World War II Honoree

Solange D'Hooghe

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Rockford, Illinois

Honored By

Child

WAS A GRADUATE OF CLASS 43-W5 OF THE WOMEN'S AIR FORCE SERVICE PILOTS (WASP), A GROUP STARTED BY JACQUELINE COCHRAN, THE NOTED WOMAN AVIATOR. THE WASP FERRIED PLANES FROM THEIR FACTORIES OF ORIGIN TO FIELDS AROUND NORTH AMERICA WHERE THEY WOULD BE ARMED AND FLOWN BY OTHER FERRY PILOTS TO THE EUROPEAN AND PACIFIC THEATERS OF WAR. SHE AND OTHER WASP PILOTS ALSO PERFORMED OTHER AVIATION TASKS, SUCH AS TOWING FLYING TARGETS FOR MALE PILOTS TO SHOOT AT IN PRACTICE.