WASP Emeral Drummond, 43-W-7 March 21, 2012

Mary Emeral Drummond was born in Rochelle, Illinois April 3, 1920.  Her family moved to Southern California in 1925 and started the San Fernando Valley chicken ranch on which Emeral, her sister and her brother grew up.  

She graduated from Van Nuys High School in 1937 and attended the University of California at Los Angeles, graduating with a Bachelor of Education Degree with a concentration in Commerce in 1941.  After working in San Francisco and taking a course in meteorology at the University of California, San Francisco she moved to Phoenix, Arizona to learn to fly.  

She entered WASP training in May, 1943 and completed training that year with class 43-W-7.  She was assigned as a pilot at the navigation training base in Hondo, Texas.  At Hondo, she logged about 800 hours in the AT-7 twin engine Beech aircraft.

SNB-2C (AT-7's) Navigation trainers photo from twinbeech.com

After deactivation she became an air traffic controller for the CAA at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix.  After the war she operated a small business in the Los Angeles area and then was accepted as an accountant and auditor for the City of Los Angeles.  During her time with the city she continued her education at the University of Southern California, receiving a Masters Degree in Public Administration in 1965.

During the Korean War she was recalled to her country's service as a 1st Lieutenant in the United States Air Force.  She was assigned to McClelland Air Force Base in Sacramento, California and to Wright Patterson Air Force base in Dayton, Ohio.

She especially loved her WASP relationships and continued to travel to WASP reunions and events around the country throughout her life.  Her home, on the side of a Los Angeles hill, was always full of flying friends and WASP memorabilia.  

She was invited, along with other Southern California WASP, to participate in Veteran's Day Parades and events in cities throughout Southern California.  She was invited to participate in the re-dedication of the North Hollywood Regional Library as the Amelia Earhart Library.  

After retirement she became a sailor, an avid golfer, and continued her travels around the world visiting WASP friends as she did so.  

She left us on her final flight March 21, 2012.

_____

reposted from Charles Drummond's email.
pictures added by Wings Across America

Katherine Ruth Kupferberg Kornblum, 43-W-6

"You wanted to do something for your country. It didn't matter what. I was a registered nurse and had been planning to work in an overseas hospital, but when the chance came to fly, I took it."

....................................

 

Katherine "Ruth" Kupferberg Kornblum, a White Plains (New York) resident who last year was among 300 pioneering women aviators awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, died Sunday (Jan. 16, 2011) at Calvary Hospital in the Bronx. She was 93.

As a young pilot, she served her country during World War II. In her later years she served her community as a nursing home volunteer.

In 1943, Kornblum became one of 1,074 female pilots out of 25,000 who applied and qualified for duty as a Women Airforce Service Pilot (WASP), flying military aircraft all over the U.S.

"You wanted to do something for your country," she said in a March interview with The Journal News. "It didn't matter what. I was a registered nurse and had been planning to work in an overseas hospital, but when the chance came to fly, I took it."


The WASP ferried military planes to various bases and airfields, transported equipment and passengers and towed targets for anti-aircraft and gunnery training (eventually, flying every type mission flown by the Army Air Forces except combat).  Kornblum learned how to fly in 1940 and 1941.  By the time the WASP disbanded in 1944, Kornblum had flown about 1,000 hours for her country. She never piloted a plane again.

"For a while it felt strange not to fly, but I got so busy with other interests I never thought about it," she said.

Although they lived in barracks, wore uniforms and piloted military planes, the WASP were considered civilians and were not recognized as military veterans until 1977.

In March, Kornblum and about 300 other surviving members gathered in Washington, D.C., where they received the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation's highest civilian award.

"It was wonderful, and I feel now that we've been recognized for what we did," she said at the time.


Kornblum was born Aug. 15, 1917, in the Bronx to David and Pauline Kupferberg. She grew up in Eastchester and graduated from Eastchester High School before going on to nursing school. She was a registered nurse at Mount Sinai Hospital before entering the WASP and returned to the hospital after the war, working for several more years.

She married Ira Kornblum on June 2, 1947 in New York City. The couple moved to White Plains in 1950. Mr. Kornblum died in 1995.


While living in White Plains, she was active in the Fort Hill Players theater group and the Prompters, a volunteer group at the SUNY Purchase Performing Arts Center. She was also active in women's rights and animal rights causes.

For the last 17 years, Kornblum was a volunteer at the Sarah Neuman Center nursing home in Mamaroneck, where Amy Lionheart, the director of volunteers, said she put in more than 10,000 hours doing clerical work, serving as a patient advocate, managing medical records and doing whatever else was needed.


Kornblum is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, John and Mary Kornblum of White Plains; a niece, June Moskovitz of White Plains; and a nephew, Paul Gritt of Detroit.

A memorial service is being planned for the summer.

v/r reposted from the LO HUD Lower Hudson Valley Online
Written by Richard Liebson • rliebson@lohud.com • January 21, 2011
edited for accuracy

..............................

I offer this final photo--a captured moment of joy...taken after the Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony on March 10, 2010 at the Capitol in Washington, DC. Katherine is in the center, surrounded by 4 fellow WASP from New York.  

To her family, to all of those whose lives she touched, God bless you with warm memories of the joy she brought to so, so many.

V/R posted by Nancy Parrish

..............................

Additional articles:

http://www.forthillplayers.com/kornblum.htmhttp://www.forthillplayers.com/kornblum.htm
http://veterans.lohudblogs.com

WASP Ruth Humphryes Brown, 43-W-8

"I heard about the (WASP) program--and all the gals were trying to do something for the war effort.  It was either that or Bundles for Britain  and I decided flying sounded a little more exciting  than knitting..."

  Ruth Brown from her interview: Wings Across America

WASP RUTH HUMPHREYS BROWN photo: Wings Across America.org

WWII Pilot, Philanthropist, Aspen 
Matriarch Ruth Brown dies at 90
________

Ruth Humphreys Brown, an Aspen community leader since the ski resort’s post-war founding and wife to Aspen Ski Corp. president D.R.C. Brown, died Thursday, Dec. 30, 2010 in her Aspen home.

Brown, for whom “Ruthie’s Run” on Aspen Mountain was named, had celebrated her 90th birthday in November.

She is remembered as an Aspen matriarch who helped guide the town through its modern history with quiet strength, and as a devoted mother and neighbor with an outsized aptitude for both adventure and compassion.

“She lived in the shadow of my father,” her daughter Ruth recalled Sunday. “But what people didn’t realize was that she was much tougher than he was. Her strength was doing things and leading in such an unassuming way. She was quietly, in her way, able to lead behind the scenes.”

Born Ruth Boettcher Humphreys on Nov 11, 1921 to the prominent A.E. Humphreys family of Denver,  she grew up surrounded by the beautiful mountains of Colorado, steeped in the history of Colorado’s 19th century mining, oil and manufacturing industries and her father's love of aviation. 

A.E. Humphreys served as a Marine pilot in World War I, and, once he returned from the war, he bought one of the first passenger airplanes: a Fokker single engine.  Later, he bought a Tri-motor Beach.   Young Ruth grew up around airplanes.  However, her early experiences were only as a passenger. 

Ruth attended Kent School in Denver and later Miss Porter’s School in Connecticut and Finch College in New York City. 

In 1943, at 22, determined to help her country during World War II, she heard about the Army Air Forces Women's Flying training program.   Once she learned the requirements for acceptance, she decided it was time to learn to fly, and immediately began taking flying lessons.  Eventually, she completing the 35 required hours, applied and was accepted into the Women Airforce Service Pilots program, class 43-W-8, leaving her beautiful mountains to travel to Avenger Field in the middle of West Texas. It was there that Ruth, along with 47 other young women pilots, completed training and earned her WASP wings on December 17, 1943. 

After graduation, Ruth was stationed at Childress Army Air Base, Texas, where she trained bombardiers in AT-11's and later was stationed at Harlingen, Texas, where she flew as a B-26 tow target pilot, training gunners for combat.  Her last assignment was to March Field, California, where she was stationed when the WASP were disbanded on December 20, 1944.  From California, Ruth paid her way back to Colorado. 

After the war, Ruth became very interested in skiing and began spending time in Aspen with a cadre of Denver friends who were interested in creating a ski area. Among them was D.R.C. Brown, whom she married in 1947, the same year he founded the Aspen Skiing Corp. and marked the rebirth of the little-known mining town as a premier international resort destination.

“She was brought here by the whole ‘Aspen Idea,’” daughter Ruth Brown said, referring to the local “mind, body, spirit” credo.

Along with the founding families Paepckes and Pabsts, the Browns were present at the creation of Aspen as a modern utopia for the fulfillment of mind, body and spirit. They stewarded its growth as a peaceful mountain community, a world-renowned intellectual and cultural hub, and a world-class ski resort.

“She liked the sophistication and how diverse it could be,” Ruth said. “But she also liked the really down-home, grassroots attitude that Aspen was built on.”

When Brown moved to Aspen, she bought a mining shack on Hyman Avenue for $200, painted it pink and transformed it into a sort of social salon — known as “The Pink House” — where cowboys could, and did, mix easily with movie stars.

The Browns had five children together, and raised them on their ranch in Carbondale. Along with skiing and hiking, her hobbies included racing cars and riding horses. Ruth recalled her mother taming a large black gelding, which nobody else could handle.   “She would take us riding and lope out in front of us on this fiery, high strung horse as we all hung on to keep up with her,” she said.

“She really appreciated the growing of the ski industry and the elements making Aspen a broader, worldly resort,” Ruth recalled. “She had a harder time with the out-of-scale wealth that came in with it — and the people who didn’t appreciate the whole history of Aspen. She wanted people to come here who would appreciate it and try to be a part of the community, rather than bringing their city attitudes in.”

KNCB Moore, a longtime family friend, recalled taking a Colorado River trip with the Browns years ago. D.R.C. fell and broke his ribs in Cataract Canyon. “Ruthie had to row their 10-man raft, a very heavy, old World War II surplus,” Moore said. “I would run the rough white water stretches for her after I had kayaked through them.”

Moore also has found memories of the Brown's weekend parties at their Wagon Wheel Ranch in southern Colorado, which remains in their family. One such gathering included Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier.

“Ruthie Brown was a kind, generous and strong woman who made history and many of my Aspen memories. She will be missed,” Moore said.

In 1959, Brown established the Ruth H. Brown Foundation, and began funneling her time and money into nonprofits and causes close to home and to her heart.  She was a patron of the arts as well as a participant in workshops at Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Snowmass Village.   Her philanthropic efforts included founding the Blind Outdoor Leisure Development program, which taught the blind how to downhill ski and the first expansion of Outward Bound’s programs to America. 

Her daughter recalled playing on the Outward Bound rope courses in Marble as her mother often met with the growing organization’s brass. She successfully championed the expansion of its programs to women and as an outreach to at-risk inner-city youths.

“That was a large contribution to this country,” Ruth said.

Brown held a prominent place in the growing ski town’s ruling class, but she kept herself grounded within the community of year-round locals behind the glamour of the resort. Among her proudest achievements was founding the Aspen Recovery Unit, the town’s first official substance abuse treatment resource center. Brought up by parents who struggled with alcoholism, Brown converted a local home into a hub to help others like them in Aspen.

Family photo via Aspen Daily News

She spearheaded the construction of an ice rink across from the Pink House, which eventually became the Aspen Ice Garden and the base for Aspen’s now-fertile youth hockey and figure skating programs.

Those and other commitments, including raising her children, took her out of the pilot’s seat; she didn’t fly planes after her World War II service. But D.R.C. kept flying and she kept co-piloting. The family built a crude landing strip and kept a prop plane on their Carbondale ranch, taking sightseeing trips — often between there and another family ranch in Utah. Ruth recalled her mother taking the family station wagon out to the airfield and illuminating it with its headlights, to guide DRC in for nighttime landings.

Longtime friend, Sue Smedstad remembered: "Ruth Brown was as comfortable at a cocktail party for well-heeled directors of the Aspen Ski Corp. as she was puttering around the ranch.  This was a woman of elegance and quintessential taste, Yet she could raft a river and get down and dirty with the best of them." 

The wide, fast and often sun-drenched “Ruthie’s Run” on Aspen Mountain serves as a sort of living memorial to the departed grand dame, along with the chairlift and on-mountain restaurant also named for her. Ruth recalled ski days on the mountain with her four siblings and parents — and the peace of traditionally schussing down Ruthie’s with her mother at the end of a long day on the slopes.

“It was always our afternoon run,” she recalled. “It was special and really fun, to take one last run down the mountain together on Ruthie’s in the setting sun.”

When D.R.C. retired in 1979, he and Ruth began spending some time — and, in recent years, most winters — in Arizona.  They were married for more than six decades, until his passing in 2008. When he died, Ruth and longtime friend John McBride flew over their old Carbondale ranch and spread his ashes there.

In 1995, Ruth was inducted into the Aspen Hall of Fame.  On March 10, 2010, she, along with her WASP peers, was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, highest award Congress can bestow on a civilian.

Survivors include five children and their spouses, Darcey Brown of Moab, Utah, Boots Brown of Hesperus, Colo., Lorni Cochran of Brattelboro, Vt, Charla Brown of Creede and Ruthie Brown, of Aspen; three stepchildren, Marti Garvey of Salida, Dave Brown of Denver and Scott Brown of Grand Junction; seven grandchildren and a sister-in-law, Ruth Perry of Carbondale, Colo. 

The Brown family is planning a memorial service for Ruth on Jan. 22 at the Aspen Institute’s Paepcke Auditorium. This summer, they are planning another service at her family’s historic home in Creede.

When asked how her mom will be remembered, her daughter Darcey Brown said, “Almost everybody would mention her generosity. She helped family and friends and even strangers.” (quoted from Aspen Times Article)

“In the end,” her daughter Ruth said, “the most important thing in her life was her family. She was the glue that held us all together. She was a remarkable woman.”

_____________

Ruth’s maternal grandfather was Charles Boettcher who, between 1900 and 1905. helped organize the Great Western Sugar Company, the Ideal Cement Company, Western Packing Company, Capitol Life Insurance Company and several real estate and investment firms.

He and his son, Claude, established the Boettcher Foundation in 1937, and family members, including Ruth Humphreys, have continued to support its many philanthropic interests.

Ruth’s paternal grandfather and father were involved in mining, oil, and manufacturing interests. Her grandfather was known as the “king of the wildcatters” and had interests throughout the US. Ruth’s father was President of the Humphreys Gold Corporation, Humphreys Investments, Humphreys Mining and Engineering, and the Humphreys Phosphate Company.

In 1922, AE Humphreys senior founded the Humphreys Foundation. In the early 1920s, Humphreys’ mining interests had taken him to Creede, Colo., where he built a summer mountain retreat that remains an important gathering place for generations of family and friends.

_________________

*Article information respectfully compiled from

Wings Across America interview

Aspen Daily News article by Andrew Travers, Monday, January 3, 2011

 Aspen Times, article by Scott Condon,  January 1, 2011

Online obituaries posted in Monte Vista Journal, Glenwood Springs Post Independant

Additional article:

 http://wings1944.blogspot.com/2010/04/aspen-pioneer-pilots-finally-honored.html

Velta Haney Benn, 44-7 Dec 1. 2010

WASP VELTA SNYDER HANEY BENN 44-W-7

Velta was born in Vienna, Virginia, where she grew up with a love of aviation.

 

When she learned of America’s  desperate need for military pilots,  and the Army Air Forces’  recently enacted  training program to teach women pilots to fly military aircraft ‘the Army way,’ she applied for the program. She was one of ninety eight women pilots from all over America who was accepted as a member of class 44-7 and reported for training to Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas. 

 

After 7 months of the Army Air Forces’ flight training, she graduated with fifty eight of her classmates on 8 September 1944.

 

Velta was then stationed at Merced Army Air Field in California.  There she flew At-6s as an administrative pilot, flying personnel from one base to another, as well as flying  BT-13s on observation flights and as an instrument instructor, teaching AAF male pilots how to fly by instruments alone.  She remained there until the WASP were disbanded on 20 December, 1944.

 

After hanging up her WASP parachute,   Velta worked in different aviation related jobs, helping to produce aviation training films, researching safety and landing procedures off carriers for the Navy, and was  an FAA accident prevention counselor.  In addition, she was an FAA pilot examiner for private, commercial, multi-engine and instrument ratings, with over 27,000 flight hours to her credit.

 

In 1983,  Velta Benn was inducted into the Virginia Aviation Hall of Fame, and on March 10, 2010, she, together with  1,101 WASP peers, was awarded the CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL, the highest  honor  Congress can give a civilian.

 

On December 1, 2010, Velta passed away at her residence in Alexandria, Virginia, less than 20 miles from where she grew up and learned to fly.     She was ninety three years old.

 

Velta is survived by her children:   Delmar "Del" Haney, Lynne Ratz, Laura Benn, Bonnie Martinez, Terri Gentry and Dawn Bauer; two sisters, Narcissa Newcome and Mary Tucker.  She is cherished by every member of her family, including  her six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.  She will never be forgotten by her WASP classmates and friends.

 

This special WASP leaves a unique  aviation legacy, as is evidenced by the following selected postings:

 

MESSAGE TO VELTA:   "I had the honor to share an airplane cockpit with you on seven FAA checkrides and on each one of them it truly was a pleasure to fly with and learn from you. That's right - one of the most important things I learned from you was how to remain calm, cool and collected in a cockpit under adversity. I sometimes would ask myself during a flight, "What would Velta do in this situation?  "
You taught more with fewer words than anyone I have ever known and that is an admirable trait.
You were a class act and set an unwavering example for all who were fortunate enough to come across your path in life. Simply put, your sphere of influence was quite large. And although I know that YOU would never say it - you were one of the greatest of the 'Greatest Generation'.
   First Lieutenant, we all are truly going to miss you!"  Matthew Tyson   Louisa, VA

 

"It was an honor and pleasure to know her and learn from her. Her life's accomplishments are what many dream of and few ever achieve."  Dr. Tom Roselle   Oakton, VA  

 

God bless her family and those whose lives she touched.  She is truly flying higher.

Respectfully posted by Nancy and Deanie Parrish Dec. 6, 2010

_____

WASP Barbara Donahue Ross, WAFS

Barbara Donahue Ross, 90, died at her home on Acorn Farm on Saturday, August 21, 2010. 

She was born March 25, 1920 in New York City the daughter of Charles Dempsey Donahue and Matilda Higgins Donahue. Barbara attended Spence School, Ethel Walker School and Vassar College.  

She was an original member of the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS).  She later became the commanding Officer of the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots (WASPS) at Romulus Army Air Base in Michigan.
 
On November 22, 1946 she married Captain Howard Ross.  In December 1950, Captain and Mrs. Ross purchased Acorn Farm in Warrenton where they raised a family and ran a dairy operation.

During those years Miz Ross/Donnie was an avid horse enthusiast, fox hunter and active supporter of community activities.  Beginning in the mid-1980s, Granmom became a super soccer fan for each of her grandchildren.  Family and friends will remember her for her generosity, hospitality, kindness, high spirits, sense of fun, grand gestures, courage, grace under pressure and sense of humor.

Barbara was preceded in death by her husband and a daughter, Barbara Mildred Ross.  She is survived by a son, Charles Ross, and two daughters, Patricia Drunagel and Helen Ford, all of Warrenton, and seven grandchildren.

A private family service will be held on Acorn Farm.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be sent to either the Americans for Immigration Control, P.O. Box 738 Monterey, VA 24465-0738, Fauquier SPCA, P.O. Box 733, Warrenton, VA 20188, the Nature Conservancy, 4245 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 100,  Arlington, VA 22203-1606 or to the charity of your choice. 

_____

Respectfully reposted from the Moser Funeral Home site.
Nancy Parrish
Aug. 30, 2010

WASP Beverly Frisbie Carruth, 44-W-7

CARRUTH, BEVERLY F. of San Diego Aug. 2, 1922 - July 19, 2010 7/30 2pm at San Carlos United Methodist, 6554 Cowles Mtn. Featheringill Mortuary (619) 583-9511

Published in San Diego Union-Tribune on July 26, 2010
________________

Additional information from Scott Ferguson:

Beverly Frisbie Carruth WASP 44-7
Beverly passed away peacefully at home on 7-19-2010.

A memorial service was held on Friday, 7-30- 2010 at 2:00 PM
San Marcos United Methodist Church
6554 Cowles Mountain Blvd     San Diego, CA

Funeral service will be held on Thursday, 9-23-2010 at 12:00 PM    Fort Rosecran's National Cemetery      San Diego, CA
_____________

 Beverly was only of only 1,074 women who completed Army Air Force flight training and became a WASP.  She entered  training from Highland Park, IL as one of 103 trainees of Class 44-7.    59 young women graduated on September 8, 1944.  The Big Spring Bombardier School Band played as the trainees passed in review for the graduates.  Lt. Col. Roy P. Ward, the CO of the 2563rd AAFBU (Army Air Force Base Unit) was the speaker for the graduation ceremony. 

After graduation, Beverly received Army Air Force orders and was sent to Douglas Army Air Field in Douglas Arizona to the 3014th AFBU.  There, she flew as a utility, administrative and engineering test pilot.  Aircraft she might have flown included the BT-14, AT-8, UC-78, AT-17 and B-25.

If you knew Beverly, or would like to post a message to her family, please fill out the box below.

Thank you for caring.

God watch over her family.

Respectfully posted Aug. 3, 2010
Nancy Parrish
Information from  WASP Bryd Granger's "On Final Approach"

Lois Brooks Hailey, 43-W-3

Lois Hailey - Teaching Others 

Lois was born on January 18, 1915, in the house she would grow up in at 331 Moran street in Reno, NV.  Her dad was Charles W. Brooks and her mother was Harriet Peckham.  Lois had an older brother, Ernest, and four sisters; Ethel, the eldest, Myrtle, Carol, and Louise, who are all deceased. 

Lois spent her youth as a tomboy.  She also spent time at her Dad’s Model Dairy.  She sold raffle tickets and won first prize, a horse.  She learned early that her life was not bounded by others. 

Lois attended Reno High and then went on to get a degree in Spanish and Education from the University of Nevada in Reno.  During her senior year,  she had to take care of her ailing mother, who was stricken with cancer.  There was nothing Lois could do for her mother but try and comfort her.  Lois did not know it at the time, but cancer would come into her life again.


After graduation in 1936 from U of N, Lois took a teaching job in Minden, Nevada, south of Reno.  She directed the school band and gave private music lessons to interested students.  She was also responsible for teaching photography for the school.  Her plan was to save enough money to fulfill her dream of attending the Julliard School of Music.

 The elementary school band, Minden, Nevada, 1942

All was going as planned, but outside influences were starting to detour her life.  In June of 1939, Jim Peckham, a cousin, got her to join him and learn to fly.  She fell in love with it.  On December 3, 1939, mom flew solo for the first time.  On January 17, she was awarded her solo license.  By April 17, 1940, she had her private license.

On December 1, 1940, Jim and a friend, Vic Spezia, pooled their money, convinced mom to give up part of her Julliard savings, and they bought a single engine Taylorcraft, NC23875, for $1,995.  Sharing the plane meant Jim and Vic got the plane during the week and Lois got it on the weekend.  Lois also got to fly the plane over the mountains to take it in for maintenance work.  Jim and Vic would kid mom by making up stories about the carburetor freezing or ice on the wings and the plane would fall out of the sky while she was in route. 

After about a year of sharing the Taylorcraft, Jim and Vic sold mom their share in the plane.  This was just as W.W.II was starting.

Mom, while still fulfilling her teaching duties, kept flying; spot landings, cross-country, chandelles, eights, verticals, spins, loops and stalls.  Finally, on July 11, 1941, with over 300 hours, she took and passed her commercial license test to become the first female pilot in the state of Nevada to do so. 

As the war progressed, flying was limited and fuel was rationed.  On August 29, 1942, Lois, with just over 500 hours of flying time, sold her plane to a training school so it could be put to better use. 

That didn’t keep her from flying though.  In September of that year, her brother Ernest started his unsuccessful run for Congress.  She borrowed a plane from a local gambler, Virgil Smith, to fly Ernest around northern Nevada.

This was also the time that Nancy Love and Jacqueline Cochran were putting their women’s flying groups together.  Since Lois had over 500 hours, she received an invitation from Nancy Love to join the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS).   All she had to do was travel back east for an interview with Nancy.  She declined.  Then she got a telegram from Jacqueline to meet her on the west coast for an interview. 

Lois Brooks and classmates, 43-3 at Houston Municipal Airport, 1942

Lois was interested in meeting Jacqueline, but not in joining the Army.  So, she joined a friend, Iris Crtichell, who also got an invitation to join the Women’s Flying Training Detachment (WFTD) and they went to see what it was all about.  Mom told them she wasn’t interested in joining and asked about Jacqueline.   She was told that Jacqueline would not be there and that since she was there, she should take the physical just to see if she could pass.  Well she passed and ending up joining.  Iris became part of the second class of the WFTD in Houston, Texas.  Lois delayed her entry until have the end of the school semester and Christmas holidays.  She joined the third WFTD class in January of 1943. 

Mom spent six* months learning to fly the army way and then took on a new teaching job.  While in the 6th Tow Target squadron at Biggs Army Air Field in El Paso, Texas, she helped the army personnel learn how to use machine guns and larger artillery to hit moving targets towed behind her plane.  She also flew at night so they could learn to use search lights.  She strafed infantry with tear gas.   She was teaching young men skills that would either help them survive or help keep others alive.

In December of 1944, the WASP were disbanded.  The jobs they were performing had to go back to the men that were returning from the war as it wound down.

As the end of the WASP drew near, Lois and her best friend, Lois ‘Holly’ Hollingsworth, started taking training to get their civilian instructor licenses.  When they left the WASP, the joined Border Flying and started teaching GIs how to fly civilian aircraft as they left the Army.

By this time, Lois had accumulated over 1,300 hours of flying.   For the next five years she and Holly supported themselves by teaching flying.   They even pooled their earnings to buy a house.  

In 1946, she also became the first chairperson of the El Paso Chapter of the  99s.   In March of 1947, she soloed Sam Hailey, her husband to be and in June of that same year, she soloed her father Charles Brooks, age 65.   At this point Lois had over 3,000 hours flying.   During this time she also wrote a column, "El Paso Air Lanes" for the El Paso Times.

Mom married Sam Hailey in 1947. In April of 1948, they became the parents of Charles Andrew.   Her marriage didn't last and she never remarried.  

Mrs. Hailey & her orchestra students

In the fall of 1949, she gave up teaching flying and went back to teaching band and orchestra with the El Paso School District.  Mom’s teaching career in El Paso spanned 31 years and included earning her Masters in Education with a minor in Music from Texas Western College in 1953.  

She typically taught at three different schools each day for a given school year and provided instruction at more than 10 different schools.   At Austin High School, she taught a course in aeronautics, but most classes were band or orchestra.   During that time she continued to fly, but by 1978, mom had only added about 600 hours to her pilot log.  

In 1980, three years after the WASP were finally recognized as veterans via an act of Congress, mom retired.  During retirement, she continued to support flying through membership in the 99s and volunteering at the War Eagles Museum near El Paso.  She also attended the WASP reunions that occurred every other year, including their last reunion in 2008. She also traveled to other activities honoring the WASP. 

Andy Hailey presents Lois with her Congressional Gold Medal

She was inducted into the El Paso Aviation Hall of Fame in 1985 and the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame in 2004.  On the May 23, 2005, Lois was honored by the El Paso County Commissioners Court for her WASP service, her services to the El Paso ISD, and becoming the first chairperson of the El Paso chapter of the 99s.   On March 10 of this year, she, and her fellow WASP were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in Emancipation Hall of the new Congressional Visitors center in Washington, DC. for their service during WWII. 

Lois is survived by her son, Charles “Andy” Hailey, his wife Mary and their daughter Dawn.  Mary and Dawn were  Lois’s caregivers since May of 2008 when Lois was moved from El Paso to Friendswood, Texas, to live with her immediate family. 

For more about Lois visit: http://wwii-women-pilots.org/
Obituary written by Charles Andy Hailey

Photos added w/ respect by Wings Across America

* Class 43-3 entered training in February of 1943 and graduated on July 3, 1943.  

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TRIBUTE TO MRS. LOIS HAILEY FROM FORMER STUDENT Luis Fierro  (reposted from Andy Hailey's wwii-women-pilots.org)

I was one of Mrs. Hailey's orchestra students at Bowie High School class of 1966. I hold Mrs Hailey's in the highest respect as a gifted teacher, mentor and blessed human being. I can look back and say, Mrs. Hailey was unique. She was a truly independent spirit. She was highly intelligent. Like Amelia Earhart who at the El Paso History Museum shows flew into El Paso at one point in her illustrious career, I continue to regard Mrs. Hailey as an awesomely inspiring pioneer woman who played such a critical role during WWII and aviation. She deserves to be mentioned in the same breath and to be likened to Amelia Earhart and more.

She contributed so much as part of an elite group of women who have remained woefully unrecognized for their tremendous selfless, patriotic contribution to this great nation. I read with great pride Mrs. Hailey's name on the Honor Roll at the War Eagles Air Museum and most recently viewed photos at the El Paso Historical Museum with the same degree of pride and joyful melancholy. Therefore it was probably no coincidence that I was on the Internet this morning and read about/saw the video about Congress' recent honor to the WASPs -- but rather that I would finally learn that such a great individual such as Mrs Hailey along with her female esprit de corps comrades are being recognized in such deserving fashion. I couldn't help but become teary-eyed upon hearing "off we go into the wild blue yonder ... " tribute in their honor. A few years ago a group of her orchestra students, including myself took Mrs Hailey out to lunch -- once again like a flock of humble El Paso south-siders, but all so proud disciples of Mrs Hailey -- still so amazingly powerful in her own magical aura that she was still able to evoke. Her influence on all of us, especially myself will live on for the rest of my life. There are maybe a handful of people that have touched me like Mrs Hailey that have been able to evoke such passion and fervor for learning and spark for individual growth during my developing years in grade school through high school. Yes, Mrs Hailey was my orchestra teacher from 6th grade through High school -- who took us out of our little south side, limited environment and challenged us to do more -- to successfully participate in All-City Orchestra, to be successful Student Council Officers and even for me to be senior valedictorian. Yes, she is part of only a handful of such powerfully influential teachers that can really help to forge young minds and individual potentials -- but more importantly she sits atop that short list of such wonderful teachers and overall human beings.

I always enjoyed reading her skillfully worded and expressive letters to the editor of the local newspaper even after I left El Paso. All of these remain fond and non-erasable memories today just as much as the day that she took her group of violin students to visit the El Paso airport and let us step inside a parked little Cessna prop airplane inside the hangar. Perhaps just little things for anybody else, but tremendously enduring experiences for me. She always told us that we were a "special" group of musically gifted students. Mrs. Hailey, you will always remain that special and gifted single person for the rest of my life.

Luis Fierro

WASP Nancy Lee Sendelbach, 43-6 | June 10, 2009

Nancy Lee Sendelbach died Wednesday, June 10, 2009 in Manor Care, Camp Hill. She was 88.

She was a WASP aviator (Women Airforce Service Pilots) during WWII, flying almost every type of aircraft used during the was in operational flights from aircraft factories to ports of embarkation and military training bases.

Before moving to Pennsylvania she resided in Tyron, N.C., with her late husband, Major Norman "Sandy" Sendelbach, USAF, ret. She is survived by her daughter, Sara.

Private services with military honors will be held at Arlington National Cemetery, Washington D.C. where she will be buried with her husband.

Memorial contributions in Nancy's name are encouraged to be sent to The Humane Society of Harrisburg Area, 7790 Grayson Rd. Harrisburg, PA 17111.

To send messages of condolence to Sara, please visit www.Parthemore.com www.pennlive.com/obits

(or, you may post a message below)

WASP Marion Schorr Betzler Brown, 43-W-2

WASP Marion Schorr Brown passed away April 20, 2009 due to complications of heart disease.

To truly share her life, the following is posted from her own words -- pp. 50-51 of WASP Betty Turner's "Out of the Blue and Into History:"

I was born on March 13, 1920 in New Orleans, Louisiana. My interest in aviation was always there. I went to the University of Southwestern Louisiana in Lafayette, Louisiana, and majored in physical education, and while there, enrolled in the Civilian Pilot Training program. I was a physical education teacher at John McDonogh High School in New Orleans, Louisiana 1940-42, when I received the call to take the physical test to join the WASP.

I was assigned to the 3rd Ferrying Group, Air Transport Command, at Romulus, Michigan. Except for being a co-pilot on SNAFU and B-24 mod trip to Montreal, I ferried the rest of the time throughout the U.S. and Canada. I flew the B-24 and B-24J (the Navy single tail fin after modification in Montreal), PBY-5A, and the C-60 (Loadstar) as co-pilot. First pilot in the AT-9, AT-16 (Canadian version of AT-6), C-47, C-64, PT-26 (Canadian primary trainer) and all Stinson airplanes. I received instrument rating in the DC-2.

Toward the end of the program I married one of the service pilots, Charles Betzler, in March 1944. He was a test pilot for Curtis Wright and later North American Aviation. I lived in Ohio for 30 years.

While there I instructed at Lane Aviation in Columbus. We had two children, Richard and Michael. In Ohio, I was active in the Ninety-Nines and many civic groups. I won the All-Ohio Achievement Award in 1964 and the South Central Section Award in 1980.

I found time for gardening, sewing, and bridge in addition to the regular mother and wife duties. when the children were young, my flying was limited to flying in air races in the summer in the Women's Transcontinental, "The Powder Puff Derby," and the All Women's International Races (The Angel Derby). In the latter I did pretty good.

I won in 1956 from Ontario, Canada to Havana, Cuba in my Luscomb (90 HP fuel Injection). We had to land in Vera Dera Beach, Cuba because Castro was threatening Batista, then on to Havana out over the water. Batista had a reception at the palace. He didn't appear at first but later a large mirrored wall moved and he stepped out. A replica trophy was given to me at the banquet. I also received a large gold trophy that was supposed to be shipped to me (not enough room in the Luscomb to carry it). Castro took over right after that and the trophy never arrived. I placed second the following year to Havana. In order to support these airplanes, I began to fly charter and instruct again.

I married Jack "J.D." Brown in 1974. He had been in charge of transition at Romulus before ferrying across the Hump and throughout Europe. After that time he flew corporate in Texas and Louisiana. We had not seen each other for over 30 years. Besides my sons, I have two grandchildren and one great granddaughter.

On February 1, 1997, I gave up two years as designated pilot examiner for the FAA. During that time most of my flight test came from New Orleans and Baton Rouge, and Mississippi areas. I did have some interesting ones though. Among them, a flight instructor renewal from Mexico, a flight instructor reinstatement from Greece, and a private pilot test for a girl from Venezuela.

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From her son, Mike, the following emai:now that your good memories, wishes and prayers go with her. Susan and I are preparing to go down to tend to her final affairs and memorial. Since she requested cremation, we will try to arrange a memorial and internment in Hammond, La. within a month. Thank you all for your tender and loving care and friendship for her in this life, may we all reunite in the everlasting.

WASP SARAH SYMMES

Flying emblematized her life
By Virginia Culver
The Denver Post-posted 4/17/09

At age 10 Sarah Symmes wanted to be a barnstormer or stunt flier.

But that didn't work out, so she joined the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) and ferried military planes around the country during World War II.

Flying "was a metaphor for her life," said the Rev. Sandy Blake of St. Timothy Episcopal Church in Centennial.

A service for Symmes, who died March 15 just short of 93, will be at St. Timothy, 1401 E. Dry Creek Road, at 10 a.m. Friday.

Symmes "loved the independence of flying" and that extended to how she lived her life, Blake said. "She's been described by friends here as fearless, feisty and fun."

Symmes was a loyal volunteer at St. Timothy, spending many hours at the bedside of ailing members, said Sally Atchison, of Littleton, a St. Timothy member.

Sarah (Sally) Elizabeth Gibson was born April 2, 1916, in Charlotte, N.C. When she was a child, she moved with her family to Colorado because her mother had tuberculosis.

Her mother died when Sarah Gibson was small, so she and her brother, the late Denver City Councilman Hoot Gibson, lived for some time in a Denver orphanage.

She graduated from South High School and then, at 17, hitchhiked to California looking for a brother, said her niece, Elaine Little.

She sometimes slept in police stations for safety, Little said.

Symmes heard about the WASP program and went to Sweetwater, Texas, where the women were trained. But she was told she needed to first get 35 hours of flying time and that she had to pass a test.

She did both and became a WASP, stationed at a base in Kansas, where she and other women ferried and tested planes, and instructed male pilots, her niece said.

After the war, Symmes went to accounting school in Kansas City and came to Colorado in the mid-'80s.

She had had training in clinical pastoral education and volunteered countless home-visit hours through St. Timothy.

Symmes "was a very spiritual person, but that didn't stop her from being spunky," Blake said.

Symmes was divorced twice. Her third husband, Glen Symmes, died in 1985.

She is survived by another niece and two nephews.

Caro Bayley Bosca WASP 43-W-7

BOSCA, Caro Bayley 85, died of Pancreatic Cancer on September 13, 2007 at 8:30 p.m. surrounded by her loved ones. Her kind sweet nature was continually evidenced as she gracefully led her family and friends through this final journey. "We will get through this", she said. With her remarkable strength, accepting nature and quick humor, as in life, in her death she set an example; this is how it is done. She called it, "rolling with the punches". We call it grace.

Caro was born March 29, 1922 in Springfield, Ohio to Caro Gray and "Captain" Elden Dicus Bayley. She shared a happy childhood with three siblings; Elden Dicus Bayley Jr., Robert Gray Bayley and "Dodie" Mary Ellen Bayley. Caro attended Ridgewood School, Springfield High School and Saint Mary's College in Raleigh, North Carolina.

In May of 1943, Caro traveled to Sweetwater, Texas, where she entered the Woman's Airforce Training Program (WASP) as part of Class 43-W-7. She received her silver wings at graduation in November of that year. Reporting to Biggs Field in El Paso, Texas, she was part of a B-25 two target squadron. While serving in the military, she flew the SBC Dauntless, SB2C Helldiver, AT-6, AT-7, AT-11, BT-13, PT-17, P-47 Thunderbolt, B-25 Billy Mitchel Bomber and the B-26.

In January of 1945, Caro moved to Coconut Grove, Florida and joined six other WASP's. They named their rented house "The WASP Nest" and each worked on getting their Instructors Rating. Caro instructed in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. While instructing, she began entering aerobatic competitions. First in Jess Bristow's "cut-up Cub" and later in Ben Bradley's "Bradley's Special". Then while flying the glider act in Jess Bristow's All Women's Air Show, she had a chance to fly the second "Pitts Special" bi-plane built by Curtiss Pitts. She fell in love with that airplane. On a handshake deal between Curtiss and her father, Curtiss finished up the third Pitts Special with a 125 HP engine and the first of the CURTISS planes with an inverted carburetor engine to allow it to fly upside down. Caro, after flying it she said, "I surely thought I had died and gone to heaven!" That year on January 3, 1951 in the Miami Air Maneuvers Air Show, she became the International Women's Aerobatic Champion in her "Pitts". Earlier that same morning, she had taken off from the blimp base located on the Venetian Causeway (near Miami Beach) in a Piper Super Cruiser with a 125 Lycoming Engine to try to set an altitude record for Class II Aircraft. She set an official record of 30,203 feet for which she received the Bleriot medal and held the altitude record until the mid-1980s. For these two accomplishments, she was named Mademoiselle Magazine's "Aviation Woman of the Year" in 1951. Shortly after that January day, Orsino Hugo Bosca, an acquaintance from Springfield called and asked if she knew any girls he could take to dinner while he was visiting Florida. She said, "I'm a girl and I am just as hungry as the rest of these girls down here". He said, "Oh I thought you were a mechanic". She replied, "I can do some of that, too". So began the next phase in the life of Caro Bayley.

Hanging up her wings in 1951, Caro married Orsino Hugo Bosca. With her typical enthusiasm for life, Caro had four children in five years: D'Orsi Hugo, Martin Bayley, Caro-Gray and Marcy Elena Bosca. They lived in Springfield, Ohio summering in Wilmington, North Carolina and later in Harbor Springs, Michigan. Caro was a member of the Monday Afternoon Club, the B & S Investment Club and the bridge club.

She was a member of the Board of Directors of the International Woman's Air and Space Museum, a life member of the Ninety-Nines and a member of the EAA. Caro was inducted into the Aviation Hall of Fame in Ohio in the early 1990s. She was elected to the position of President of the WASP's which she helped for the past four years. She was a member of the Women in Aviation, International (WAI) and the Women's Military Aviators (WMA).

She enjoyed skiing (OFOS), sailing, tennis and golf, and loved to travel. She especially enjoyed Italy and all aspects of the food wine, style and art experienced there.Regardless of her humble belief, Caro was an accomplished cook and had an unusual flair and ease with entertaining, as all friends and family will attest. She cheated at backgammon, but otherwise led an honest life.

Caro dreaded public speaking. For years, we would hear her laments that it was her turn to give a program at the Monday Afternoon Club. Years later, as President of the WASP's, she found her voice speaking passionately about women in aviation, her experiences as a WASP and her love of flying. She always said, "She got her nickel's worth out of her experience as a WASP". She managed even more than that out of life every day.

We were blessed to have her as a mother, sister, and friend.She has inspired a love of life in us all. We are and always have been grateful to have known her. Caro is preceded in death by her husband, Orsino Hugo Bosca; son, Martin Bayley Bosca; her sister, "Dodie" Mary Ellen Bayley; and brother, Elden Dicus Bayley, Jr. She is survived by her brother, Robert Gray (Ruth) Bayley of Springfield, Ohio; children, D'Orsi Hugo Bosca of Springfield, Ohio, Caro-Gray Bosca of Boston, Massachusetts, Marcy Elena & John McGregor of Harbor Springs, Michigan; grandchildren, Orson Bayley Humphrey, CaroMia Humphrey, Elena-Lee Humphrey.

Caro's family would like to extend special thanks to Dr. Panayides, the nursing staff at Community Hospital and Community Mercy Hospice for their care and kindness towards us all. To Sherry Ringler, Mother's dear friend, who provided both joy and assistance over the years and especially in the difficult last months and we are forever indebted.

Services will be held Thursday, September 27, 2007 at 5:00 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church, 409 East High Street, Springfield with a reception immediately following. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to Community Mercy Hospice Fund, 1343 North Fountain Boulevard, Springfield, Ohio 45504. We are grateful to Littleton & Rue Funeral Home for their supportive and kind assistance given to us during this difficult time. You may express condolences to the family at www.littletonandrue.com.

GUESTBOOK for Caro
Reprinted from the Springfield News-Sun on 9/16/2007.