World War II Honoree

Mabel J. Parham Metcalf

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Magnolia, Arkansas

Honored By

Jeanette Metcalf Nazemetz

Relationship

Daughter

ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE AS A MEMBER OF THE WOMEN’S ARMY AUXILIARY CORPS (WAAC) ON MARCH 18, 1943 AND WAS CALLED TO ACTIVE MILITARY SERVICE ON APRIL 25, 1943. SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE WAAC IN THE AMERICAN THEATER DURING THE WAR UNTIL HONORABLY DISCHARGED ON AUGUST 13, 1943. SHE WAS IMMEDIATELY ENLISTED IN THE WOMEN’S ARMY CORPS (WAC) AT THE RECRUITING STATION IN SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA ON AUGUST 14, 1943 WHEN THE WAAC BECAME THE WAC AS PART OF THE REGULAR ARMY. ASSIGNED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER TO SERVE WITH THE ARMY AIR FORCES AS AN AIR WAC WITH THE 2518TH ARMY AIR FORCES BASE UNIT. STATIONED AT ENID ARMY FLYING SCHOOL AT WOODRING FIELD AT ENID, OKLAHOMA. SERVED FOR SOME 29 MONTHS AS A DISPATCHER FOR PRIMARY FLIGHT TRAINING OPERATIONS TO TRAIN AVIATION CADETS TO BECOME PILOTS AND COMMISSIONED OFFICERS IN THE ARMY AIR FORCES. HER DUTIES INCLUDED CLEARING TRANSITING AIRCRAFT AND ALL LOCAL FLYING AND STUDENT TRAINING CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHTS. HER POSITION REQUIRED A COMPLETE AND THOROUGH KNOWLEDGE OF BOTH ARMY AND CIVILIAN FLYING REGULATIONS AND PROCEDURES. SHE RECEIVED FLIGHT PLANS AND DEPARTURE AND ARRIVAL TIMES FOR OUTGOING AND INCOMING AIRCRAFT, REVIEWED THEM AND FORWARDED APPROVED PLANS TO AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (ATC). SHE CHECKED FLIGHT PLANS FOR PROPER WEATHER CLEARANCES FOR BOTH VISUAL (CONTACT) FLIGHT AND INSTRUMENT FLIGHT CONDITIONS. ALSO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR DOCUMENTING AND REPORTING ALL EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, INCLUDING CRASHES. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, WOMEN’S ARMY CORPS SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF SERGEANT ON NOVEMBER 19, 1945 AT THE SEPARATION CENTER AT FORT SAM HOUSTON AT SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.