WASP of the Ferry Command: Women Pilots, Uncommon Deeds

by Sarah Byrn Rickman, Deborah G. Douglas (Foreword)

WASP of the Ferry Command is the story of the women ferry pilots who flew more than nine million miles in 72 different aircraft—115,000 pilot hours—for the Ferrying Division, Air Transport Command, during World War II. In the spring of 1942, Col. William H. Tunner lacked sufficient male pilots to move vital trainer aircraft from the factory to the training fields. Nancy Love found 28 experienced women pilots who could do the job. They, along with graduates of the army’s flight training school for women—established by Jacqueline Cochran—performed this duty until fall 1943, when manufacture of trainers ceased.

In December 1943 the women ferry pilots went back to school to learn to fly high-performance WWII fighters, known as pursuits. By January 1944 they began delivering high performance P-51s, 47s, and 39s. Prior to D-Day and beyond, P-51s were crucial to the air war over Germany. They had the range to escort B-17s and B-24s from England to Berlin and back on bombing raids that ultimately brought down the German Reich. Getting those pursuits to the docks in New Jersey for shipment abroad became these women’s primary job. Ultimately, more than one hundred WASP pursuit pilots were engaged in this vital movement of aircraft.

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

464 pages, Hardcover

Published March 11, 2016

About the author

The National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) awarded Sarah's two-volume work, “WASP Pilots,” their 17th Annual Combs-Gates Award. The award is presented for projects that reflect an emphasis on the individual pioneers – the people – who defined America’s aerospace horizons. This is the second time Sarah has won the Combs-Gates Award.

The WASP Pilots Series, written for readers age 10 to adult, now consists of three biographies: the World War II stories of three outstanding women pilots Nancy Love: WASP Pilot; ‘BJ’ Erickson: WASP Pilot and the newest, released October 15, 2020, Betty Gillies: WAFS Pilot..

Sarah is a former reporter/columnist for The Detroit News (Michigan) and former editor of the Centerville-Bellbrook Times (Ohio). She earned her B.A. in English from Vanderbilt University and an M.A. in Creative Writing from Antioch University McGregor.

Reviews

[Terri Wangard · Rating 4 out of 5]

As early as World War I, two American aviatrixes taught cadets to fly. It was only natural that women who loved to fly wanted to use their skill to help in World War II.

They found their niche with the Ferrying Division of the Air Transport Command in the Army Air Force. Three hundred and three women ferried military aircraft around the country from October, 1942, through December, 1944. Over eleven hundred women joined the WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots), but they performed other tasks such as towing targets and serving as test pilots.

WASP of the Ferry Command: Women Pilots, Uncommon Deeds by Sarah Byrn Rickman concentrates on those women in the Ferry Command.

The ATC was favorable to women. They wanted the women to be commissioned in the Armed Forces, and handle them the same as the men.

Nancy Harkness Love began leading a group of experienced women pilots to ferry training aircraft from factories to flight schools. Jacqueline Cochran advocated a flight training school for women, which began in November, 1942.

Much has been made of the battle of egos between Love and Cochran. In WASP of the Ferry Command, Cochran comes across as a prima donna. She wanted the limelight and sole credit for the school and women’s achievements. Several of the women blamed her for the WASP’s demise in December, 1944.

Returning combat pilots could fill the service pilot jobs performed by WASPs. The Ferrying Division wanted to keep the women to ferry pursuit planes, which were crucial to the war in Europe. Men had to fly the heavy bombers and cargo planes overseas, where the women were not allowed to go. After December 20, 1944, dozens of badly needed pursuit fighters sat on airfields with no one to deliver them.

WASP of the Ferry Command has some tedious reading. I bogged down on lists of women graduating from which class and going where to do what. The chronology always didn’t flow seamlessly. Chapters jumped back and forth.

This book is filled with stories of the women’s experiences that are fascinating. The women’s accomplishments were unique for their time.

[Jdblair · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book. We attended a program at the 1940 Air Terminal Museum located at Houston's Hobby Airport a year or two ago and learned of the WASP program in WWII. In March 2017, we happened to be in Sweetwater, Texas and drove out to Avenger Field, home of the National WASP WWII Museum. Unfortunately, the day we were there, the museum was closed for a remodeling project.

The book is a very interesting look at the program and all of the obstacles that were experienced. The military was really not ready to accept women pilots and put a myriad of restrictions on their ability to perform. Additional drama was caused because of the rivalry between Nancy Love and Jackie Cochran.

Anyone with an interest in aviation and the aircraft flown in the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s would really enjoy this book. I was constantly searching the Internet for photos of the different aircraft mentioned in the book. The lady pilots ferried every kind of airplane imaginable and that freed up the men for active duty in the USAAF.

[Royce Ratterman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fine overview of the WASP years, complete with snapshot biographies of many of these heroic women of yesteryear. Interesting details add to this work's appeal for any enthusiast, historian, and/or researcher. Contains a nice collection of photographs, personal accounts, historical background information, and much more. A read one just can't put down. Dreams fulfilled, challenges conquered, and sorrows faced bravely... all fill the pages of this work. A must read for those researching and studying this era of flight history, as well as any enthusiast. A great addition to your collection.

[Susan Clingman · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a great book about the rise a M d fall of the WASPs including y u r politics

[Maura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an excellent introduction to a part of World War II history that may not be terribly well-known. It works well as an academic piece, with excellent sourcing and a comprehensive bibliography if one wanted to read other books on the topic. There are parts of many chapters that use a few pages doing nothing but naming people, who may or may not come back later in the story of the WASP. However, if you lose track of a person, there are plenty of places to find out their original context, including an excellent index. This is approachable enough for the casual reader, but if you want to keep track of specific people you may need to keep the index handy.

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was supplied free in return for a honest review.
What a great insight into the life of these women as unsung hero's during the second world war. The book shows how times have not necessarily moved on for women in these times.