History Channel Uses TWU Archive For Women Military Pilot Documentary

2/20/03

DENTON — Archives at Texas Woman's University were invaluable to History Channel producers preparing a documentary on women military pilots. Women Combat Pilots: The Right Stuff airs March 9 at 7 p.m. central time on the History Channel.

The program's producers spent a week at TWU last year going through the university's Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) archives filming photographs, letters and other memorabilia for use in the documentary. Between 1942 and 1944, more than 1,000 women served as WASP pilots, freeing male pilots for combat duty.

WASP pilots ferried aircraft from the factory to embarkation points, worked as military flight instructors, conducted flight testing and flew radio-controlled planes and anti-aircraft training tow targets for the military during World War II.

The WASPs celebrate their 60^th anniversary in August. The organization was created on Aug. 5, 1943 when the Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron and the Women's Flying Training Detachment were merged.

The WASP archive at TWU is online at www.twu.edu/wasp .

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For Further Information Contact:

Roy Kron
Director of News and Information
Tel: (940) 898-3456]
e-mail: rkron@twu.edu