WWII woman pilot to be featured speaker at Pinal County Veteran’s Day event

November 5, 11:03 AMArizona Rural Headlines ExaminerTrudy Schuett

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Four members of the United States Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) receive final instructions as they chart a cross-country course on the flight line of a U.S. airport. Assigned to the ferrying division of the United States Army Air Transport Command, the women pilots belong to the first class of American women to complete a rigorous nine-week transitional flight training course in handling B-26 Marauder medium bombers. They have been given special assignments with the U.S. Army Air Forces as tow target pilots. (National Archives).

FLORENCE – In World War II, the United States joined together to fight Axis Powers with the help from WASPs.

WASP stands for Women Airforce Service Pilots.  The WASPs were a group of women pilots along with those in the Air Transport Command trained to fly military aircraft.  Their contribution to victory over the Axis Powers was a shining example of women performing military duties that freed servicemen to fight on the front.

The WASPs were disbanded in 1944, with no G.I. benefits or military honors.  Their story remains alive today through the actual women who piloted the planes in our time of need.

The Pinal County Board of Supervisors invites all veterans and public alike to hear one of those stories from a Casa Grande resident who was a WASP.  Mrs. Geri Nyman will be the featured speaker at the tenth annual Pinal County Veteran’s Ceremony.  The event will take place on Tuesday, November 10.  The ceremony will begin with an Air National Guard fly-over at 2:00 pm sharp.

The ceremony is being held on the Tuesday before Veteran’s Day due to the holiday falling on a Wednesday when County offices are closed to honor our veterans.  The Veteran's Day Ceremony will be held in Florence on the steps of Administration Building A at the Main County Complex.

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