Honors College Theses

Publication Date

2026

Major

History (B.A.)

Release Option

Open Access

Faculty Mentor

Dr. Felicity Turner

Abstract

The Women Airforce Service Pilots, commonly known as the WASPs, were the first women to fly military planes for the United States. Serving during World War II, the main goal of the WASPs was to relieve the men flying planes domestically, so the men could serve overseas. But despite their dedicated wartime service, negative press and an unfavorable Congressional investigation prevented the WASPs from being fully recognized in 1944, and consequently militarized. Once they were disbanded near war’s end, the WASPs returned to civilian life. Not until the 1970s did the WASPs start to speak out about their service and fight for militarization again. But even after they were finally militarized in 1977, the WASPs still had to fight for their benefits as veterans. Indeed, the WASPs continued to be denied a majority of veterans’ benefits, and they could not be buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Once again, therefore, the WASPs and their families fought to be recognized in the same way as male veterans of a similar status. Finally, Congress recognized the right of WASPs to be inurned at Arlington National Cemetery in 2016.

Thesis Summary

The Women Airforce Service Pilots, commonly known as the WASPs, served during World War II as the first women to fly military planes for the United States. Despite their dedicated service taking on a variety of different flying roles on the home front during the war, Congress denied them militarization and recognition. The WASPs returned to civilian life after being disbanded in 1944. They received militarization after spending almost a decade sharing their story with the press and politicians in 1977. Even after being militarized, they fought to gain to access to the various veterans' benefits they deserved. 

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