[WASP with Cochran at Wishing Well]

Photograph of several WASP and a man in uniform posed behind a short wall of a well. Jackie Cochran can be seen in a dark dress near the center. All have their right hands raised with crossed fingers. "Sweetwater, Texas 1943" is written at the top of the photo, and some of the women are labeled on the photo in pen. These are left to right, "DeBernard,Thompson, Kerr, Cochran, Muccie, Moynahan". A small piece of paper is taped to the back of the photo with a type list of these names in full. it reads, "1943 L-R 1.Kathryn DeBernard, 2.Ruth R. Thompson, 3.- , 4.Margaret E. Kerr, 5.Jacqueline Cochran, 6.Marie Muccie, 7.- , 8.Rita Moynahan, 9.-, At Wishing Well, Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas".
Date: 1943
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Photograph of Jacqueline Cochran and Gerald Brant]

Photograph of Jacqueline Cochran and General Gerald C. Brant sitting in folding chairs at the graduation ceremony for the 43-W-1 class of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP).
Date: April 24, 1943
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Photograph of Charlie Flucher]

Photograph of Charlie Flucher standing in front of an airplane. Handwritten text on the back of the photograph: "Photo taken at Avenger Field - Dec. 1943. Charlie Flucher was a mechanic while WASP were here. This was one of 5 planes of which he was crew chief. Plane - Basic Trainer 13A."
Date: December 1943
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Photograph of Jacqueline Cochran Standing in Front of a Microphone]

Photograph of Jacqueline Cochran standing in front of a microphone with her hands behind her back. A label taped to the bottom edge of the photograph reads, "Miss Cochran speaking at graduation of 43-W2. The back of the photograph includes a list of names and the stamp of the Sweetwater Chamber of Commerce.
Date: 1943
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Photograph of Jacqueline Cochran]

Photograph of Jacqueline Cochran, director of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), seated at a desk and in front of a map. Her uniform consists of a dark jacket adorned with pilots' wings, a light colored shirt, and a dark tie. The back of the photograph includes several handwritten notes as well as the stamp of the Sweetwater Chamber of Commerce.
Date: 1943~
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History
[WASP Promotional Video] captions transcript

[WASP Promotional Video]

Video detailing the daily life, training, customs, and graduation of WASP in Sweetwater, Texas.
Date: 1943~
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Video
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Clipping: WASPs Celebrate First Birthday November 12th] (open access)

[Clipping: WASPs Celebrate First Birthday November 12th]

Newspaper clipping with an article about Mrs. Yount speaking at a WASP graduation, the celebration of their first birthday, their attendance to a local movie premier. There is red text over the clipping that reads: "WOMEN AIRFORCE SERVICE PILOTS WWII 50TH ANNIVERSARY AVENGER FIELD SWEETWATER, TX. 22 MAY 1993".
Date: November 19, 1943
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Clipping
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Clippings Photocopy: Housing for Air Personnel Luncheon] (open access)

[Clippings Photocopy: Housing for Air Personnel Luncheon]

Photocopy of a newspaper clipping and an announcement card about a Sweetwater Club's luncheon to discuss housing for Air Force Personnel.
Date: {1943-05-13,1943-04-22}
Creator: Mathews, Roy
Object Type: Clipping
System: The Portal to Texas History
Avenger Field Yearbook, Class 43-W-4 and 43-W-5 (open access)

Avenger Field Yearbook, Class 43-W-4 and 43-W-5

Book documenting the 43-W-4 and 43-W-5 class of women pilots at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas. It includes graduating students, instructors, and other information about the class and the program.
Date: 1943
Creator: Avenger Field (Sweetwater, Tex.)
Object Type: Yearbook
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Clipping photocopy: Announcement Gives Promise and Future of Avenger Field] (open access)

[Clipping photocopy: Announcement Gives Promise and Future of Avenger Field]

Newspaper clipping of two articles from the Nolan County News. Both articles discuss the prospect of new housing for pilots in Sweetwater, Texas.
Date: August 12, 1943
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Clipping
System: The Portal to Texas History
Avenger Field Yearbook, 318th AAFFTD Class 43-W-6 and 43-W-7 (open access)

Avenger Field Yearbook, 318th AAFFTD Class 43-W-6 and 43-W-7

Book documenting the 43-W-6 and 43-W-7 class of women pilots at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas. It includes graduating students, instructors, and other information about the class and the program.
Date: 1943
Creator: Avenger Field (Sweetwater, Tex.)
Object Type: Yearbook
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Clipping photocopy: New WASP Uniforms Give Women Fliers Swank] (open access)

[Clipping photocopy: New WASP Uniforms Give Women Fliers Swank]

Photocopy of a newspaper article about WASP members receiving new uniforms, and includes a description of WASP members' current duties. The article is surrounded by another article and several advertisements, including one for Mission Garden Tea. At the top of the photocopy, the date of the article and newspaper name (The New York Times) are handwritten.
Date: November 17, 1943
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Clipping
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Clipping photocopy: Sweetwater Club Recent Activity] (open access)

[Clipping photocopy: Sweetwater Club Recent Activity]

Photocopy of newspaper clippings with articles, portions of articles, and announcement cards about the Sweetwater Club's various activities, including involvement with local sports teams, guest speakers at meetings, and local agriculture.
Date: 1943
Creator: Chamberlain, L. F. & Mathews, Roy
Object Type: Clipping
System: The Portal to Texas History
Avenger Field Yearbook, Class 43-W-4 and 43-W-5 (open access)

Avenger Field Yearbook, Class 43-W-4 and 43-W-5

Book documenting the 43-W-4 and 43-W-5 class of women pilots at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas. It includes graduating students, instructors, and other information about the class and the program.
Date: 1943
Creator: Avenger Field (Sweetwater, Tex.)
Object Type: Yearbook
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Clipping photocopy: Sweetwater Local News] (open access)

[Clipping photocopy: Sweetwater Local News]

Photocopy of newspaper clippings with articles about a discussion in Sweetwater, Texas over a proposal to bring alcohol plants to West Texas, facts about the Avenger Field Air School, and articles about Leslie C. McConnell and Ken McClure speaking to the people of Sweetwater and Sweetwater Club.
Date: 1943
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Clipping
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Clipping Photocopy: Sweetwater Club's Involvement with Air Field] (open access)

[Clipping Photocopy: Sweetwater Club's Involvement with Air Field]

Photocopy of newspaper clippings and an announcement card about the Sweetwater Club's various planning and coordination efforts with the Air Force Air Field in Sweetwater, Texas.
Date: {1943-02-11,1943-03-11,1943-03-25,1943-04-07}
Creator: Mathews, Roy
Object Type: Clipping
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Clipping: Sweetwater Club Announcements] (open access)

[Clipping: Sweetwater Club Announcements]

Photocopy with newspaper clippings and announcement cards about the Sweetwater Club's work helping the town's struggling crops.
Date: 1943
Creator: Mathews, Roy & Howard, J. Fred
Object Type: Clipping
System: The Portal to Texas History
Local Radio Procedure for Avenger Field (open access)

Local Radio Procedure for Avenger Field

Procedural text for operating the local radio for Avenger Field. It gives instructions on how "to leave line," what to do during take off, what to do on a forty-five degree entry, and important tips.
Date: May 24, 1943
Creator: United States. Army Air Forces.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Texas Commissary Company Financial Statement: July 31, 1943 #4 (open access)

Texas Commissary Company Financial Statement: July 31, 1943 #4

Report compiled regarding financial statements for a component of the Plosser-Prince Air Academy in Sweetwater, Texas, documented under the name "Texas Commissary Company." It includes explanations from the auditors and two exhibits showing the financial condition of the organization (as of July 31) and a statement of profit and loss (for October 1, 1942-July 31, 1943).
Date: September 7, 1943
Creator: Hutchinson and Bloodgood
Object Type: Report
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Legal Statement of Ted Merchant] (open access)

[Legal Statement of Ted Merchant]

Statement of concern from Ted Merchant, an instructor with concerns of unqualified pilots endeavoring to instruct women trainees.
Date: June 1943
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Legal Document
System: The Portal to Texas History
Plosser-Prince Air Academy Financial Statement: July 31, 1943 #3 (open access)

Plosser-Prince Air Academy Financial Statement: July 31, 1943 #3

Report compiled regarding financial statements for flight activities at the Plosser-Prince Air Academy in Sweetwater, Texas. It includes explanations from the auditors and two exhibits showing the financial condition of the organization (as of July 31) and a statement of profit and loss (for October 1, 1942-July 31, 1943). The opening letter notes that flight operations at the Academy have ended as of April 3, 1943 and that the organization closing down.
Date: September 7, 1943
Creator: Hutchinson and Bloodgood
Object Type: Report
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Joe B. Plosser to Army Air Forces Gulf Coast Training Center, February 10, 1943] (open access)

[Letter from Joe B. Plosser to Army Air Forces Gulf Coast Training Center, February 10, 1943]

Letter from Joe B. Plosser to Army Air Forces Gulf Coast Training Center discussing previous correspondence from February 8th, 1943 regarding the proposed Women's Pilot Training in Sweetwater, Texas. It specifically calls for the attention of Lieutenant Colonel Oliver E. Ford, Jr.
Date: February 10, 1943
Creator: Plosser, Joseph B.
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter to Landon E. McConnell, March 15, 1943] (open access)

[Letter to Landon E. McConnell, March 15, 1943]

Letter to Major Landon E. McConnell discussing the request for additional facilities at the Academy in Sweetwater, Texas. Specifically, the need for an underwater gasoline storage tank, a concrete washrack, and a new asphalt paved road.
Date: March 15, 1943
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Legal Statement of George Hight #1] (open access)

[Legal Statement of George Hight #1]

Legal statement of George Hight regarding the circumstances of a plane crash and his assessment of Henry S. Awbrey. Flight Instructor Hight gave a check ride to Awbrey and recommended that Awbrey be placed in the primary instructor's refresher course for additional time in primary aircraft before being allowed to conduct a class of instruction; however, his recommendation was not followed. Awbrey was instead placed in a basic trainer and ordered to start instruction. On June 7, 1943, Awbrey and trainee Jane Champlin crashed and were killed approximately 30 miles northwest of Sweetwater, Texas. Hight's understanding was that Awbrey had a rating of zero to eighty horse power aircraft and had not been given a check ride by an Army instructor nor did he have an Army proficiency rating. Additionally, trainees were being sent on night cross country flights without maps and the required transition work for night flying.
Date: June 1943
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Legal Document
System: The Portal to Texas History