Bold indicates WASP event
September
World War II begins in Europe after Nazi armies invade Poland
Jacqueline Cochran writes letter suggesting women could fly in noncombat roles if needed
April–June
Germany takes over much of western Europe
Nancy Love writes letter suggesting women could ferry planes in US
July
Germany begins air attacks on Britain
September
Germany, Italy, and Japan form Axis Alliance
US Congress begins nation’s first peacetime draft
March
US begins sending aid to Britain
June
General Hap Arnold suggests Cochran go to London to observe women military pilots there
Cochran becomes first woman to fly a military plane across the Atlantic Ocean
December
Japan attacks Pearl Harbor; US enters World War II on side of Allies
Cochran contacts women pilots about flying military planes in Britain
March
Twenty-five American women begin training and flying in Britain under Cochran’s supervision
After months of losses, US defeats Japan at Battle of Midway
July
Air Transport Command begins hiring civilian ferry pilots
September
Congress authorizes the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES)
Nancy Love gets go-ahead to begin ferry pilot (WAFS) training in Delaware
Cochran gets go-ahead to begin broad training program (WFTD) in Texas
February
WFTD training moves from Houston to Sweetwater, Texas
March
Cornelia Fort is first American woman military pilot killed on active duty
July
Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC) is militarized
WAFS and WFTD combine to form Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP)
March
Congress’s Committee on Military Affairs recommends militarization for WASP
March–June
Columnists and male civilian pilots lobby against WASP
June
D-Day invasion reduces Allies’ need for pilots
WASP militarization bill is defeated
December
WASP is disbanded without militarization
May
Germany surrenders
Atomic bombs are dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan
September
Japan surrenders
June
Women’s Armed Services Integration Act makes women permanent, regular members of the military
July
Women in the Air Force are accepted for ground duty only and in limited numbers
June
Women admitted to military service academies and accepted for pilot training
Former Wasps organize to demand militarization and veterans’ benefits
November
Congress passes and President Jimmy Carter signs bill giving the WASP military status
WASP awarded World War II Victory Medals
July
Congress passes and President Barack Obama signs a bill awarding the WASP the Congressional Gold Medal