Evening star., 1944-09-20
Letters to The Star
Members of WASP Defended
Against Ailesed Determination

Members of WASP Defended
Against ALLEGED Determination
To the Editor Of The Star:
This letter Is an answer to your edi-
torial, Are They Needed?"
After reading all Of the available ma
terial regarding the recent WASP legis-
lation, We have come to the conclusion
that the proceedings were most unfair
to the woman pilots.
To begin with, the bill had everything
In its favor 1t provided for the mill
tarization of female pilots, group Of
hard-working, patriotic. American wom-
en- who have offered their services and
their lives for their country and who
have proved themselves successful in
every type of aerial work where they
have been tested. The bill was intro
duced by Representative John M. Cos
tello Of California, highly respected
and competent legislator; it had the full
backing Of the military in the person
OF Gen. Arnold; it had the unanimous
vote Of the Military Affairs Committee
and favorable comment by Secretary
OF War Henry L. Stimson. In spite Of
all this, the bill was defeated.
The issue became badly confused.
Certainly the debate was not based on
the merits and achievements of the
WASP. Instead, Congress chose to take
up the entire period with discussion
Of the problems OF group of male
civilian pilots in an effort to determine
whether they had been fairly treated.
Unreasonable accusations were made
against the women.
The bill was referred to as society
measure" and a glamour bill" There
was obviously no thought behind these
remarks. Glamour" never passed a
flight test for any woman and no inter-
probation of the word society" ever
helped woman to learn and retain
information to enable her successfully
to complete a written test on technical
ground school subjects These gentle
men could know nothing of the installa-
ton at Avenger Field, or of the work
performed by the pilots after gradua-
tion. The women who eventually earn
their wings put in approximately seven
months Of good, hard work. When they
have finished the course they are pre-
pared to perform the jobs for which
they were trained.
We also would like to mention the
criticism one gentleman made against
taking stenographers and beauty opera
v,i11 ~
the time they entered the field women
from all walks Of life have made ex-
cellent pilots. Why should they be con-
sidered any less capable OF plotting an
airplane than a boy with experience as
a grocery clerk? Ordinarily, We would
not consider such remarks worthy Of
denial, but We mention them here to
stress the unreasonableness of the de-
bate.
The WASP have earned and deserve
q dignified discussion Of their services.
1t Is true that the training OF women
started as an experiment. 1t WAS not
known whether women could handle
military aircraft. If the experiment
proved a success, the intention was to
take the woman pilots into the Army Air
Forces. II the women had failed, 1t
would be different story but the pro-
gram was unbelievably successful. Wnen
the time came to round out the expert
ment, to militarize the female pilots,
Congress refused to do so, undeniably
showing discrimination against women.
Some Of the things that should be
considered regarding the WASP are:
They have done their work we'll and,
by operating under Army orders. ac-
tually have served as part OF the Army
Air Forces; they are the only group OF
civilian men or women carrying out full
time military duties with the armed
forces as civilians. Congress has pro-
vided every branch of the armed forces
except the Air Corps with a women's
auxiliary: it has voted in favor of almost
every other request made by our war
leaders in this time Of national crisis.
Today there are facilities for training
women in almost any type of war work
they desire except flying.
Whether immediate further training
OF women is necessary is question that
should be left to the discretion of the
War Department-the war leaders. So
far. they have been capable of ascer-
tanning their needs. We do not believe
we now should dictate their needs to
them. One report on the WASP points
out that their militarization is not all
in favor of the female pilots. 1t is de-
sirable in the interest of the air forces
in that it would prevent designations,
give needed controls and make for uni
formity and efficiency of operation.
The things to keep in mind in con-
nection with the WASP are these: They
are needed until declared unnecessary
by the War Department; they deserve
to be recognized as a definite part of
the Army Air Forces, under which they
have served exceptionally we'll.
We axe not familiar with govern
mental procedure. but We do not believe
this matter should be dropped. If pos
sible, the WASP bill should be given
further consideration and again be pre-
Sented to Congress for vote.
ALISON CASTLES,
JEAN SCALET.
Friend Speaks Up for Jay
To the Editor Of The Star: