WASP of the Ferry Command

WASP of the Ferry Command is the story of the women ferrypilots who flew more than nine million miles in 72 differentaircraft-115,000 pilot hours-for the Ferrying Division, AirTransport Command, during World War II. In the spring of 1942,Col. William H. Tunner lacked sufficient male pilots to movevital trainer aircraft from the factory to the training fields. NancyLove found 28 experienced women pilots who could do the job.They, along with graduates of the army's flight training school forwomen-established by Jacqueline Cochran-performed thisduty until fall 1943, when manufacture of trainers ceased.

In December 1943 the women ferry pilots went back to school tolearn to fly high-performance WWII fighters, known as pursuits.By January 1944 they began delivering high performance P-51s,47s, and 39s. Prior to D-Day and beyond, P-51s were crucial tothe air war over Germany. They had the range to escort B-17sand B-24s from England to Berlin and back on bombing raidsthat ultimately brought down the German Reich. Getting thosepursuits to the docks in New Jersey for shipment abroad becamethese women's primary job. Ultimately, more than one hundredWASP pursuit pilots were engaged in this vital movement ofaircraft.