The WAFS were more publicized than their parallel program WFTD. Even thought they were glamorized more, they still had to over come many challenges to become a pilot. The pilots needed to complete a four week course that consisted of navigation and ferry routes. They also needed to learn how to fill out the paperwork, ferrying had numerous forms that needed to be filled in correctly with the right signatures. The first planes they had been hired to ferry were the Cubs and the PT-19s. These were small planes that under the best weather conditions only flew one hundred miles per hour. Love was highly respected by the WAFS, she was the one who had finally talked the military into giving women pilots a chance to serve their country. They worked hard so they would not let Love down. The WAFS began proving themselves as dependable and enthusiastic to the military. The AAF leaders all agreed that they had done the right thing in beginning the program.
Magazines and the public were extremely interested in the women pilots. Look magazine wrote an article about the WAFS. It showed the “best looking girls zipping up leather, fleece-lined flying suits and putting on a last touch of lipstick before heading for the flight line” (Verges 58). The WAFS did not find their job glamorous at all, like portrayed in magazines. They were working seven days a week, had to be ready at a moments notice, lug around a thirty pound parachute, and learn how to take a quick nap on airport benches. They did carry a celebrity status; they were asked for interviews and autographs and lunched with big name stars, like Bob Hope. The WAFS had proven themselves to many Air Force officers. General Arnold became more interested in the idea of women pilots in the AAF, Love was urged to show what women could do to boost support by others. March 21, 1943 the WAFS experienced their first casualty. Cornelia Fort was killed in a tragic accident caused by a male pilot. He flew too close to Fort and his landing gear clipped her left wing. This was a major down point for the WAFS, they realized that things can happen during their missions and accidents can happen to even the most experienced pilots.
April
26 the AAF gave the WAFS the clearance they needed to continue with their
progression be being an official part of the Army Air Force. The
ATC sent a letter to the Ferry Division stating that, “It is the desire
of this command that all pilots, regardless of sex, be privileged to advance
to the extent of their ability.” Turner was asked by an angry male
pilot, if they were going to allow women to fly the P-51 Mustang, the newest
combat plane. Turner responded, “Yes, they will fly everything
they are capable of flying.”(Verges
92). The WAFS were asked to hire pilots that had graduated from
Cochran’s WFTD program. The pilots proved themselves by individually
averaging over five hundred flight hours. They had experience with
solo night flying, instrument training and flying heavy planes like the
AT-6 Texan and the AT-17. Many of the WAFS pilots had not had the
chance to fly a plane like the Texan. The women, by this time, were flying
the same amount of hours as the male pilots and they had a zero error pilot
percentage. On August 5, 1943 the Women Airforce Service Pilots,
or the catchy acronym WASPs, were created by the merging of the WAFS and
the WFTDs.