World War II Honoree

Dorothy Eleanor Olsen

Hometown

Washington

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED AS A CIVILIAN IN THE AMERICAN THEATER, ON ACTIVE NON-COMBAT DUTY WITH THE ARMY AIR FORCES, WITH THE WOMEN'S AUXILIARY FERRYING SQUADRON (WAFS) BEFORE AUGUST, 1943, AND WITH THE WOMEN'S AIRFORCE SERVICE PILOTS (WASP) AFTER THAT DATE. SHE VOLUNTEERED, PASSED STRINGENT ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS AND SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE 27-WEEK PRIMARY, INTERMEDIATE AND ADVANCED FLYING TRAINING PROGRAM AT AVENGER FIELD IN SWEETWATER, TEXAS. UPON GRADUATION, WAS PLACED ON CIVIL SERVICE STATUS ENTITLED TO THE PRIVILEGES ACCORDED OFFICERS, AND AWARDED SILVER WASP WINGS. ENGAGED IN FLYING MISSIONS INCLUDING FERRYING ALL TYPES OF AIRCRAFT FROM FACTORIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY TO ACTIVE MILITARY AIRFIELDS IN THE AMERICAN THEATER. ALSO FLEW WEATHER OBSERVATION, ADMINISTRATIVE, COURIER, CARGO AND SUPPLY, AND ENGINE BREAK-IN MISSIONS. STATIONED AT LONG BEACH ARMY AIR FIELD IN CALIFORNIA FROM 1942-1944. SHE FLEW ABOUT 29 DIFFERENT AIRCRAFT ACROSS THE COUNTRY DURING THE WAR, ON SOME 60 MISSIONS AS PART OF THE WASP 6TH FERRY GROUP. HER FAVORITE AIRCRAFT TO FLY WAS THE P-51 'MUSTANG' FIGHTER PLANE. WASPS WERE NOT RECOGNIZED AS VETERANS UNTIL 1977.