McCaul Honors WWII Women Air Force Pilots

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Michael McCaul (TX-10) helped honor nearly 200 women at the U.S. Capitol today, who received the Congressional Gold Medal for their service as a member of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) during World War II. Twenty-two of the women present were from Texas. Among them was Mildred Dalrymple of Austin (photo attached), who Rep. McCaul formally recognized at a ceremony in Austin last summer.

“These women are finally recognized as heroines,” said Rep. McCaul. “My father flew bombing missions in World War II but the story of these brave women is one that’s little known because our country failed to recognize their service and the crucial role they played in our freedom. This is Congress’s way of bestowing a high honor for their heroic service.”

Congress recently passed legislation to award Congressional Gold Medals, the highest civilian honor bestowed for courage, service and dedication, to each of the WASP. During World War II, with a shortage of male pilots, General Hap Arnold, Chief of the Army Air Forces, realized the need to utilize women pilots. More than 25,000 American women applied for training, but only 1,830 were accepted and took the oath. 1,074 women successfully completed the 21 to 27 weeks of Army Air Forces flight training, graduated, and received their Army Air Force orders. These women flew fighter, bomber, transport, and training aircraft in defense of America's freedom.

These brave women also faced overwhelming cultural and gender bias and overcame multiple injustices and inequities in order to serve their country. Despite their service, they were not granted military status, and so received no military honors or benefits, and were all but ignored in the history books. The WASP did not earn military status until 1977, 33 years after they disbanded.