By Jim Roberts
According to the National WWII Museum, during that war nearly 1,100 highly trained women tested, flew, and ferried 12,650 aircraft over 60 million miles as Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). These women were between 21 and 35 years old, over 5 feet, 4 inches tall, and all had graduated from high school. Each had her pilot certificate but was trained by the Army Air Forces in Sweetwater, Texas.
Today at Avenger Field Airport in Sweetwater, the National WASP WWII Museum honors their legacy and inspires young people to follow their footsteps into the sky. Rachael McClain, the museum’s executive director, said, “We’re taking a historically significant event for women and using that story to inspire young people to pursue their dreams.” This week at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh you can find their display on the south edge of Boeing Plaza. It’s not hard to spot; just look for a shiny Vultee BT-13 Valiant and a bright yellow North American AT-6 Texan.
The WASP trained on five aircraft during their time in Sweetwater: the PT-17, PT-19, BT-13, AT-6, and the UC-78. The museum’s collection includes all but the PT-19, and all four aircraft are airworthy and flying. The BT-13 was flown to AirVenture by Andrea McGilvray, and among the museum’s corps of four pilots, ironically she’s the only woman. Andrea said she had no interest in aviation until her first flight in an ultralight. She remembered, “The world moved underneath me. I’m like, ‘This is so cool. I gotta do this.’ It changed my life.” Andrea has come a long way since that first flight in the ’80s. Today she flies an Extra 300L, competing in the Intermediate category of the International Aerobatic Club.
Describing the BT-13, she said, “It’s most likely one of the easier tailwheel aircraft to ever fly. It’s a very simple aircraft; that’s why it was called a basic trainer. It’s not hard to fly; it’s simple, it’s intuitive, it’s relaxing. I feel totally at home.
“I’m super grateful to be part of this organization,” Andrea added. “If nothing else, I would like to recruit other young ladies to come fly for us.”
Likewise, Museum Director Rachael McClain is grateful to have Andrea on board, remarking, “For her to be able to fly the BT-13 up here and represent women, it’s just so vital. And I really enjoy seeing the young women interact with Andrea. She’s inspiring, she encourages; she even encourages me.
“We have a high school girl volunteering with us this week; she has poured into that young lady. And I think that’s really what it’s about,” Rachael added. “The real mission is to inspire young boys and girls to pursue their dreams; to think about something beyond themselves. And Andrea is just the epitome of that.”
To recognize Andrea’s contributions, on Wednesday morning Rachael pinned a pair of WASP wings on the museum’s newest BT-13 pilot. Watching enthusiastically was 16-year-old Christina Agosto, the young volunteer who Andrea has so inspired.
“I just met her on Sunday, and she has been the most inspiring person I’ve met,” Christina said. “She has shown me that as a young woman, that we can absolutely fly in this world. And without WASP I would have never known the journeys that life can take you through.”
And what does the future hold for Christina?
“The big perfect dream would be the Naval Academy, for sure, flying military,” she said. “My heart is with an F-35; I would love to fly the big jets. When they fly over it’s like music to my ears. I can never cover my ears when they go by. But that’s the big dream, and hopefully I could fly for the WASPs one day.”
To which I say, “Rachael and Andrea, mission accomplished.”
