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THE WASPS IN RELATION TO THE AAF

This report, as directed by AAF letter 40-34 dated 1 November 1944, is calculated to show the utilization, adaptability, conduct, physical standards and operational training of the WASPS. The ultimate aim is toward the establishment of advisability or inadvisability of a large scale utilization of such groups in cases of national emergency.
January 1943 saw the arrival of the first female pilots at Romulus, known at that time as the "WAFP" or Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron. Miss Adela Scharr held command function of this squadron for approximately six months, after which command was assumed by Miss Barbara Donahue. The organization designation was subsequently changed to "WASPS" or Women's Airforce Service Pilots, and the strength of the group was increased from time to time to a maximum of 91 WASPS on the civilian payroll in October 1943.
In order to gain the material for this report the only sources logically available were those male pilots who had served operational duties with members of the WASPS, the section heads of the 3rd Ferrying Group with whom the WASPS have had duty contact and members of the WASP Squadron themselves. Every effort has been made to obviate the intrusion of prejudice in the research of this report; there are however, certain more or less submerged factors whose manifestations must be recognized if the proper gain is to be made from a report of this nature.
At this station female pilots have been utilized for only one type of flying duty: Ferrying. (1) Findings tend to indicate that their adaptability

(1) Two WASPS served as M-A-T pilot and co-pilot for a period of about seven days, performing this task "admirably". They were not assigned to the Romulus WASP Squadron, but were ordered here for temporary duty from Long Beach by Ferrying Division Headquarters. While in the performance of this duty they flew personnel and cargo on M-A-T air freight runs.