[Special Orders Number 81, Extract 21] (open access)

[Special Orders Number 81, Extract 21]

Special orders reassigning several Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) from Romulus Air Force Base to AAF Tactical Center in Orlando, Florida.
Date: June 29, 1944
Creator: 553d AAF Base Unit
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Clipping: CAF air show flies into Frederick] (open access)

[Clipping: CAF air show flies into Frederick]

Photocopy of a newspaper clipping providing details about the sixth annual Confederate Air Force Wings of Freedom Air Show where the Women Airforce Service Pilots will be honored for their service during World War II.
Date: August 12, 1999
Creator: Belanger, Nicole
Object Type: Clipping
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Clipping: Community Scene] (open access)

[Clipping: Community Scene]

Newspaper clipping discussing the details of the Women Airforce Service Pilots' reunion in Northern California along with a brief history about their formation and activities.
Date: July 5, 1984
Creator: Centell, Linda
Object Type: Clipping
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Jacqueline Cochran, January 4, 1949] (open access)

[Letter from Jacqueline Cochran, January 4, 1949]

Letter from Jacqueline Cochran explaining the offer of a commission of 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force to former Women Airforce Service Pilots if they meet certain standards and qualifications.
Date: January 1949
Creator: Cochran, Jacqueline
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Jacqueline Cochran to Mary Ruth Rance, February 26, 1943] (open access)

[Letter from Jacqueline Cochran to Mary Ruth Rance, February 26, 1943]

Letter from Jacqueline Cochran to Mary Ruth Rance explaining the requirements for admission to the Women's Flying Training program.
Date: February 26, 1943
Creator: Cochran, Jacqueline
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Clipping: Good Turn Out for Work Party: Squadron Members Help to "Keep 'Em Flying!"] (open access)

[Clipping: Good Turn Out for Work Party: Squadron Members Help to "Keep 'Em Flying!"]

Article about the Confederate Air Force squadron coming together for an all day event to clean and repair planes for an upcoming air show. Woman Airforce Service Pilot, Mary Ruth Rance, is noted to have attended and helped out, and an arrow is drawn in pencil pointing her out in a group photo on the page. A handwritten note above the photo reads, "Golden Gate Squadron Confederate Air Force Newsletter ~1994"
Date: 1994~
Creator: Craig, George
Object Type: Article
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Mary Ruth Rance Bio] (open access)

[Mary Ruth Rance Bio]

Photocopy of a short biography of Mary Ruth Rance focused on her time in the Women Airforce Service Pilots program, with a brief blurb at the end welcoming her to Grand Oaks. A handwritten note on the right margin reads, "Grand Oaks Care Center, Lakewood, CO, 2002".
Date: 2002
Creator: Grand Oaks Care Centere
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Chester R. Klown to Mary Ruth Rance, April 6, 1943] (open access)

[Letter from Chester R. Klown to Mary Ruth Rance, April 6, 1943]

Letter from Chester R. Klown to Mary Ruth Rance discussing the details of her application to the Women's Flying Training Program, explaining her reporting requirements and salary information.
Date: April 6, 1943
Creator: Klown, Chester R.
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from R. E. McKaughan to R. T. Rance, October 5, 1943] (open access)

[Letter from R. E. McKaughan to R. T. Rance, October 5, 1943]

Letter from R. E. McKaughan to R. T. Rance informing him of how much they appreciated having Mary R. Rance at Avenger Field as a WASP trainee and indicating that she received excellent training designed by experienced Air Force veterans.
Date: October 5, 1943
Creator: McKaughan, R. E.
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Clipping: Food, fellowship unite veterans] (open access)

[Clipping: Food, fellowship unite veterans]

Photocopy of a newspaper clipping which includes a brief statement from the veterans at the East Shore American Legion Post 196 afternoon barbecue including former Women Airforce Service Pilot, Mary Ruth Rance.
Date: July 26, 1999
Creator: Mele, Linda G.
Object Type: Clipping
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Clipping: Memories Take Wing at an Airfield in West Texas] (open access)

[Clipping: Memories Take Wing at an Airfield in West Texas]

Newspaper clipping providing a brief history about the Women Airforce Service Pilots including the experiences of former members, Mary Ruth Rance and Ola Rexroat.
Date: May 24, 1993
Creator: Pressley, Sue Ann
Object Type: Clipping
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Mary Ruth Rance to WASP Class 43-6] (open access)

[Letter from Mary Ruth Rance to WASP Class 43-6]

Letter from Mary Ruth Rance to members of class 43-6 of the Women Airforce Service Pilots asking for information on the types of planes each member flew during the WASP program.
Date: unknown
Creator: Rance, Mary Ruth
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Correspondence of WASP Class 43-6] (open access)

[Correspondence of WASP Class 43-6]

Book compiled by Mary Ruth Rance full of correspondence between herself and other Women Airforce Service Pilots discussing memories of Class 43-6 in the WASP program, life after deactivation, and reconnecting with other members. Various copies of news clippings and other WASP related documents are also included, as well WASP "profiles" self-written by several members,
Date: July 1989
Creator: Rance, Mary Ruth; Monkiewicz, Anna Flynn; Gonzales, Shirley Condit; Bross, Blanche Osburn; Webster, Rita Davoly; Smith, Maxine Steward et al.
Object Type: Book
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Clipping: Flying in war was 'best time of her life'] (open access)

[Clipping: Flying in war was 'best time of her life']

Photocopy of a newspaper clipping providing a brief history about the life and experiences of Mary Ruth Rance as a former Women Airforce Service Pilot. The clipping also includes information about Miss Rance's training and the types of air craft she flew.
Date: July 7, 1998
Creator: Robb, Julia
Object Type: Clipping
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Ethel Sheehy to Mary Ruth Rance, February 28, 1943] (open access)

[Letter from Ethel Sheehy to Mary Ruth Rance, February 28, 1943]

Letter from Ethel A. Sheehy to Mary Ruth Rance discussing the applicant interview details and age requirements for the Women Airforce Service Pilots program.
Date: February 28, 1943
Creator: Sheehy, Ethel A.
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Clipping: WASP invasion at Columbia: Women Air Service Pilots] (open access)

[Clipping: WASP invasion at Columbia: Women Air Service Pilots]

Copy of a newspaper clipping describing the activities of the Women Airforce Service Pilots when they reunited in Columbia, California. A photo of WASP members taken at the Columbia Airport tamarack is included in this clipping.
Date: April 25, 1986
Creator: Strand, Betty
Object Type: Clipping
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Mary Ruth Rance WASP Diploma] (open access)

[Mary Ruth Rance WASP Diploma]

Diploma certifying that Mary Ruth Rance completed the Women Airforce Service Pilots special training program.
Date: October 9, 1943
Creator: United States. Army Air Forces.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Mary Ruth Rance WASP Diploma] (open access)

[Mary Ruth Rance WASP Diploma]

Diploma certifying that Mary Ruth Rance completed the Women Airforce Service Pilots special training program.
Date: July 28, 1944
Creator: United States. Army Air Forces.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Mary Ruth Rance WASP Promotion] (open access)

[Mary Ruth Rance WASP Promotion]

Photocopy of a notice of personnel action from the War Department promoting Mary Ruth Rance from Assistant Clerk-Typist to Student Pilot with new pay-grade.
Date: unknown
Creator: United States. War Department.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Rance WASP Transfer Slip] (open access)

[Rance WASP Transfer Slip]

Photocopied document stating Mary Ruth Rance's new position, pay grade, and station in the Women Airforce Service Pilots training program.
Date: unknown
Creator: United States. War Department.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Clipping:Memories soar for former WASP pilot] (open access)

[Clipping:Memories soar for former WASP pilot]

Newspaper clipping sharing the history of former Women Airforce Service Pilot, Mary Ruth Rance including information about her passion for flying, family history and activities as a WASP.
Date: September 2, 1999
Creator: Wait, Patience
Object Type: Clipping
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Cindy Weigand to Mary Ruth Rance, September 16, 1999] (open access)

[Letter from Cindy Weigand to Mary Ruth Rance, September 16, 1999]

Letter from Cindy Weigand to Mary Ruth Rance thanking her for sharing the history of the Women Airforce Service Pilots when they met at the Wings of Freedom Airshow in Frederick, MD.
Date: September 16, 1999
Creator: Weigand, Cindy
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Clipping from WASP Newsletter] (open access)

[Clipping from WASP Newsletter]

Page from what appears to be a Women Airforce Service Pilots newsletter with several brief write-in reports from various WASP members. One report from Mary Ruth Rance is circled in pencil.
Date: April 1993
Creator: Women Airforce Service Pilots (U.S.)
Object Type: Clipping
System: The Portal to Texas History
Bio for Mary Ruth Rance (WASP class 43-6) (open access)

Bio for Mary Ruth Rance (WASP class 43-6)

List of biographical details on Mary Ruth Rance with a focus on her time in the Women Airforce Service Pilots Program during WWII. Under the "Memories" section is Rance's firsthand account of her time as a WASP.
Date: unknown
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History