The Women with Silver Wings

The Inspiring True Story of the Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II

De: Katherine Sharp Landdeck

Narrado por: Gabra Zackman

“With the fate of the free world hanging in the balance, women pilots went aloft to serve their nation. . . . A soaring tale in which, at long last, these daring World War II pilots gain the credit they deserve.”—Liza Mundy, New York Times bestselling author of Code Girls

“A powerful story of reinvention, community and ingenuity born out of global upheaval.”—Newsday

When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941, Cornelia Fort was already in the air. At twenty-two, Fort had escaped Nashville’s debutante scene for a fresh start as a flight instructor in Hawaii. She and her student were in the middle of their lesson when the bombs began to fall, and they barely made it back to ground that morning. Still, when the U.S. Army Air Forces put out a call for women pilots to aid the war effort, Fort was one of the first to respond. She became one of just over 1,100 women from across the nation to make it through the Army’s rigorous selection process and earn her silver wings.

The brainchild of trailblazing pilots Nancy Love and Jacqueline Cochran, the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) gave women like Fort a chance to serve their country—and to prove that women aviators were just as skilled as men. While not authorized to serve in combat, the WASP helped train male pilots for service abroad, and ferried bombers and pursuits across the country. Thirty-eight WASP would not survive the war. But even taking into account these tragic losses, Love and Cochran’s social experiment seemed to be a resounding success—until, with the tides of war turning, Congress clipped the women’s wings. The program was disbanded, the women sent home. But the bonds they’d forged never failed, and over the next few decades they came together to fight for recognition as the military veterans they were—and for their place in history.

Fascinating

What these women did during WWII to help the US military and the Allies, is truly ground breaking. The sad part is every marginalized group that helped in the war effort took years to be recognized. And the WASPS lead the way even if for short time in breaking the glass ceiling.

What a wonderful portrayal of one segment of American Hero’s!

In a time the we live that certain groups are looking for and politicians bowing to give reparations, the WASP families deserve reparations- they actually contributed to US winning the war, only be cheaply and sexist treated- all 1102 of them/ their families should be given reparations.
The book is amazing, the reading exceptional all while giving us a glimpse of these American Heroines!

Amazing women pilots

I truly enjoyed this book written about the WASP women pilots. I would recommend this book to anyone I know. I'm proud of all the work that these women have done.

Women of the Air

Great Book of the history, I learned so much about women pilots. If you are interested in the history of women pilots I recommend this book.

Excellent! Fabulous research & storytelling

This book is packed w early aviation & USAF history & tells the story of the WASP in a compelling way until the very last page. You don’t often read a book that is screaming to be made into a movie, but this one certainly does!

Thank you

omg! get this book and listen to this book. Thank you author and narrator and Wasp!

Need More Stars!

If there were 10 stars 🌟 to give this book, I would give all 10.
I enjoyed the stories of these women and could relate to some of their struggles.
I am a retired Army Reservist. I had an MOS that was taken away from me because it was re-rated a combat MOS. That was back.in 1980. Today women are in this MOS and many others.
Katherine did an awesome job of capturing the struggles of the WASP's. There were laughter and tears throughout the book.

Excellent book

Great detailed history of the WASPS. Enjoyed the details of their struggles. They continued to fight for decades.

Moving story

I truly appreciate the WASP story being brought to my attention. I had no idea that these women ever existed and IM totally moved by what they went through. The narration was spot on and I could not have enjoyed the story more.

The way history and the personal side are entwined…

There is nothing at all to dislike in this great book. Except that it’s embarrassing the way these heroes were treated. My sister was commissioned as a Naval Flight Officer in 1977. She can tell stories of harassment and having to “over-perform” because of being a female. She retired after 34 years as a Two Star Admiral. She absolutely admires all these woman who opened doors for her.