Devyn “Stray” Reilly (left) and the article’s author with the National WASP WWII Museum’s BT-13. These three pilots stood at the press conference in 1993 when the Air Force announced its policy change they went on to fly the F-16, F-15, and A-10 in combat – about 50 years after the WASP had first trained in Army planes. Dinner guests then watched alongside Betty and Major General Jeannie Leavitt as a video played which documented their flying careers, along with the story of retired Colonel Martha McSally. Air Force was connected from the WASP through this interim group of women who flew combat missions. Museum board member and retired USAF F-16 combat pilot and Thunderbird, Caroline “Blaze” Jensen, introduced Sharon “Betty” Preszler for the keynote speech and shared how her own U.S. This change also meant that women could fly both fighter and bomber aircraft types in combat alongside their male counterparts. The focus for this year’s fundraising dinner centered upon the 30th anniversary of the Department of Defense’s landmark decision formally allowing woman to fly in combat. The museum has grown in recent years, and now includes a second building where WASP artifacts are displayed and archived the new structure also houses exhibits to honor subsequent pilots who expanded the legacy established by the WASP. So the WASP Museum’s Homecoming event is now championed by the descendants of this trailblazing group of female aviators, present-day pilots, and fans of WASP history, all of whom are committed to carrying on and teaching the WASP legacy. Of the 1,102 women who served as WASP, sadly only about a dozen are still with us, and these survivors were too frail to attend the annual gathering. Doc on the ramp at Avenger field during the National WASP WWII Museum’s homecoming weekend and fly-in. Furthermore, the museum also announced their acquisition of a T-6 Texan to join its BT-13. ![]() The weather was not ideal for this year’s event, but even so, there were excellent representatives of the WWII warbird era on hand, including Doc (one of just two airworthy B-29s in the world), B-25J Devil Dog, C-47 That’s All Brother, BT-13s, T-6s, Stinsons, and the only Curtiss SBC2-5 Helldiver presently flying in the world. ![]() Having some of the historic warbirds flying at the field for the annual homecoming event of the National WASP WWII Museum makes one appreciate the sort of conditions those brave women, including my grandmother Elaine Danforth Harmon, learned to fly in. Most of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) trained here during World War II. The WWII bomber’s four, powerful radial engines drowned out the rest of the kid’s enthusiastic shouts as the B-29 passed by and touched down Doc had arrived! Gusty conditions and blowing sand are not unusual to Sweetwater, Texas, where Avenger Field is located. “Oh wow!” a kid yelled as he sprinted against the gusting wind towards the runway at Avenger Field while staring up at a Boeing B-29 Superfortress on final approach in late April, 2023. Boeing B-29 Superfortress Doc coming in to land at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas to take part in the WASP Museum Homecoming event on April 28th, 2023.
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