page_title: Wing Scout
section_title: Wing Scouts in California
hierarchical_section_title: Wing Scout / Wing Scouts in California
caption_attribution_description: The San Diego Chapter Ninety-Nines and the scouts of Wing Scout Troop 489 in the summer of 1955 at the now closed Del Mar Municipal Airport.Pictured are: (standing L-R) Lois Bartling, 99 &amp; wing scout chairwoman; Betty Sidey, troop secy; Dottie Sanders, 99; Tonia Mann; Shirley Halsey; Judy Sabadois; Claire Dugan, troop president; Phyllis Hamilton; Linda Luhman; Mary Annette Cleaver; Joan Lovett, troop leader &amp; flight instructor, Thelma Bishop, troop founder. Kneeling: Lindsay Krebs; Virginia Bock, Donna Hardesty; Joan Dunkle, troop treasurer; and Terry Fait.
context_page_description: The Wing Scout Program was a popular older girl Girl Scout program begun in 1941 for girls "interested in flying and wanting to learn enough about aviation to serve their country."
  Like the Mariner Scout program, the Wing Scout program began as a Senior Girl Scout Mobilist Project with limited expectations, but by July 1942 twenty-nine troop leaders from fifteen states met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to take Wing Scout leadership training. These leaders returned to their councils and began setting up Wing Scout troops.
  Once the United States entered into World War II, the Wing Scout program took on a new importance.
  The first formal printed information on the Wing Scout program was a packet described in the publication Senior Girl Scouting in War Time. A 4-page pamphlet was produced in 1944, and a 16-page booklet was issued in 1945. A 20-page Wing Scout Manual was published in 1945. That same year the first of three Piper Cub training planes were presented to Girl Scouts by William T. Piper, President of Piper Aircraft.
context_section_description: In 1959, Girl Scout Council in North San Mateo County was presented with an offer from United Airlines San Francisco Management Club President J. L. Burnside to start an aviation program for Senior Girl Scouts.
  At that time, the council had been in search of a program that would challenge the interest of Senior Girl Scouts.
  We felt this high caliber type program assistance merited more than our own local girls, so we invited girls from surrounding councils to join us. This afforded us the opportunity of working not only with the Central San Mateo County Council with whom were about to merge; but also San Carlos, Redwood City, San Francisco, and Alameda. ... When girls from Fremont, Livermore, Walnut Creek, Pinole, and Sacramento came -- we felt very rewarded; and that our far reaching goals were justified and had been reached. The program received recognition Nationally, in the Leader Magazine. As a result, we received inquiries from many Councils, including one from a Council just outside of Washington D.C., concerning our procedure plans. —
  One of the highlights of the Wing Scout program was the courtesy flight provide to Senior Girl Scouts using United Airlines' jets. For many of the girls, this was the first time they had flown in a plane.
  The Wing Scout program was not for show, participating girls took it very seriously. As a result of their proficient training and ability, Senior Girl Scouts who had been in the program for three years were given the opportunity to take over the controls during flight in a small aircraft. The program in the Bay Area continued into the 1980s when it was discontinued after United Airlines experienced financial setbacks.
  The San Diego area was also home to Wing Scout Troop #489, sponsored by The San Diego Chapter of the Ninety-Nines, Inc, International Organization of Women Pilots. Members of the San Diego 99s mentored the Scouts. A few were also flight instructors who would provide the scouts flight instruction.
caption: The San Diego Chapter 99s & Wing Scout Troop #489 in 1951 at the Del Mar, CA Airport
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