WASHINGTON -- The first women to fly U.S. military planes were awarded a Congressional Gold Medal on Capitol Hill.
More than 1,000 women based at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas, flew aircraft during World War II. They were known as Women Airforce Service Pilots, or WASP. Their primary mission was to fly noncombat missions in the United States.
Thirty-eight of them were killed in service. But they were long considered civilians, not members of the military, until 1977 when they were afforded veteran status.
Fewer than 300 WASPs are still alive. About 175 were on hand for the ceremony Wednesday along with thousands of family members -- the largest crowd ever to gather inside the capitol.
"It was both a privilege and an honor to serve our country during the darkest days of World War II," said Deanie Parrish, WASP class of 44.
The WASP unit was formed in 1942.
The goal was to have the women fly jobs at home -- freeing male military pilots to travel to the front lines of battle.
"They were never commissioned, were never afforded active military status and weren't granted veteran status until 1977," said Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-TX.
But they are now known as trailblazers.
"It was a lot of fun I never thought of it as history," said Rita Wischmayer, of Dallas. "It was picking up where my dad left off."
For family members, their service left a message.
"It doesn't matter what your body looks like; it’s what you're capable of doing," said Sylvia Wheeler, whose mother was a WASP.
"She and my father met during the war; they flew together until they were 78 years old," said Lindy Segall, of Austin.
For this humble generation, they are overwhelmed with ceremony and say to younger women, "the sky's the limit."
The medal is the highest award Congress gives to honor civilians for achievements and contributions to society.
