![Transcription Center logo](/themes/custom/tc_theme/assets/image/logo.png)
This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.
the addition of a lozenge in the center. The OQMG did not recommend the use of this design or the use of a miniature Coat of Arms of the United States for cap insignia for women pilots inasmuch as the WASP was not a part of the Army.65 These symbols were, however, the ones adopted. In addition, collar and coat lapel insignia were developed. For the collar the letters "W.A.S.P." in gold-colored metal, 3/8 inch by 1 1/8 inches, were adopted. Lapel insignia was the same as that used by the Air Corps, namely, a small pair of wings with a vertical silver propeller 3/4 inch in height. The women pilots also wore the Air Forces' shoulder patch. It was proposed that WASP trainees wear the standard AAF cadet insignia as cap insignia. This consisted of a pair of wings with a propeller in the center. Trainees also were to wear a shoulder patch carrying the design of Fifinella, wearing goggles and wings, jumping into space, executed by Walt Disney, who granted the United States Government the exclusive and perpetual right to reproduce and use that design.66 Since these items were not received until after the termination of the training program, trainees never actually wore them. Although the AAF had requested67 and the ASF directive68 of September had authorized procurement of distinctive insignia, some confusion seems to have occurred, for The Quartermaster General indicated in October that the directive had called for a development program for insignia but had not requested procurement.69 AAF Headquarters requested that the above-mentioned insignia be made available. This request was approved by G-1 on November 9, 1943.70 No other developmental work on WASP clothing appears to have been handled by the OQMG after the initial program. Its subsequent activity was confined to procurement. At the beginning of 1944 the AAF requested that The Quartermaster General be authorized to procure an additional 500 sets of clothing inasmuch as the WASP would attain a strength of 1,500 by June 30, 1944.71 This procurement was later held up at the request of the Director of the WASP because some minor modifications in the uniform were being considered.72 These changes apparently were made under the direction of Maj. M. M. Klein in the Office of the Director of the WASP without consultation with the OQMG. The modifications were mainly confined to reducing the fullness in the back of the jacket, modifying the width of the shoulders in the overcoat, and adjusting the sizes of the garments, which tended to run too large.73 The size tariff had been established as a result of specific, individual measurements taken of each woman pilot. Allowances, however, had been made for the purposes for which these garments were intended with the result that there had been criticism of the fit of the uniforms. When the additional procurement was directed on April 14, 1944, the OQMG requested approved samples of all garments on which any change had been made in order to expedite the delivery and insure satisfactory garments on the new procurement.74 There had also been considerable criticism of the service shoe, which had not proven very satisfactory as to wearing qualities. No further procurement of this item was to be made until a study to improve the shoe had been completed.75 Subsequently, the Director of the WASP approved the "Shank's Mare" shoe manufactured by I. Miller as the official WASP shoe, but no procurement was made of this item.76 When in the summer of 1943 it became desirable to have lighter-weight clothing because a large percentage of the WASP personnel was stationed in the South, a summer dress and hat, summer 65 Col. G. F. Doriot to Jacqueline Cochran, Nov. 11, 1943, "Insignia for Women's Army Service Pilots." 66 Col. Wm. F. McKee, Deputy Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Operations, to the Commanding General, ASF, Jan. 19, 1944. A copy of the license executed by the Walt Disney Productions was included. 67 Brig. Gen. W. E. Hall, Deputy Chief of the Air Staff to the Chief of Staff, Sept. 10, 1943, "Clothing for Women Pilots in the Army Air Forces." 68 Col. Lee A. Denson, Jr., Acting Director, Requirements Division, ASF, to The Quartermaster General, Sept. 24, 1943, "Clothing for Women Pilots in the Army Air Forces." 69 Maj. Gen. E. B. Gregory to Headquarters, ASF, Oct. 11, 1943, "Status of Procurement of Clothing for WASP." 70 Gen. H. H. Arnold to the Chief of the Staff, Nov. 5, 1943, "Uniforms and Insignia for WASPS"; War Department General Disposition Form, Lt. Col. G. B. Walker, Jr., to the Commanding General, AAF, Nov. 9, 1943. Attached was a memorandum for the record, which indicated that at the time the WASP uniform had been approved by the Commanding General, AAF, and the Chief of Staff this insignia had been part of the uniform. 71 Brig. Gen. W. E. Hall, Deputy Chief of the Air Staff, to the Commanding General, ASF, Jan. 23, 1944, "Clothing for Women Pilots in the Army Air Forces." 72 Jacqueline Cochran to The Quartermaster General, Feb. 4, 1944, "WASP Uniforms"; Col. H. R. W. Herwig, Air Quartermaster, to the Commanding General, ASF, March 3, 1944, "Clothing for Women Pilots in the Army Air Forces," and 1st ind., Col. Lee A. Denson, Director, Requirements Division, ASF, to The Quartermaster General, March 8 1944. 73 Based on information given in an interview with Miss Cecelia Edwards, Office of the Director of the WASP, June 1, 1945. 74 Col. G. F. Doriot to Headquarters, AAF, April 26, 1944, "Procurement of Additional WASP Clothing." 75 Col. H. R. W. Herwig, Air Quartermaster, to The Quartermaster General, May 20, 1944 (1st ind.). 76 Jacqueline Cochran to the Air Quartermaster, Aug. 4, 1944. 153