WMA History
In 1943, the United States War Department called the first group of young women to serve their nation in time of war to replace manpower with womanpower so the men could serve in combat areas. President Roosevelt fusing together, under the War Department, the Women's Auxiliary Ferry Squadron (WAFS) founded by Nancy Harkness Love, and the Women's Flying Training Detachment (WFTD) founded by Jacqueline Cochran the Women's Air Force Service Pilots, or WASPs. These elite women became pioneers, heroines, and role models proving themselves to be a vital part of American history as well as the history of women in military aviation. They were the first women trained to fly American military aircraft serving as ferry and test pilots, mechanics, flight controllers, instructors, and aircraft production line workers. Officially in 1943 and 1944 these women were civilians; so their military service in World War II, their experiences, sacrifices and ultimately recognition by the United States government as veterans, was not codified in law.
In 1974 when the Air Force announced that women were going to be allowed to serve as military pilots for the first time, WASPs from all over the country became angry that their service had been totally ignored and began the fight for official recognition and veteran's status. In 1976 the cause found a powerful ally on Capitol Hill in former World War II pilot Senator Barry Goldwater. His first attempt to have the status of the WASPs officially changed to that of World War II veterans came in an amendment to an obscure bill that had already passed the House. The House voted against Goldwater's amendment. But the Senator from Arizona was not deterred. The following year he presented a WASP bill to the Senate that called for military recognition of the WASPs. With it he threatened to attach a WASP amendment to every piece of legislation that he introduced into the upper chamber if opponents in the Senate continued to block the WASP bill.
As the publicity around the situation increased the general public began to see and feel there had been a great injustice to these women who served. Stories were told about the government not paying for the funerals of young women killed flying military planes and where friends had to pass a hat to pay to ship the bodies of these solders home. These types of stories caused the political winds to change. In November 1977 after compelling testimony showing that the WASPs were subject to military discipline, assigned to top secret missions, received service ribbons and some receiving honorable discharges for active Federal Service, President Carter passed into law the Veterans Status of the WASP's.
In 1978, the Women Airforce Service Pilots of WWII (WASP), after just completing the long battle in Washington, D.C. to receive recognition as veterans of WWII, decided that it would be important to begin an organization that would promote and protect the history of Women in Military Aviation into the future. The Board of the WASP organization, since the military was finally training women pilots, wanted to start a new organization to allow the inclusion of current women military pilots. The women who had this bright new vision were: Bernice "Bee" Haydu, President ; Sara Hayden, Vice President ; Betty Nicholas, Secretary/ Treasure; DiDi Deaton and Marty Wyall, Board members. They chose the name Women's Military Pilots Association, Inc. and it became incorporated March 15, 1978 in the State of Massachusetts.
The new organization began to grow and it became clear that women's roles in aviation were also expanding. In April 1982 the WMA board and Capt. Karen Daneu met in Boston with Air Force Captains Barbara Brumme (Garwood) and Jane Oehme, T38 Instructors at Williams AFB. It became very clear from the discussions that women's roles in aviation were changing quickly and that there was great interest in expanding WMA as an organization to include current active women military pilots, navigators and others. In November 1988 the organization expanded to meet the growing population of women in aviation and the name was changed to Women Military Aviators, Inc. to include all women serving in aviation positions.
In April 1993, after several WMA members and others personally provided testimony to congress, a historic change in assignment policy occurred when combat aviation specialties and assignments in the Navy and Air Force were opened to women. Secretary of Defense Les Aspin explained the change by saying "We know from experience that women can fly our high-performance fighter aircraft. We know from experience that they can perform well in assignments at sea, and we know from Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield that women can stand up to the most demanding environments."
Today WMA is a growing organization, working to promote and preserve the history and future of Military Women in Aviation specialties.
In 1983 WMA held it's first convention under Chairmanship of Betty Nicholas and Esther Berner was held in Indianapolis, Indiana May 20 - 22, 1983. Since then conventions have been held every 2 years in the following locations:
1985 San Antonio, TX
1987 Colorado Springs, CO
1989 Washington, DC
1991 Sacramento, CA
1993 Norfolk, VA
1995 St. Louis, MO
1997 Washington, DC
1999 Las Vegas, NV
2001 Arlington, VA
2003 Arlington, VA
Currently Planning is underway for the 2005 Convention in San Diego, CA
Past Presidents have been:
1978 -1980 (WASP) Bee Haydu
1980 - 1982 (WASP) Sara P. Hayden
1982 - 1985 CAPT Barbara (Brumme) Garwood
1985 - 1987 CAPT Marne Peterson
1987 - 1989 Lt.Col Kelly Hamilton
1989 - 1991 Lt.Col Kelly Hamilton
1991 - 1993 Cdr Rosemary Mariner
1993 - 1995 Cdr Trish Beckman
1995 - 1997 Lt.Col Kim Olson
1997 - 1999 Maj Eileen Isola/Cdr Sue Davies
1999 - 2001 Maj Jennifer Peeples
2001 - 2003 Cdr (Ret) Trish Beckman
2003 - Present LTC Victoria Calhoun (Ret)