Goodbye Glamour Gals

by R.J. Dailey

In 1940s America, Jacqueline Cochran is the rarest kind of woman: she’s a self-made millionaire pilot who, since the disappearance of her friend Amelia Earhart, has become the nation’s darling of the air. But she’s no darling. At the outbreak of World War II, Cochran uses her considerable celebrity and wealth to launch a fight of her own against the US Army. The notion might seem absurd, but she aims to command a group of women pilots within the Army Air Corps.

Cochran is beautiful and scrappy, but she’s not the only woman pilot with ambition. Vassar-educated socialite Nancy Love also wants women flying military planes, but she has a different idea of how they should be used. Goodbye Glamour Gals is a novel of extraordinary women in an extraordinary time.

A cold rivalry develops as Cochran and Love struggle to convince the Army that women are a national resource. Each gains allies and, remarkably, two fragile programs emerge. But in a world hostile to progressive women, it is clear only one organization can succeed.

With the aid of a powerful general, Cochran merges the programs under her command, relegating Love to a vague, subordinate role. The Women Airforce Service Pilots—the WASP—are born, and by summer 1944 they are flying every kind of airplane in the Army, from the P-51 Mustang to the B-29 Superfortress. The women pilots work under punishing conditions, drink, swear, and even establish the “Mile High Club.” They do this while often wearing impeccable makeup, enduring brutal discrimination, and fending off aggressive sexual advances.

Inevitably, the WASP project ignites a national media controversy that portrays the hardworking women pilots as the Army's glamorous trophy girls, and Cochran and Love are compelled to join forces in opposition—taking their fight all the way to the floor of Congress.

Although based closely on true events, Goodbye Glamour Gals is written in a fictional narrative style. All 100,000 words are deliberately consistent with the 1940s lexicon, researched down to the idiom.

Genres: Historical Fiction

441 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 28, 2009

Reviews

[Jill Vaughn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thorough Account

I thought I knew the story of the WASPs, even had visited the museum in Sweetwater, but I learned a lot. Definitely learned more about the relationship between Cochran and Love, it was far more complicated than I initially thought. I see the anguish that Cochran went through in closing the program. Her efforts, as well as Love’s, did pave the way for the future of women military pilots.

[Pam Seulean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Has the makings of a fabulous movie

I love anything WWII era, and this book was very good on more than one level! FIirst, it is based as closely as possible in functionality of how women became pilots. There appear several famous historical Americans; however, it is mostly told from Jaqueline Cochran's point of view. Secondly, it is superbly written. The author is talented. There is so much history in this story, yet it never once felt bogged down and difficult to read. Well.done! The third reason I enjoyed this book was because it made me take time and APPRECIATE all of the opportunities women enjoy in our country today. Cochran, Love, Deiter, and the 1,000+ WASPs paved the way for us, and I feel incredibly grateful for that.

[Robert Johnson Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Good Read

Having had the privilege of knowing one of the WASP pilots, I can say that many of the events related in the book agree with her memories and recollections. My friend, Jean, was as remarkable a woman pilot as any of those in the book. This is an excellent "history" of the role of women in the Army Air Corps during WW II.

[Diane Whittington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goodbye Glamor Girs

I found this book very interesting, as I knew nothing about Women pilots in WWII.I enjoyed reading this book and if you like WWII books, I recommend this.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

love this book my favorite author 10/10 would recommend best book i’ve ever read no other book can compare if u haven’t read this yet don’t talk to me much love <33

[Tara Chevrestt · Rating 4 out of 5]

During world war II, both women approached the U.S. government about the pressing need to permit women to fly military aircraft. The government was producing five thousand planes a month. All those planes needed to get from point A (the factory) to point B (the soldiers) and STAT. Every woman ferrying these planes freed a man up to go do the dirty work: fight. Both women had plans and both women wanted to be in charge. Promises were made from different higher ups to both women..

It ends up being a cat fight... For full review and pictures, click the link below.

http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2010/...

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a chronological history of the woman pilots of WWII and instead of using chapters, simply goes back and forth between the point of view of Jacqueline Cochran and Nancy Love who, from opposite sides, helped build the program even though they were in opposition the entire time.

The story of the WASP and WAC is really interesting but the book was a bit tedious and it took me forever to read. I wish it had been a little more concise (there was a lot of detail included) but it would serve as a great resource for a research paper.