WAFS and WASP Pilot Gertrude Meserve

Before joining WAFS, Gertrude Meserve was an instructor pilot who taught hundreds of students at Harvard and MIT. The Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS), precursor of WASP, never numbering more than 28, was created in September 1942 within the Air Transport Command, under Nancy Harkness Love’s leadership. WAFS were recruited from among commercially licensed women pilots with at least 500 hours flying time and a 200-hp rating. Women who joined the WAFS actually averaged about 1,100 hours of flying experience. Their original mission was to ferry USAAF trainers and light aircraft from the factories, but later they were delivering fighters, bombers and transports as well.

Photo size: 988 × 800
Photo source: U.S. Air Force
Usage: Public Domain