WASP Phyllis Burchfield, WAFS June 21, 2012

Phyllis Burchfield Fulton, 101, of Cambridge, passed away on Thursday (June 21, 2012) at the Cardinal House.

She was born on June 15, 1911, in Titusville, Pa., daughter of the late Samuel Newton Burchfield and the late Isabelle Campbell Burchfield.

Mrs. Fulton was one of the original Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) --first women in history to fly America's military aircraft.  She was originally hired as a civilian ferry pilot and served in the ferry command.  Eventually, her unit (WAFS) was merged into the newly named "WOMEN AIRFORCE SERVICE PILOTS."  PH ferrying aircraft from factories to points of embarkation and from factories to bases during World War II.

She propagated her own iris flowers, was a published poet and had prize winning German shepherds.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, George P. Fulton, on Sept. 8, 1991; two sisters, Melloe Phillips and Mary Phillips Jones; and a brother, William Burchfield.

She leaves a sister, Bettina Myers (Joseph Benson - deceased) of Ashtabula and Kerrville, Texas; six nieces and nephews; numerous great-nieces and nephews and great-great-nieces and nephews; her dog, Pange; and several cats.

In keeping with her wishes, cremation has taken place and a memorial service may be held at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Guernsey County Humane Society, 62824 Bennett Ave., Cambridge, OH 43725.

The online guest book may be signed at www.bundy-lawfuneralhome.com.

REPOSTED FROM ORIGINAL OBIT IN The Daily Jefferson, Cambridge, OH.

Mary Belle Ahlstrom Smith, 43-3 June 15, 2012

Mary Belle Ahlstrom Smith, 91, of Austin, Texas, died on Friday, June 15, 2012, after an extended illness. 

She was born on January 23, 1921 in La Crosse, Wisconsin, to Judge Roy Victor Ahlstrom and Margaret Kruegar Ahlstrom.  

After graduating from high school, Mary Belle entered the University of Wisconsin, later graduating with a degree in Chemistry. 

In January of 1942, with her private pilot license in hand and 75+ hours of qualified flying time in her log book, Mary Belle applied for the experimental Army Air Forces flying training program for women. After passing the required tests and a personal interview with Jacqueline Cochran, Mary and fifty-seven other young women pilots entered the WASP training program as members of the third class.    Mary and 37 of her classmates successfully completed the program and earned their WASP Wings. 

After graduation, Mary Belle was sent to Romulous Army Air Force Base, Romulous, Michigan, where she was assigned as a ferry pilot,   3rd Ferrying Group, Air Transport Command.  Her second assignment was to Napier Army Air Base in Dothan, Alabama as part of the Southeastern Training Command.  At Napier, assignments ranged from engineering test pilot to administrative pilot to instrument instructor in AT-6's.  PT-17's and AT-6's were also ferried from Napier.

Mary Belle and Leonard A. Smith were married shortly after the WASP were deactivated, and began their life together, eventually raising three sons.  Mary Belle retired in 1981 from the State of Texas' Austin State Hospital as a Medical Technologist. 

Mary Belle is survived by her children, Stephen L. Smith of Houston, David A. Smith and wife Sandra of Big Spring, and Daniel V. Smith and wife Linda of Bastrop; grandchildren, Ashley, Matthew, Rachael, Edward, and Jared Smith; one great-grandchild; brother, Randall Ahlstrom of Middleton, WI; sister, Carol Ahlstrom Wessler of Brookfield, WI; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband, Leonard A. Smith. She was an active member of Hyde Park Baptist Church. 

Graveside services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 21, 2012 at Austin Memorial Park, 2800 Hancock Dr.

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Respectfully edited and expanded with photos added by Wings Across America.

 

Austin Statesman  June 18, 2012

WASP Peggy Moynihan McCaffrey, 44-5 June 10, 2012

Peggy Moynihan McCaffrey,  daughter of Charles Joseph “CJ” Moynihan and Marguerite Catlin Moynihan, was born on Jan. 15, 1922, in Montrose, Colorado.   She graduated from Montrose High School  and  received her  BA  from the University of Colorado in 1943.  While attending school,  Peggy earned her private pilot's license at Combs and Haden's Airfield, where she worked as Clearance Officer and Dispatcher.

In May, 1943,  following her graduation from college,  Peggy was accepted and entered the Army Air Forces flying training program for women pilots as a member of class 44-5.  After  successfully completing the  seven months of training,  she graduated and received  her silver WASP wings.

After graduation, she was assigned to  Bainbridge Army Air Field in Bainbridge, Georgia as an engineering test pilot and ferry pilot. 

After the WASP program was disbanded in December 1944, Peggy joined the American Red Cross Clubmobile Unit and served in the European theater, where she met John Edward McCaffrey.

Returning to the states in mid 1946, Peggy and John were married and settled in Colorado to begin their lives together. Eventually,  they had five children: Kathleen Tabor, Patricia Wagner, Margaret McCaffrey, Edward McCaffrey and Anne Gibbins.

After raising her children, Peggy entered Western State College in Gunnison, Colorado where she earned her Teacher Certification  in 1966. She taught language arts at Montrose Junior High from 1966 to 1974.  She then started the homebound program for the Montrose school district, where she taught homebound students from 1974 to 1985.   

Peggy retired from the school district when her husband accepted a position with the Department of Defense as Superintendent of ELHI at the US missile range at Kwajalein Military Base in the Marshall Islands. While in the Marshall Islands, Peggy worked at Father Leonard Hacker's Queen of Peace Mission on the island of Ebeye.


Before returning to Montrose in 1989, Peggy and John traveled throughout the South Pacific, the Far East and Europe.  In 1989, they fulfilled a life-long ambition to travel to Ireland and Scotland.   From 1996 to 1998, Peggy served as the National Secretary for the National WASP Organization.

On March 10, 2010, Peggy and all WASP  were awarded a U.S. Congressional Gold Medal for their pioneering  service during World War II.

Peggy made her final flight on Sunday, June 10, 2012. She was preceded in death by her parents; her two brothers, Jack and Dale Moynihan; and her sister, Alice Mills.  Two of her children, Kathleen and Anne, currently live in Montrose.  Patricia lives in Denver, Margaret lives in Tucson, Ariz., and Edward lives in San Diego, Calif. She had nine grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.

A mass of Christian burial will be held Thursday, June 14 at 10 a.m. in St. Mary Catholic Church. Donations may be made to the Heart Association or Sharing Ministries in her name.

______________


Respectfully edited and reposted from  the Montrose Daily Press, Wednesday, June 13, 2012 with additional information  from WASP Betty Turner's "Out of the Blue and Into History" in Peggy McCaffery's own words: pp. 401-402.

WASP Betty Martin Riddle, 44-W-9 June 8, 2012

WASP Betty Martin Riddle was born on December 23, 1923, in Wetumka, Oklahoma, halfway between Oklahoma City and the Arkansas border.  Her love of flying began early, as she watched her father build planes from blueprints.  

Betty began flying during her high school years, taking lessons before and after school.  After high school graduation, she enrolled in junior college and signed up for the Civilian Pilot Training Program, worked at the airport on weekends and soloed a plane before she could drive a car. 

In late 1943, she learned of the WASP training program and, when she was old enough, sent in her application.  With her commercial pilot's license in hand, she was accepted into the training program, and joined 97 other young women pilots who paid their way to Sweetwater as members of class 44-9.  

After seven months of training, Betty and 54 of her classmates graduated on November 8, 1944. Assigned to Altus Army Air Base in Altus, Oklahoma, Betty flew as an engineering test pilot in the twin engine UC-78.  Just over a month after her graduation,  December 20, 1944, the WASP were disbanded.  

Betty went to work for Douglas Aircraft as an inspector for the A-26, until the war ended. Answering a telegram from a friend, Betty signed on as a pilot, flying all over south Texas,  ferrying PT-17's and BT-13's to Alice, Texas, where they were converted for crop dusting, student instruction and charter flights.  It was at this time that Betty met and married a fellow pilot.  

When the marriage ended, Betty took her young daughter and went home, taking a job instructing students under the GI Bill at a junior college. While instructing, Betty fell in love with  fellow instructor, Howard Riddle,  and eventually, they were married.  They moved to Liberal, Kansas.  In 1949, they moved their growing family to Rockford, Illinois where Howard became chief pilot at Sundstrand Corporation.  For the next 30 years, while raising their 3 children, Betty continued to renew her ratings and kept flying.

Betty's artwork on display in her living room, 2001.

During the 60's she worked as a secretary/receptionist, a flight instructor and became part owner of a Cessna dealership.   After retiring, her love of learning kept Betty busy-- sewing, knitting, golfing, water skiing, painting, cake decorating, playing bridge and creating ceramics. 

When her husband died in 1985, she became more active in aviation organizations, including the National WASP Organization, where she served as District Director and worked in WASP Stores.  She also became active in the Experimental Aircraft Association, Confederate (Commemorative) Airforce, Biplane Association, Antique Aircraft Association and the 99's. 

On March 10, 2010, Betty and her family were  present at the US Capitol when the WASP were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.  It is the highest civilian award Congress can bestow. It was a memorable occasion for many reasons, but, according to Betty, traveling with her family by motorhome to the ceremony was something she would always cherish. 

In July of 2001, Betty graciously invited Wings Across America into her home, and shared her inspirational story.  When asked why she joined the WASP, Betty didn't hesitate to answer:  

"I wanted to do what I could.  It was the one thing I knew how to do. My two brothers were younger. They couldn't join. I was the oldest. I wanted to do what I could to help win the war."                            

Betty was one of the first women in history to fly America's military aircraft.   She was a true patriot.

Betty Riddle died Friday, June 8,  in Claremore, Oklahoma.   She is survived by her daughter Susan Hilton, sons Steven and Dan Riddle, their spouses, six grandchildren, two  great grandchildren and brother Jack Martin.


Official obit -- Tulsa World
Services are pending  Musgrove-Merriott-Smith.  Betty Riddle -- TULSA WORLD, March 21, 2010

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

WASP Macie Jo Myers Wheelis, 43-W-5 April 14, 2012

Macie Jo Myers Wheelis, formerly of Weatherford, Lubbock, and Fort Stockton, took her final flight on Saturday, April 14, 2012 and traded her earthly wings for heavenly ones.

Jo was born October 13, 1918 in Wylie, Texas to James and Ida Myers. She graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas in 1936 and attended SMU. Jo followed her dreams always and advised all women to do what pleases them but make sure to do it right.

"When you look in the mirror, ask yourself if you are doing the right thing and proud of your accomplishments. Live your life as an example to others."

Jo lived a life full of adventure. During World War II, at the age of 24, Jo took the opportunity to serve her country as a Women Airforce Service Pilot (WASP). She was a member of the 43-W-5 class and trained at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas. Jo and the other W.A.S.P.s were finally given the status of Veterans in November 1977, and on March 10, 2010 at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., the W.A.S.P. were awarded a Congressional Gold Medal.

Jo's life-long love for sports and outdoor activities was apparent in her award winning bowling, golf, raising and racing horses, fishing, hunting, and watching all Texas Tech sports. Keeping her mind and body busy helped her reach the age of 93.

Jo was preceded in death by her husband, Ted Wheelis; parents, Frank and Ida Bell Myers; sisters and brothers-in-law, Creon and Frank Warren, Jr. and Edna Earl and Jimmie H. Clay; and cousin, Oleta Cash.

Jo was survived by stepson and wife, Ted and Cassie Wheelis of Jacksboro; step-granddaughter, Lisa Wheelis of Dallas; foster son and wife, Burt and Radell Williams of Van Vleck; sister-in-law, Lyndelle Cullen of Hondo; brother-in-law, Bill Wheelis of San Antonio; nephews and wives, Mike and Jan Warren of Kerrville and James and Linda Clay of Irving; niece, Cheryl Green of Corsicana; and numerous great and great-great nieces and nephews.

Funeral service will be held Thursday, April 19 at 10:00 a.m. at Laurel Land Memorial Chapel in Dallas, with Reverend Kenneth Lunsford of the Laurel Street 1st United Methodist Church of Dublin, Texas officiating.

Memorials may be made to the W.A.S.P. Museum, P.O. Box 456, Sweetwater, TX 79556 or Disabled Veteran's National Foundation, P.O. Box 96262, Washington, D.C. 20090-6262.

reprinted from the LAUREL LAND SITE
Sign the guestbook 

photo and minor edits for accuracy respectfully added by Wings Across America

_________________

from Wings Across America:

On Veteran's Day, 2009, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison invited all of the WASP of Texas to attend a special ceremony to receive a copy of the Bill to award them the Congressional Gold Medal.  As part of that ceremony, WASP Deanie Parrish wrote a tribute to every WASP who would be in attendance.  This is her tribute to our friend Jo, a quiet, thoughtful, gentle and kind WASP .  She is truly flying higher than she's ever flown before. 

JO MYERS WHEELIS

From Weatherford, Texas

Class 43-5

A native Texan through and through, Jo did not get interested in flying until after she married. She then bought her own plane, and she and her husband spent most week-ends on fly-ins at air fields all over Texas. She was accepted into the WASP flying training program as a member of the fifth class.

After graduation, Jo was assigned to the Ferrying Division at Romulus, Army Air Base, Michigan. She completed pursuit school and then ferried 15 different types of military aircraft, among which were the P-51, P-63, P-39, P-40 and P-47, After the WASP, she returned to her own successful baking business. She was an avid golfer and bowler--and won the Dallas Singles Bowling Championship as well as other tournaments in both sports.

One of Jo’s fondest remembrances of her WASP training days takes her back to Avenger Field to the day she was selected as the pilot of a UC-78 for a Hollywood film crew who wanted to go up and ‘shoot’ film of Avenger Field so they could feature it in their news film. The pretty young girl pilot in an old ‘Movietone News Reel’, featuring the ‘Girl Pilots at Avenger Field’—is none other than Jo Wheelis!

Respectfully posted by Nancy and Deanie Parrish



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WASP CATHERINE ANN MURPHY, 44-W-1 Jan. 29, 2012

WASP Catherine Ann Murphy passed away on Sunday, January 29, 2012.

Catherine was born on December 8, 1916, to Edward and Catherine Murphy, in St. Paul, Minn.  She graduated from high school in Minneapolis and immediately went to work.    In the fall of 1942, she went flying for the first time with an instructor named Hank, and from that moment on, she was  obsessed with flying.    She soled in 7 1/2 hours off a grass strip,  and as she continued flying, she learned of the Army Air Forces flying training program.  She applied,  and when she was accepted into the class of 44-W-1, she paid her way to Avenger Field to learn to fly 'The Army Way."

After successfully completing the seven months of training, on February 11, 1944, Catherine and 48 other young women pilots from her class (of 101) graduated .  Her class was the first  to graduate wearing the official 'Santiago Blue' WASP uniform.

Catherine's official Army Air Force orders sent her to Gardner Field, California, where she flew as an engineering test pilot.  From Gardner, she was sent to Randolph Field, San Antonio, Texas, where she completed basic instructor training.  She returned to Gardner as a basic training flight instructor and ferry pilot.  She remained at Gardner until the WASP were disbanded.

After her service as a WASP,  she was  hired as an instructor at Western and Compton Airports, California.  She sold her '42 Buick, bought a Stinson SR-5, and began a charter service, flying passengers from Los Angeles to Albuquerque,  and Kansas City to Minneapolis.  Eventually, she sold her Stinson and went to work for the City of San Gabriel Valley, California as City Treasurer. 

Catherine organized the California Municipal Treasurers Association,  which eventually grew to become the Municipal Treasurers Association of the US and Canada, and was also a director on the Board of the League of California Cities.  She eventually became  City Treasurer and Chief financial officer for the city of Arcadia, Calif., where she worked for 27 years.

In 1972,  Catherine rekindled her love of flying, flying a Piper Arrow to the WASP Reunion in Sweetwater, Texas.  From that flight, she renewed old WASP friendships and ‘took to the skies’,  flying to WASP reunions and spending vacations flying in Arizona, Colorado,  and even Alaska.

In 1979,  she joined the Civil Air Patrol (CAP)and became a Mission Pilot, flying search and rescue missions.  She later went on to become Squadron Commander and Finance Officer for the California Wing of the CAP and Mission Coordinator/Mission Control Officer.  During her active duty time with the CAP,  she was the designated person for the Air Force to contact to organize all search missions in the State of California.  She searched for missing aircraft, flew cadets on orientation rides, transported emergency services personnel, transported dog teams for missing persons searches,  and flew missions for the Customs Services and Drug Enforcements.

From 1984 to 1986, Catherine served as  Treasurer of the National WASP organization. Her proudest accomplishment was transferring all the WASP records from paper to computer.  She remained vigilant, making sure newsletters,  and records,  and the official WASP Roster was current and accurate.

Catherine met the stiff requirements  for the UFO's,  "United Flying Octogenarians."   (Current FAA physical, current biennial and a solo flight after turning 80)  She spent her last few years volunteering with AARP, doing income taxes for the elderly and volunteering for the Community Service Unit.  In 2005,  she moved to Jacksonville, Oregon.

Catherine was preceded in death by her parents, Catherine and Edward Murphy; brothers, Edward Murphy, and Roderick Murphy; and sister, Marquerite Veady. She is survived by her sisters, Patricia M. Paulsen, of Mariposa, Calif., and Fidelis Powers, of Sweetser, Ind.; also numerous nieces and nephews.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, February 4, 2012, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Jacksonville, Ore., at noon.                 

____________________


Catherine Murphy was a 'doer'.  She was always involved, busy, and willing to work hard to make a difference.  She used her talents for finance and  flying-- for leadership and service.  What a legacy for such an  extraordinary woman-- a WASP of WWII!

God bless her family and all those whose lives she touched. 

“Fly high, Catherine...and rest well.”





Respectfully written by Nancy Parrish