USA Today:
Jean Springer was 22 when she joined a new corps of female pilots needed to help the country in World War II.
Now 89, the Cincinnati woman is in Washington on Wednesday with about 180 other former fliers finally to receive the nation's thanks.
Congress is awarding the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor, to members of the Women Airforce Service Pilots, a civilian branch of the Army Air Force. Fewer than 300 of the 1,100 survive. Relatives of those who have died or could not attend will also get medals.
WASP FACTS
· First women to serve as pilots and fly military aircraft for the United States Army Air Force during World War II
· Served in the Air Corps from September 1942 to December 1944
· 25,000 women applied for the Women's Flying Training Detachment; 1,830 women were accepted; 1,074 graduated from the training program
· Stationed at 120 Army Air Bases within the U.S.
· The WASP flew 78 different types of aircraft, including the B-29
· 38 died while flying for the Army Air Corps
· In 1977, President Carter signed a house bill giving WASP military recognition. The WASP received veteran's status in 1979 under Public Law 95-202.
· On July 1, 2009, President Obama recognized all the Woman Airforce Service Pilots by awarding them the Congressional Gold Medal for their invaluable service to the nation.
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