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World War II Honoree

Civilian on the Home Front

Phyllis Marsden Johnson Strauss Paradis

Hometown

Rhode Island

Honored By

Nathaniel R. Fenton

Relationship

Friend

Branch Seal
Activity During WWII

AFTER OBTAINING THE REQUIRED FLIGHT HOURS BY COMMUTING TO MISSOURI FROM RHODE ISLAND, SHE WAS ADMITTED INTO THE WOMEN AIRFORCE SERVICE PILOTS (WASP) PROGRAM, CLASS 44W5 IN SWEETWATER, TEXAS. DURING TRAINING, SHE FLEW STEARMAN AIRCRAFT (PT-17), AT-6, VOLTI-VIBRATOR (VT-13), CESSNA BOBCAT (UC-78) AND PT-19 AIRCRAFT. ALSO RECEIVED MULTI-ENGINE TRAINING. GRADUATED ON JUNE 27, 1944 AND WAS ASSIGNED TO BE A TEST PILOT IN GREENVILLE, MISSISSIPPI AND FLEW THE UC-78 KNOWN AS THE 'BAMBOO BOMBER' AND OTHER PLANES ON THE FIELD THAT NEEDED TESTING. THE WASPS WERE DISBANDED ON DECEMBER 20, 1944.