Flying Higher: The Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II

by Wanda Langley

Observes the contributions made by the Women Airforce Service Pilots during World War II, as they trained new pilots for combat, delivered new planes to military bases, and tested other aircraft while male pilots were on duty.

Genres: History, Aviation, Nonfiction, Biography, World War II

156 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2002

Reviews

[Carmen Redding · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when it was first published. I received a copy from Wanda Langley, the author. She and I taught at the same elementary school in Athens, GA.

I was purging my book collection when I came across the book and decided to read it a second time. I had forgotten how vividly the members of the second WASP class were portrayed in the book. A lot of the book was about aviation and the different aircraft the women were expected to fly. However, the main theme of the book is the courage, tenacity and dedication of these young women and their willingness to make sacrifices and even lay down their lives to support those who were fighting oversees during WW2.

The book was worth a second read.

[Judith Spero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story of the women who defied all odds.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a piece of history I was unaware of until a visit to a recent museum. What brave, bold women to tsk on such a task. Even by today’s standards, they were amazing.

[Louise Hite · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Book! I never knew we had women pilots during WWII. Jackie Cochran had the idea and had to work hard to push it through the military to be accepted and General Hap Arnold supported her in the effort throughout. The program was deactivated Dec 20, 1944. The participants sound like a lot of wonderful women. All with different stories and from different backgrounds. They all had their pilot's license which is pretty amazing to me that there were that many women who could fly a plane--enough to have several "classes" of what became known as the WASPS (Women Airforce Service Pilots). Of course, they were assigned the mundane jobs--ferrying new planes to bases, repositioning planes, and, not so mundane,--drum roll please--flying planes that towed targets for soldiers to shoot at during target practice!!! I mean seriously! No surprise that after the war they lost their jobs to men. The book related stories about the women, all of which would have been great to have as a friend! Brave women! See also my review of The Originals: "The Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron of WWII", by Sarah Byrn Rickman.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came across this book at my local public library, thought it was interesting and checked it out. I was glad that I did because I learned a lot and was entertained at the same time. It also holds a soft spot with me because of something that these women did that relates to my grandpa that served in the second world war. These women tested planes and flew them to different locations across the country before they were given to our pilots to use. One of the types of planes that they flew was the plane that my grandpa flew. So it really was a very good read.

[Jennifer Fetterly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story that hardly no one knows about. During World War II American women were recruited to ferry planes across the United States. They came from all walks of life-teachers, homemakers, students- all to become pilots. They flew planes that even the men were afraid to fly. Not until the 1970s were they officially recognized for their effort during the war.