Serial/Series Title

[43-W-4 Trainees in Formation]

Photograph of trainees with WASP class 43-W-4 standing in formation at Avenger Field. Behind them are two AT-6 trainers. A guide-on bearer carries a flag with a "B" on it.
Date: Summer 1943
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History
The 318th Army Air Forces Training Detachment Announces the Graduation of Class 43-W-4 (open access)

The 318th Army Air Forces Training Detachment Announces the Graduation of Class 43-W-4

Letter with envelope announcing the graduation of 318th FTD Class 43-W-4 at Avenger Field, the members of which became Women Airforce Service Pilots.
Date: [..1943-08-07]
Creator: United States. Army Air Forces. 318th Flying Training Detachment
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[American Airlines Thanksgiving Menu, 1943] (open access)

[American Airlines Thanksgiving Menu, 1943]

An in-flight menu from American Airlines for Thanksgiving, 1943. The cover features a drawing of various military aircraft flying over a pastoral scene with the words "For This We are Thankful."
Date: 1943-11-25~
Creator: American Airlines
Object Type: Pamphlet
System: The Portal to Texas History
The Avenger, Volume 1, Number 1, May 11, 1943 (open access)

The Avenger, Volume 1, Number 1, May 11, 1943

First issue of The Avenger, a newsletter by the WASPs at Avenger Field featuring news, cartoons, essays, and photos.
Date: May 11, 1943
Creator: Women Airforce Service Pilots (U.S.)
Object Type: Journal/Magazine/Newsletter
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Bobby Willis, Elizabeth Mitchell, Betty Heinrich, and Cornelia Yerkes]

Photograph of four WASPs near an aircraft wing, all wearing flight suits. From left to right: Bobby Willis, Elizabeth Mitchell, Betty Heinrich, and Cornelia Yerkes.
Date: Summer 1943
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Bobby Wilson and WASP with Vultee BT-13]

Photograph of WASP Bobby Wilson (left) and another WASP standing on the starboard side of a Vultee BT-13 in their service uniforms.
Date: [1943..1944]
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History
BT-13A Cockpit Procedure (open access)

BT-13A Cockpit Procedure

Cockpit procedure for starting, taxiing, taking off, climbing, cruising, landing, and parking a Vultee BT-13A trainer aircraft.
Date: 1943
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Card from Cornelia Yerkes to Fred G. Yerkes, June 17, 1943] (open access)

[Card from Cornelia Yerkes to Fred G. Yerkes, June 17, 1943]

A father's day card from Cornelia Yerkes to her father discussing clothing, a visit from aviator Nancy Love, the Women Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron, and her future. The card features a cartoon of a girl saying "I may not be no mental whizz, but dad, I know what day this is!"
Date: June 17, 1943
Creator: Kafka, Cornelia V. Yerkes
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Clipping: Little Girls, Big Ships, Women: Here Come the WAFS] (open access)

[Clipping: Little Girls, Big Ships, Women: Here Come the WAFS]

Newspaper clipping of two articles, "Women: Here Come the WAFS" and "Little Girls, Big Ships," which discuss women pilots' training and the second WAFS graduation. There is a photo of the WAFS graduates at Sweetwater, Texas which shows several women in uniform.
Date: June 7, 1943
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Clipping
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Clipping: Major McConnel Asks Sweetwater People to Share 'Great Adventure'] (open access)

[Clipping: Major McConnel Asks Sweetwater People to Share 'Great Adventure']

Newspaper clippings of the article, "Major McConnel Asks Sweetwater People to Share 'Great Adventure'" which discusses the women's pilot training at Avenger's Field and urges the town residents to welcome the women trainees into the social and civic activities of Sweetwater.
Date: April 30, 1943
Creator: Chamberlain, L. F.
Object Type: Clipping
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Clipping: Our Women Pilots] (open access)

[Clipping: Our Women Pilots]

Magazine clipping of the article, "Our Women Pilots" discussing the Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squad. There are four photos of the women pilots including one of Nancy Harkness Love in front of an aircraft, Betty Giles walking towards a plane, and Evelyn Sharp leaning out of a cockpit window in a C-47.
Date: September 1943
Creator: Knight, Charlotte
Object Type: Clipping
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Clipping: To "One of Sweetwater's Own"] (open access)

[Clipping: To "One of Sweetwater's Own"]

Newspaper clipping of a photo and caption titled "One of Sweetwater's Own" depicting a class of women pilots standing on an air strip in formation during the graduation ceremony.
Date: June 4, 1943
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Clipping
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Cornelia Yerkes and Three WASPs with Vultee BT-13]

Photograph of (from left to right) Cornelia Yerkes, Elizabeth Mitchell, Betty Heinrich and Bobby Willis standing in front of a Vultee BT-13.
Date: Summer 1943
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Cornelia Yerkes, Three WASPs and Instructor with Vultee BT-13]

Photograph of (from left to right) Cornelia Yerkes, Elizabeth Mitchell, Don Clifford, Betty Heinrich and Bobby Willis standing in front of a Vultee BT-13.
Date: Summer 1943
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Cornelia Yerkes, Three WASPs, and Instructor with Vultee BT-13]

Photograph of (from left to right) Cornelia Yerkes, Elizabeth Mitchell, Don Clifford, Betty Heinrich and Bobby Willis standing in front of a North American Vultee BT-13. Two more people can be seen walking on the right side behind the wing.
Date: Summer 1943
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Cornelia Yerkes with Basic Trainer]

Photograph of Cornelia Yerkes Colby in a flight suit, standing behind the starboard wing of a basic trainer aircraft.
Date: 1943
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Cornelia Yerkes with DC-3]

Photograph of Cornelia Yerkes standing next to the port engine of a Douglas DC-3 at Love Field. She is wearing her uniform and posing with a bag in her left hand, with her right hand raised to her head as she looks off into the distance.
Date: [1943-09..1944-12]
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History
Gosport Gossip, Volume 1, Number 3, March 20, 1943 (open access)

Gosport Gossip, Volume 1, Number 3, March 20, 1943

Avenger Field newspaper discussing recent news about pilot training, in particular the arrival of Women Flying Training Detachment trainees, as well as pieces of entertainment and art.
Date: March 20, 1943
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Ben N. Roberts to Cornelia Yerkes, August 5, 1943] (open access)

[Letter from Ben N. Roberts to Cornelia Yerkes, August 5, 1943]

Letter from mayor Ben N. Roberts of Sweetwater, TX, to Cornelia Yerkes on the occasion of her pinning as a Women Airforce Service Pilot.
Date: August 5, 1943
Creator: Roberts, Ben N.
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Bill to Cornelia Yerkes, Spring 1943] (open access)

[Letter from Bill to Cornelia Yerkes, Spring 1943]

Letter to Cornelia "Connie" Yerkes from her nephew Bill discussing flight training, his family, the weather, food shortages, school, and Cornelia's husband Dick. At the top of the first page is an address for "Mrs. W. St. Clair Childs."
Date: Spring 1943
Creator: Bill
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Cornelia Yerkes, 1943~] (open access)

[Letter from Cornelia Yerkes, 1943~]

Letter from WASP Cornelia Yerkes, probably to her parents, discussing becoming a flight instructor, losing a photograph she was going to send to her father, carpooling, letters, weather, packages, and issues her brother Francis was having with the Navy.
Date: 1943~
Creator: Kafka, Cornelia V. Yerkes
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Cornelia Yerkes, April 1, 1943] (open access)

[Letter from Cornelia Yerkes, April 1, 1943]

Letter from Cornelia Yerkes discussing being alone in the barracks, her training schedule, a visit from Jackie Cochran and related drill parade, a planned visit from General Hap Arnold, learning to fly basic trainers, not getting along with an instructor, recent correspondence, advantages of being the first class at Avenger Field, hope of getting Army commissions, the weather, bonds, and clothes. Typed on USO Seasons Greetings stationary.
Date: April 1, 1943
Creator: Kafka, Cornelia V. Yerkes
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Cornelia Yerkes, April 6, 1943] (open access)

[Letter from Cornelia Yerkes, April 6, 1943]

Letter from Cornelia Yerkes discussing flying in hot weather, sunburns, her hectic schedule, a measles outbreak, news about friends, check flights and washouts, and needing clothes shipped. Typed on USO Seasons Greetings stationary and the back of a graded physics quiz.
Date: April 6, 1943
Creator: Kafka, Cornelia V. Yerkes
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Cornelia Yerkes, April 22, 1943] (open access)

[Letter from Cornelia Yerkes, April 22, 1943]

Letter from Cornelia Yerkes discussing flight training, barracks life, students failing for minor medical problems, and a picnic.
Date: April 22, 1943
Creator: Kafka, Cornelia V. Yerkes
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History