Women and the Underground
All together now: Hoop it up./4th Olympiad 1908/British Olympic Assoc./PD/Commons.wikimedia.org)
Despite all the hoop-la-la-la they were determined. Friends, family, and a good part of the country scowled at their impetuousness. So unladylike. Too dangerous! Only a sad society would allow this.
Still they jumped through all the hoops with smiles, undeniable ability, and without tripping on their too large overalls.
Requirements and conditions were tough for the WW II Women Airforce Service Pilots.
Hey, would you dare to live with 12 young women sharing only 2 sinks? (Not even the Duggar family is that brave.)
Yet the 1,074 WASP pilots trained male pilots in flying on instruments, ferried planes stateside, and towed targets for gunnery practice.
Thirty-eight WASP pilots died in service to their country during that time.
The women’s ground school training included studying weather, aerodynamics, engines, Morse code, and more. (You know, male-type curriculum.) All had 40+ flying hours already.
Bravely served their country and contributed to the war efforts, then, more or less demurely, waltzed back into the shadows.
That doesn’t mean they were any less patriotic or less worthy. (Ask the male pilots they trained. Oh, wait. Most of those are resting in peace.)
You’ve come a long way, baby, yet still not grounded. Notice they’ve got clubs and not afraid to use them. (Eden-lys/Flickr/Commons.wikimedia.org)
It’s a dead end.
So?
Despite the whoop-de-do over people being equal, WASPs, according to the Department of the Army, aren’t offered military burial honors in Arlington National Cemetery.
Hey, just can’t please women. They’ve been “given” stuff:
- The WASP were
finallyissued uniforms…seven months before they were deactivated. - In 1977 WASP were given Veteran status. (Public law 95-202.)
- The Congressional Gold Medal was awarded WASP in 2009 by President Obama (The little ladies do so love gold jewelry, right?)
Why haven’t he WASP Vets been offered the honor of military resting places?
- Well, she’s dead. Not complaining. Easy to ignore. (Besides, women are used to that.)
- It seems to be a matter of tiny words allowing interpretation – like with returning the military dogs home.
How could anyone refuse her anything? Elaine Danforth Harmon. (Change.org)
Elaine Danforth’s granddaughters said their grandmother, Elaine Danforth Harmon, was always proud of serving her country. She wished her ashes to be inurned in the Arlington columbarium.
If you want to know a bit more – and maybe sign the petition to get her settled in. Go here.
Enough hoop-de-do. Time for hoop-de done.
Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge.
VIDEO interviews here. Listen to Elaine Danforth Harmon’s, (Woman Airforce Service Pilot) story in her own words. (“Experiencing War: Stories from the Veterans history Project” Library of Congress. Links to other WASPs)
Being told “Just work so hard and be so good that they can’t ignore you” does get tiring. (1936.RKO Pictures/USP/Commons.wikimedia.org
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Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge 
done… petition signed… and a big thank you for all things women did for our countries…
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Easy, they did it for all. No wonder the granddaughters are fighting for her now. Thanks for flying in to assist
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What an amazing story. Why isn’t this the subject of a Hollywood movie or a best-selling book? Somebody needs to get on that.
Off to the petition now.
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Well they did it with women and baseball, why not women pilots? Certainly has all the elements. Thanks for signing on!
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I was happy to. Tweeted about it too. Hopefully lots of people will sign.
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Thanks for spreading the word. An email came in over the weekend here from some local women MDs. If enough people become aware, hopefully there will be a change. Appreciate the assist
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Interesting coincidence that we both posted about “women” today.
Thanks for the link to the petition for the Arlington burial. I’d been thinking how unjust it was but not taken the step (shame on me) to “say” anything about it.
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Your post was fascinating. Here’s the link to that post: http://mereinkling.net/2016/01/11/c-s-lewis-women/
Thanks for digging up a comment to leave here.
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These women, like the T. Airman are lost amid the shuffle of misogyny and contempt;
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Everyone deserves the recognition they earned. The Tuskegee Airmen are far from lost in the shuffle. Documentaries, TV movie 1995, taught in schools, articles on places like History.com, videos on the Air Force website, National Historic Site/National Park/Museum.
OK. Now it’s the “Little Ladies'” turn. Raising awareness is a start. Getting people involved – like signing this petition – is the next step to equal recognition.
Human nature? The squeaky wheel get the attention? Women were taught to be so polite and wait to be noticed. Time’s up. Noticing now.
Thanks for flying in to comment
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Signed and shared on the old book of faces. Will likely get lost in all the Bowie tributes today, unfortunately.
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Really appreciate your assist.Yesterday, football, and today Bowie. So much begging for attention..Women are patient, and determined. sooner of later voices will be heard. Thanks for speaking up!
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At least over here not many care about the football debacle.
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The weather was an added treat: below zero at one game. Yet the fans were out there. People, your moms taught you to come out of the rain, right. Frostbite? Brrr.
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Fascinating and fun reading!
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Some women didn’t bother to wait for Women’s Lib. movement. Odd the advocates didn’t notice/acknowledge them. Thanks for digging around over here
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Recently I read about her. We have come a long way but not far enough! I’ll sign!
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These women certainly could be a fascinating movie. What stories are there. Thanks for adding your support
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Well done Phil. Signed, sealed, delivered. Thank you for bringing this to light. Time to change the rules.
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Fair is fair. Thanks for marching along.
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I knew the history of the WASPs, but not the less-than-happy ending. Thanks for sharing and helping spread awareness!
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No one puts Baby in a corner – for dancing or flying. Thanks for digging in the dirt here
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Thanks for sharing this.
janet
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It seems so little to ask after all they did – and facing so much opposition from society’s rules at that time. Thanks for giving wings to their story
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I had no idea… it doesn’t hardly seem fair, does it? I’m glad her granddaughters love her enough to fight for her wishes!
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They asked the girls to the dance and then left them sitting at home for the awards ceremony. May have been OK at the time, but now’s the time to invited them to stand on the stage, too. Thanks for rounding out the comment stack
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My daughter’s going to LOVE this post!
She’s all about Girl Power these days.
And we both appreciate exceptional writing, of course….
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You know, someone who is a writer loves Girl Power and someone who is a writer and knows humanity and a wide range of personalities could team up and create a solid memorable movie script…like that “League of their Own” – sharp wit, drama, strong personalities – the human spirit. (Nudge, nudge). Always smile when you drop by. Thanks for the encouragement and rolling with the hoops.
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My daughter is the fiction scribe in the family, but it’d be a dream come true to work with her.
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She is talented. Thought she might be interested. With your humor and observations of humanity…could be a winner!
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I knew a little bit about this discrimination, a friend’s MIL was a nurse in WWII and my friend had mentioned it. Doesn’t make sense of course, but now, maybe, it’ll be rectified. Shine a light, solve a problem.
[Your feed is not coming through into My Feedly on a timely basis. When I don’t see your posts for a week or so, I go look for you. Initially had thought you’d stopped posting, but am happy to see that you’re still here. Also, while I’m at it, thanks for being one of my top commenters as per WP’s end-of-year summary. I appreciate your interest.]
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There’s a time to be polite and a time to be the squeaky wheel. With all the focus on women voters/rights, maybe this time there will enough voices. Brave women.
Thanks for making an effort to keep up. I’m having trouble locating a few blogs I normally read, too. A tad annoying.(I always blame the Dec. snow for the freeze.) Do plan to see what’s going on with subscriptions/feeds.
Always enjoy wandering your way! A new year, a new bunch of laughs. Thanks for running by this piece of ground
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Terrific post. Thanks for shining your brilliant light on this topic. I think they should be allowed to be buried at Arlington.
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Time for all those who served to be honored.Appreciate your kind words. Thanks for joining the chorus!
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::sigh:: It’s all so baffling to me.
My Mom was in the Coast Guard (WWII) so I grew up assuming that moms –women in general!! — could and should do anything they wanted to do. Big surprise when I found out that not everyone feels that way.
Terrific post, powerful and important.
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My Grandmother was a gov. translator during the war. She spoke/knew 4 languages. And after the war she was a Civil Defense Chairman and worked. My mom worked. I thought everyone worked to justify taking up space and using resources. Must be a regional thing.
Dad tried to get in the Coast Guard when the army wouldn’t take the youngest and last son of a family (which changed after Pearl Harbor) While trying to sign up, they found out he was color blind and that knocked him out of that. He later found out he got sea sick on boats, so it was probably for the best.
Do you have pix of your mom from then. Very cool. Thanks for skimming by with a comment
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Translator! Wow! Such important work! Gosh — too bad about your Dad’s color blindness but being in boats could’ve been a problem. 🙂
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Boats turned out to be a problem. He and one of my uncles used to drive up to Port Angles and go out fishing during salmon season. I think he was probably sick a good part of the time, but always brought back lots of fish to can/freeze. Yum is a big motivator.
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