Clipped Wings: The Rise and Fall of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) of World War II

During World War II, the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) program was a unique military auxiliary that allowed women to undertake dangerous missions typically associated with men. Despite their contributions to the war effort, the WASPs were disbanded in 1944 due to social pressures. In her book "Clipped Wings," author Molly Merryman chronicles the history of the over one thousand pilots who served as WASPs and their struggles and eventual success in gaining military status and receiving veterans benefits. The book highlights the persistence and extraordinary achievement of these women pilots, who not only broke the barriers of flight but also established a model for equality.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 15 September 2020
Publisher: New York University Press

The remarkable stories of pioneering women aviators, who are also featured in the upcoming documentary film "Coming Home: Fight for a Legacy," deserve to be brought back into the spotlight. During World War II, all branches of the military had women's auxiliaries, but it was the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) program that stood out as an entirely female contingent undertaking perilous missions typically associated with and desired by men. Within the military hierarchy, the World War II pilot was regarded as the epitome of allure and desirability. Flyboys were the daring elite of the United States military, and their reputation for bravery and skill was unparalleled.

However, the WASPs challenged these prevailing notions of male supremacy in wartime culture. They flew the fastest fighter planes and heaviest bombers, undertaking experimental test flights and contributing to the development of weapons systems. Despite their remarkable contributions, the WASPs were the only women's auxiliary within the armed services of World War II that was not militarized.

In her book "Clipped Wings," author Molly Merryman delves into the history of the over one thousand pilots who served as WASPs during World War II. Drawing upon military documents, congressional records, and interviews with the women who flew for the program, Merryman traces the social pressures that led to their disbandment in 1944, despite the ongoing wartime need for their services. She documents their struggles and eventual success, achieved in 1977, in gaining military status and receiving veterans benefits.

In the preface to this reissued edition, Merryman reflects on the significant changes in women's aviation over the past twenty years. The launch of NASA's new Artemis program, with its promise to land the first female astronaut on the moon, symbolizes a new era of opportunities for women in the field. The WASPs' legacy continues to inspire and empower women in aviation today, reminding us of the remarkable achievements of those who paved the way for gender equality in the skies.

Weight: 422g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781479805785