This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Sgt Mae Moss (MayDay)
to remember
Carl, Ann, 2d Lt.
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Contact Info
Last Address Fort Gordon, US Army Hospital, Augusta
Date of Passing Mar 20, 2008
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
"Celestial Flight"
~ WASP, Elizabeth MacKethan Magid
She is not dead -
But only flying higher,
Higher than she's flown before,
And earthly limitations
Will hinder her no more.
There is no service ceiling,
Or any fuel range,
And there is no anoxia,
Or need for engine change.
Thank God that now her flight can be
To heights her eyes had scanned,
Where she can race with comets,
And buzz the rainbow's span.
For she is universal
Like courage, love and hope,
And all free, sweet emotions
Of vast and godly scope.
And understand a pilot's Fate
Is not the thing she fears,
But rather sadness left behind,
Your heartbreak and your tears.
So all you loved ones, dry your eyes,
Yes, it is wrong that you should grieve,
For she would love your courage more,
And she would want you to believe
She is not dead.
You should have known
That she is only flying higher,
Higher than she's ever flown.
Other Comments:
Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) flew non-combat missions during World War II to free men for combat. Although the Air Force trained only about 1,200 WASP, they had an enormous impact on World War II aviation.
Women pilots assigned to the Air Transport Command ferried forty-three types of aircraft, including small primary trainers, the fastest fighters, heavy transports, and huge bombers, from factories to bases throughout the United States and Canada. They towed targets, took meteorologists up for weather observations, transported equipment, broke in engines, and flew as couriers.
WASP went through AAF Training Command primary, intermediate and advanced training at Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas. Their twenty-seven week curriculum was the same as that given to aviation cadets. They received additional transitional instruction at the air base to which they were assigned.
Although WASP were on Civil Service status, they were entitled to the privileges of officers when on an Army base and had to conform to military regulations when on duty. WASP wings were the standard AAF silver wings with a lozenge in the center.
The mascot on their patch was called Fifinella; she was cute, agile, and always ready to take up the flying challenge. This epitomized the spirit that was the WASP who served this country very well in a time of need. Their contributions are documented and stand for spirit that made this country the great nation we are.
Aircraft/Missile Information
The U.S. Army had its own version of the SBD, known as the A-24 Banshee, which lacked the tail hook used for carrier landings, and a pneumatic tire replaced the solid tail wheel. First assigned to the 27th Bombardment Group (Light) at Hunter Field, Ga., A-24s participated in the Louisiana maneuvers during September 1941. There were three versions of the Banshee (A-24, the A-24A and A-24B) used by the Army in the early stages of the war.[1]The USAAF used 948 of the 5,937 Dauntlesses built.
General characteristics
* Crew: Two * Length: 33 ft 1 in (10.08 m) * Wingspan: 41 ft 6 in (12.65 m) * Height: 13 ft 7 in (4.14 m) * Wing area: 325 ft� (30.19 m�) * Empty weight: 6,404 lb (2,905 kg) * Loaded weight: 10,676 lb (4,843 kg) * Max takeoff weight: 10,700 lb (4,853 kg) * Powerplant: 1� Wright R-1820-60 radial engine, 1,200 hp (895 kW)
Performance
* Maximum speed: 255 mph (410.38 km/h) * Range: 773 mi (1243.8 km) * Service ceiling 25,530 ft (7,780 m) * Rate of climb: 1,700 ft/min (8.6 m/s) * Wing loading: 32.8 lb/ft� (160.4 kg/m�) * Power/mass: 0.11 hp/lb (0.18 kW/kg)
Armament
* 2x 0.50 in (12.7 mm) forward-firing machine guns in engine cowling * 1x 0.30 cal (7.62 mm) flexible-mounted machine guns in rear (later versions fitted with 2x machine guns of the same caliber) * 2,250 lb (1,020 kg) of bombs
