My Mother Had Wings
The daughter of a WASP tells her mother's tale.
- By The Editors
- AirSpaceMag.com, June 16, 2010
“In the course of a day’s work,” writes Jordan, “a WASP might fly something factory-fresh, a war-weary aircraft missing parts, or even dodge stray ammo while towing targets. Every day brought something new." [See a page from Hardman’s North American AT-6 cockpit checklist, left.] "After delivering an airplane to Dallas in 1943, my mother was asked by a pilot returning home from a tour in North Africa if she’d like to co-pilot a C-47 he had to deliver to a base in California. Delighted to try out an airplane she hadn’t yet flown, my mother was more than happy to hitch a ride. But the trip had some added thrills no one anticipated:
'…we got near the bombing range in Southern California near the Salton Sea, and we ran into these downdrafts that took us down so many thousand feet. One minute we were up here, and the next, we were practically on the deck. And they were bombing! Dummy bombs, but they were still up there, bombing us!'
| Tweet | Digg |
Comments (6)
Melissa:
I can't tell you how much I enjoyed reading about your mother as a WASP. It gave me goosebumps. You have a right to be very proud of her and as an Oregonian, I am too. I enjoy pointing out her graduation announcement at Avenger Field to visitors to the Oregon Aviation History Center as well as the other items your family chose to be archived at our facility.
Posted by Carol Skinner on July 14,2010 | 04:32 PM
Carol, my family and I are thrilled that we could share our mother's legacy with you and your colleagues in Oregon. Your work to honor and preserve Oregon's aviation heritage is remarkable!
Posted by Melissa Jordan on July 19,2010 | 09:24 PM
As a USAF retiree who was an Aviation Cadet during this turbulent period of our nation, I relate closely to the flight training your Mother mastered. You are to be
congratulated for special literary skill in bringing her gallant story to the attention of today's lesser challenged citizens. She would be so proud of your effort to record & thankfully acknowledge her pioneer contribution to WWII war effort during a time of maximum challenge to our nation's freedom. I will share this stirring story of your Mother's WWII service with two persons special to me ... Sister-in-law, Pat Buttery, & granddaughter, Jen Buttery. The former served in WWII service in like capacity to your Mother in land based women's service, the latter who possesses pioneer personality traits during language teaching assignments in Kyrgyzstan. My older brother, Col. Tom Buttery, a USAF pilot retiree, recently passed away. As patriarch of our family & Aviation Cadet during your Mother's WWII service, he married a WWII compatriot of your gallant Mother. He would have enjoyed your literary gem most of all. KUDOS!
Posted by Lt. Col. George D. Buttery on July 21,2010 | 06:59 AM
What an extraordinary life! And how wise of her, and now you, to share this time with a generation who've, thankfully, never experienced the exaggerated division of the sexes and their roles in society. Adversity does indeed make us stronger, and you'll never see a finer proof than the women who endured first the Depression, then the privations of wartime. Bravo to you, and a sharp salute to the memory of your beloved pioneer mother.
Posted by Carol Hiller on August 12,2010 | 07:53 AM
My belated " Thank you " to the Lady for the high standard of propiety she and her generation expressed and gave for America, this needs to be shared so that others remember so as to protect liberty.
Posted by Bob Plemon on January 7,2011 | 11:10 PM
A movie should be made about your mother and Paula Loop. What a story for our vets of both world wars and today, a story for moms to take their daughters to, a story for our nation's leaders, a story for this generation before it is lost!
Posted by Gregory Bastian on April 11,2013 | 03:40 PM