January - Pittsburgh IAP Air Reserve Station

The FlyoverJanuary 2007NewsChronicles:Teresa JamesWW II Aviator and Pittsburgh ARS Officer7By Tech. Sgt. Lorraine M. Jacobs,911th HistorianBetween 1942 and 1944, agroup of brave young femaleaviators answered the call to dutyand filled the critical need forpilots in noncombat roles.The Women’s AuxiliaryFerrying Squadron —28 womenknown as the “Originals”—andthe Women’s Flying TrainingDetachment merged to form theWomen Air Force Service Pilots.Out of 25,000 applicants, 1,830professional women pilots wereaccepted. They trained underaustere conditions and arduousroutines, receiving limitedcompensation for their efforts.Only 1,074 candidatescompleted the training.Collectively, they flew more than60 million miles in 78 differentaircraft frames with a mission thatincluded ferrying aircraft,instructing other pilots and towingtargets for aerial gunnery. By theend of 1944, higher headquartersdisbanded the WASP program; thewomen received neither a newassignment nor GI benefits.One of the “Originals,” TeresaD. James resided in the Pittsburgharea. Ms. James earned herprivate pilot license at theage of 19 andworked as(Courtesy photos)a stunt pilot and “barnstormer.”She went on to earn herinstructor’s license at the age of26 and her commercial license atthe age of 27. By the time shereceived General “Hap” Arnold’scall to join the WAFS in 1942; shehad more than 2,000 flight hours.For the next twenty-sevenmonths, Ms. James gainedexperience on many WW IIaircraft including T-19’s, the P-47Thunderbolt and the P-51Mustang. She flew many missionsas a flight leader and becamefamous when she was chosen asthe pilot to ferry the 10,000th P-47, “Ten Grand,” from theRepublic factory to itsembarkation point.She remained in the WASPprogram until the U.S.Government disbanded theorganization in December of 1944.In 1950, the Air Forcepresented these aviators with theopportunity for a commission tothe USAF Reserves innonflyingpositions.TeresaD. Jamesacceptedthecommissionto thepermanentrank ofMajor. In1952, sheservedwith thePittsburghAirReserve Stationas a Public Information Officerand then as a Women’s Air ForceTraining Director from 1953to1960.From 1961 to 1965, she servedin Elmendorf, Alaska as aCasualty Assistance Officerwhere she earned twocommendation medals. MajorJames returned to the PittsburghAir Reserve Station in 1966 andfaithfully served with theorganization until she retired in1976.Among other accomplishments,Major James continued to fly as ahobby and volunteered time andtalents toward gaining veteran’sbenefits for the Women AirService Pilots. Major Jameslogged more than 10,000 hoursduring her career—a lifetime thatincluded many firsts for women asaviators and as members ofArmed Services’ organizations.She presently resides in Florida.(Acknowledgement for researchcontributions: Lt. Col. (ret.)M.J. Flaherty, USAFANG).