far。 I am actually friends with one of Mrs。Landdeck's daughters。 A couple weeks ago her daughter told me about an interview she was doing for a YouTube channel through zoom， I only intended to watch a few minute but it captured my interest and I ended up watching the entire thing （which was a little over an hour long）。 My mom had bought the book when it came out and when I had finished watching the interview I rushed to the shelf to find it， knowing now I would actually enjoy reading it。 Knowing that Mrs。Landdeck had been working on this project for years from listening to her daughter talk about it and from reading the acknowledgments and the fact that she knew the actually some of the WASPs personally and was able to interview them just sucked me in more。 I haven't yet finished it， but this book seems to capture the real essence of these women， plus what others and themselves felt and thought about what they were doing for history at this point in time。 。。。more
Anne Lawrence
，
A beautifully told story of the women pilots who ferried aircraft and eventually served in the military during World War II。
Katherine McVey
，
An incredible historical telling of the WASP。 This story is widely forgotten by many， which is unfortunate as it is testimony to the sexism of our world。 The WASP sacrificed their lives for the country， only to be disregarded。 The book brings to light their entire journey and beautifully recounts the highs and lows。
Laura Bray
，
Although it infuriated me at times （how unequally the women were treated， as compared to men， and how hard and long they had to fight to t get the recognition they deserved）， this was an excellent history of a part of WWII that most people know nothing about。
Megan
，
These women did amazing things to help fight the war。 I enjoyed reading their story and knowing their contributions。
Bob
，
Very interesting
Kristi
，
I had a very limited knowledge of the WASPs before this book。 I had no idea that they were disbanded before the war was even over nor how hard they had to fight for recognition of the service they gave。 Im grateful for the courageous women that came before me， paving the way so that my daughters can be whoever they want to be。
Crystal Hooper
，
Some of the stories were really interesting and I never knew there were women pilots who helped get planes to the edge of the USA so they could be taken to the war front of WW2。 But this book is really LONG。 Lots of unnecessary details and paragraphs。 I would have appreciated a condensed version， I started skim reading just to get through it before it was due back to the library haha。 But I'm grateful and appreciate hearing stories of those who served and sacrificed during the war Some of the stories were really interesting and I never knew there were women pilots who helped get planes to the edge of the USA so they could be taken to the war front of WW2。 But this book is really LONG。 Lots of unnecessary details and paragraphs。 I would have appreciated a condensed version， I started skim reading just to get through it before it was due back to the library haha。 But I'm grateful and appreciate hearing stories of those who served and sacrificed during the war 。。。more
Christine
，
Interesting topic but rather long and very detailed。
Charity
，
I wish I had had this when I was writing my thesis about the WASP in college。 Landdeck certainly did the WASP's justice with this work。 I knew a lot about the WASP program when I started this， but Landdeck taught me things I didn't know I didn't know。 I wish I had had this when I was writing my thesis about the WASP in college。 Landdeck certainly did the WASP's justice with this work。 I knew a lot about the WASP program when I started this， but Landdeck taught me things I didn't know I didn't know。 。。。more
Georgen Charnes
，
This was a very well written book。 I listen to audiobooks and have in the past found nonfiction more of a challenge in that format - there's usually too many names and characters are dropped then picked up again。 What's fine in print often seems to be confusing in audio。 Landdeck， somehow， avoided making this history confusing。 She focuses on a few main， representative WASPs， she chiefly refers to them by the same name （you'd be surprised how many nonfiction books change the name of the "charact This was a very well written book。 I listen to audiobooks and have in the past found nonfiction more of a challenge in that format - there's usually too many names and characters are dropped then picked up again。 What's fine in print often seems to be confusing in audio。 Landdeck， somehow， avoided making this history confusing。 She focuses on a few main， representative WASPs， she chiefly refers to them by the same name （you'd be surprised how many nonfiction books change the name of the "characters" in them）， and has lots of specific details。 I especially appreciate the follow-through she gave the story。 She doesn't end it at the end of WWII， she details the efforts of the women to stay in touch and to get the veterans' benefits that they deserved。 And she details her research process and offers more citations。 My only criticism was， in her effort to be fair and equitable in her depiction of all involved， I think an opportunity was missed to give a clear perspective on the events。 I was left to "read between the lines" that the WASPs and especially the effort to get them true military status， was mismanaged by Nancy Love， the Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron （WAFS） and Jackie Cochran， head of the Women's Flying Training Detachment （WFTD）， which together formed the WASPs。 She did say that Nancy Love blamed Jackie for the WASP dissolution and lack of benefits， but I was unclear why。 Did she feel like the WAFS were taken down with the WASPs by association？ Jackie seemed to be a complex person， very adventurous and high achieving， lied about her background constantly， demanded that all the WASP trainees went to the hairdresser every week， wanted to be in control of everything。 I got a lot of detail about her， but was unclear in the end about who she was。 Still， it was an enjoyable， and educational book！ 。。。more
Natali Balog
，