WASP Pictures

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All flight training begins with “ground school.” The WASPs were taught by both civilian and Army instructors. Since wartime training was condensed, physics, meteorology, navigation, and every other flight topic was taught to them at an intense pace—necessitating late night study sessions and reducing free time.	Avenger hosted both military and civilian flight instructors, male and female. Many women served as civilian flight instructors for the WASP program. Some female civilian instructors ended up joining the WASPs after seeing many of their students go on to fly fighters and bombers.
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After completing flight training a WASP would receive her Santiago Blue flight uniform in preparation for her first flying assignment. By the time the last class graduated in 1944, 1,074 WASPs had earned their wings.	While some trainees were learning to fly for the first time, most women had previous flying experience before being accepted as a WASP. For them, the challenge would be to learn to fly “the Army way.”
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Two WASP traditions were to throw a coin into the wishing well before a check ride and to “dunk” a fellow pilot after she passed hers.	The military check ride posed a crucial test for a student pilot, when her flying skills were tested by an army check pilot. Poor performance resulted in being eliminated from the program. A WASP trainee lost her only opportunity for military flying if she washed out.
(From left to right) WASPs Bea Haydu, Helen Snapp, Betty Blakely and Barry Smith pose beside the North American AT-6, which bears the WASP mascot Fifinella, in Fantasy of Flight's South Hangar. The group was featured at Fantasy of Flight's March 2009 Living History Symposium "A Passionate Pursuit."	(From front to back) WASPs Bea Haydu, Barry Smith, Helen Snapp and Betty Blakely sign autographs for program attendees in Fantasy of Flight's South Hanger during the March 2009 Living History Symposium "A Passionate Pursuit."
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Bea Haydu stands beside a North American AT-6 - looking up at the WASP mascot Fifinella - in Fantasy of Flight's South Hangar. Haydu was a featured speaker at Fantasy of Flight's March 2009 Living History Symposium "A Passionate Pursuit" which highlighted WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots)