[Press Release: Address by General H.H. Arnold, and Statement from Jacqueline Cochran] (open access)

[Press Release: Address by General H.H. Arnold, and Statement from Jacqueline Cochran]

War Department press release quoting the speech General Arnold gave to the final graduating class of Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II and a statement made by Jacqueline Cochran on the WASP's accomplishments. The pages are torn away at the edges in several places, most noticeably in the bottom left corner of the first page.
Date: December 7, 1944
Creator: Arnold, Henry Harley
Object Type: Script
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Clipping: S.A. Girl Gets WASP Wings] (open access)

[Clipping: S.A. Girl Gets WASP Wings]

Newspaper clipping of an article about Eleanor Michel McLernon's graduation from the WASP flight school and Esther L. Stahr beginning her training for WASP flight school. The article includes close-up photographs of both women. There is part of a large advertisement on the back of the clipping.
Date: November 12, 1944
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Clipping
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Howard Stevens to Mickey McLernon, April 1, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Howard Stevens to Mickey McLernon, April 1, 1944]

Letter from Howard Stevens to Mickey McLernon expressing concern that they will no longer see each other and telling her that he will behave well.
Date: April 1, 1944
Creator: Stevens, Howard E.
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Lt. Edward Drew to Mickey McLernon, March 23, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Lt. Edward Drew to Mickey McLernon, March 23, 1944]

Letter from Lieutenant Edward Drew to Mickey McLernon discussing the uniforms the WASP will be receiving, aviation, women, thanksgiving, friends, family, college experiences, holidays, surgeries, and diet.
Date: March 23, 1944
Creator: Drew, Edward Allen
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History

[WASP Standing Next to a Plane #1]

Photograph of a woman with a parachute standing next to an airplane marked "U245." Another airplane is visible in the background.
Date: [1944-04..1944-12]
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Four WASP Trainees #2]

Photograph of four WASP trainees seated in the back of a truck and looking at something in the distance. Written on the back of the photograph: "McCarty, McLernon, McGrath, Lytch 44-9."
Date: [1944-04..1944-12]
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Graduation Announcement for WASP Class 44-W-9] (open access)

[Graduation Announcement for WASP Class 44-W-9]

Graduation announcement for WASP Class 44-W-9. The front cover includes a winged-diamond logo in the top-left quadrant and an embossed emblem of the Fifinella mascot in the lower-right quadrant. The text on the inside reads, "The 253rd Army Air Forces Base Unit announces the Graduation of Class 44-W-9 Monday, November 6, 1944, Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas."
Date: 1944
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History

[WASP Trainee in a PT-17 #1]

Photograph of a woman seated in a PT-17 biplane marked "U54." The back of the photograph includes a handwritten note that says, "Me & ship - solo."
Date: [1944-04..1944-12]
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Cpt. Edwards Drew to Mickey McLernon, April 14, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Cpt. Edwards Drew to Mickey McLernon, April 14, 1944]

Letter from Captain Edward Drew to Mickey McLernon responding to her previous letter.
Date: April 14, 1944
Creator: Drew, Edward Allen
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Two WASP Sitting in the Grass #2]

Photograph of two women seated on the grass. Part of a building is visible behind them. Written on the back of the photograph: "Thel Lytch (Miller), Mickey McLernon (Brown)."
Date: [1944-04..1944-12]
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Lt. Edward Drew to Mickey McLernon, April 8, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Lt. Edward Drew to Mickey McLernon, April 8, 1944]

Letter from Lieutenant Edward Drew to Mickey McLernon discussing life overseas, past experiences, drinking, issues with mail, and friends.
Date: April 8, 1944
Creator: Drew, Edward Allen
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Howard Stevens to Mickey McLernon, March 21, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Howard Stevens to Mickey McLernon, March 21, 1944]

Letter from Howard Stevens to Mickey McLernon congratulating her on passing her exams, discussing the weather, and his friend.
Date: March 21, 1944
Creator: Stevens, Howard E.
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Cpt. Edward Drew to Mickey McLernon, October 13, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Cpt. Edward Drew to Mickey McLernon, October 13, 1944]

Letter from Captain Edward Drew to Mickey McLernon apologizing for not responding, discussing aviation, dentistry, recent experiences on an air base, local festivities, a wrestler, and Mickey's deployment.
Date: October 13, 1944
Creator: Drew, Edward Allen
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Captain Edward Drew to Mickey McLernon, July 20, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Captain Edward Drew to Mickey McLernon, July 20, 1944]

Letter from Captain Edward Drew to Mickey McLernon apologizing for an offense, talking about Charlotte, North Carolina, aviation, and how good of a friend she is.
Date: July 20, 1944
Creator: Drew, Edward Allen
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Howard Stevens to Mickey McLernon, March 15, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Howard Stevens to Mickey McLernon, March 15, 1944]

Letter from Howard Stevens to Mickey McLernon discussing the weather and apologizing for having nothing to say.
Date: March 15, 1944
Creator: Stevens, Howard E.
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Lt. Edward Drew to Mickey McLernon, March 12, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Lt. Edward Drew to Mickey McLernon, March 12, 1944]

Letter from Lieutenant Edward Drew to Mickey McLernon discussing a play, future interviews for the play, a skating rink, a recent encounter with another person, ships, aviation, and investment.
Date: March 12, 1944
Creator: Drew, Edward Allen
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Clipping: Three Kelly Girls Attain Goal--Join Wasps] (open access)

[Clipping: Three Kelly Girls Attain Goal--Join Wasps]

Newspaper clipping about five employees at Kelly Field who applied to join the WASP. The article notes that three of the women have been accepted into the April training class and that the other two women expect to join the May training class. The back of the clipping features an article about a baseball game at Kelly Field.
Date: April 8, 1944
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Clipping
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Lt. Edward Drew to Mickey McLernon, April 1, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Lt. Edward Drew to Mickey McLernon, April 1, 1944]

Letter from Lieutenant Edward Drew to Mickey McLernon thanking her for the past two letters and discussing life in France.
Date: April 1, 1944
Creator: Drew, Edward Allen
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
Avenger Field Yearbook, Class 44-W-9 (open access)

Avenger Field Yearbook, Class 44-W-9

Book documenting the 44-W-9 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: 1944
Creator: Avenger Field (Sweetwater, Tex.)
Object Type: Yearbook
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Delnar L. Werner to Mickey McLernon, January 15, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Delnar L. Werner to Mickey McLernon, January 15, 1944]

Letter from Delnar L. Werner to Mickey McLernan updating her on life in the Air Force, briefly mentioning the weather, and requesting a picture of her.
Date: January 15, 1944
Creator: Werner, Delnar L.
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Eleanor McLernon Rating Record] (open access)

[Eleanor McLernon Rating Record]

Pilot rating document certifying that Eleanor McLernon is qualified to fly single engine aircraft between 110 and 825 horsepower.
Date: December 21, 1944
Creator: United States. Department of Commerce.
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Special Orders Number 99, Extract 1] (open access)

[Special Orders Number 99, Extract 1]

Special orders extract authorizing a list of Women Airforce Service Pilots to fly military aircraft. Eleanor McLernon's name can be seen underlined in red on the list.
Date: November 6, 1944
Creator: 2536D Army Air Forces Base Unit
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Lt. Edward Drew to Mickey McLernon, February 17,1944] (open access)

[Letter from Lt. Edward Drew to Mickey McLernon, February 17,1944]

Letter from Lieutenant Edward Drew to Mickey McLernon discussing life as a Lieutenant.
Date: February 17, 1944
Creator: Drew, Edward Allen
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Letter from Howard Stevens to Mickey McLernon, February 24, 1944] (open access)

[Letter from Howard Stevens to Mickey McLernon, February 24, 1944]

Letter from Howard Stevens to Mickey McLernon discussing life in cadet academy, mental examinations, and asking her opinions on Bing Crosby.
Date: February 24, 1944
Creator: Stevens, Howard E.
Object Type: Letter
System: The Portal to Texas History