This Military Service Page was created/owned by
A3C Michael S. Bell (Unit Historian)
to remember
Tracy, Doris Bristol.
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Longtime La Veta, Colorado resident and proud WASP, Doris Virginia Tracy, 90, received her final wings on July 29, 2010.
Doris was born to Marie Todd Bristol and Vern Bristol in St. Joseph, Missouri on March 6, 1920. Her love of flying began at an early age: "I was nine years old, and my father had a friend that had a bi-plane. He took my sister and me for our first ride. From there on, I just had to learn how to fly." A few years later: "When I was in grade school, we had to write a paper on what you wanted to do when you grew up. .Of course, they were called 'aviatrixes' then, so that was what I wrote on. I wanted to be one of those!"
After the family moved to Marible, Missouri, Doris and her sister, Bernice, entered college. Doris signed up as the second girl on the list for CPT (Civilian Pilot Training). Since they could only sign up one girl for every nine boys, she had to wait to enter the training program. While she waited, she went to the air field and watched the students as they flew and sat in on the ground school classes. Eventually the instructor let her complete the training course. Doris was delighted that her first passenger, after she earned her license, was her dad!
When Doris learned about the WASP training program, she applied and was immediately accepted into class 43-4; however, she had to wait a few weeks, because she went home 'to break the news' to her mom and dad.
Doris took the train to Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas. When she arrived, she joined 123 other young women pilots as a member of class 43-5. After completing the nearly 7 months of training, 85 members of her class had earned their wings, so they graduated and became WASP. After graduation, Doris served briefly at Love Field, Dallas, Texas. She was then transferred to Lockbourne Air Force Base in Columbus, Ohio, but was soon transferred to Columbus Army Air Base in Columbus, Mississippi. There she flew engineering flight tests in AT-10's. Her last station was at Casper, Wyoming, where she flew as co-pilot on B-24's and administrative flights in the C-45. She was the only WASP stationed at Casper.
After the WASP were disbanded, Doris moved with her family to La Veta, Colorado to help her family open the ‘Gamble Store.' Although she had only planned to stay until the store was ‘up and running’, she met Julian Tracy at a dance and, as she put it, 'we just kept dancing and dancing.’ They married in 1946 immediately following the Sunday service at the La Veta Baptist Church.
The Tracy's raised their 2 daughters in La Veta. When they entered school, Doris spent time as a PTA mom. In addition to making the candy for the school candy sales , she ran both the store and the house, served on the Board of Directors of the Francisco Fort Museum, and was active in the Eastern Star. Any excess time she ever had, she spent enjoying her hobby--combing the nearby Colorado hills for arrowheads and artifacts,
Wings Across America Interview, Sept, 2000
Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony
March, 10, 2010
In September of 2000, Doris was kind enough to welcome Wings Across America into her home in La Veta. She was absolutely delightful. Her love for her family and Colorado was heartwarming. Doris was a warm, trusting, caring lady, who loved to search the land around her. She knew there was always another treasure just over the next hill.
On March 10, 2010, Doris was in attendance at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, as the WASP were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. The smile on her face was priceless. So many years later, to be honored and thanked by the country she had served -- her joy just spilled out.
Our most heartfelt prayers for her family and those who loved her. She was another 'one-of-a-kind' who touched our hearts. Knowing her was a joy and an honor.
Respectfully submitted by Nancy Parrish
Aug. 2, 2010
2003-2003, B-24 Liberator
From Year 2003
To Year 2003
Personal Memories
Not Specified
Image
B-24 Liberator Details
Aircraft/Missile Information
Specifications
Model Consolidated B-24J Liberator Length 67.16 ft | 20.47 m Width 110.01 ft | 33.53 m Height 18.01 ft | 5.49 m Engine(s) 4 x Pratt & Whitney R-1830-65 radial piston engines generating 1,200hp. Empty Weight 36,500 lbs | 16,556 kg MTOW 65,001 lbs | 29,484 kg Max Speed 290 mph | 467 km/h | 252 kts Max Range 2,001 miles | 3,220 km Ceiling 28,002 ft | 8,535 m | 5.3 miles Climb Rate 800 ft/min (243.84 m/min) Hardpoints 0 Armament 2 x 12.7mm machine guns in nose assembly. 2 x 12.7mm machine guns in tail assembly. 2 x 12.7mm machine guns in upper-fuselage turret. 2 x 12.7mm machine guns in under-fuselage assembly. 1 x 12.7mm machine gun in left-waist fuselage position. 1 x 12.7mm machine gun in right-waist fuselage position.
Up to 8,800lbs of internal bombs. Accommodations 10 Operators the United States of America and the United Kingdom.
* Model 31 - Flying Boat Model whose wing assembly would become the basis for the B-24 design. * Model 32 - Base B-24 Model Series Designation. * XB-24 - Initial Prototype Model Designation fitted with R-1830-33 radial piston engines generating 1,200hp. * YB-24 - Preproduction Model Designation * B-24A - Fitted with 2 x 7.62mm tail guns, 6 x 12.7mm machine guns in nose assembly, dorsal and waist gun positions. * B-24C - Fitted with turbocharged R-1830-41 engines; 8 x 12.7mm machine guns - nose (single gun), ventral, waist (left and right), dorsal turret (two guns) and tail turret (two guns). * B-24D - Based on the B-24C model but fitted with R-1830-43 engines; later models of this series would feature the twin 12.7mm ball turret gun assembly in the ventral fuselage position; self-sealing fuel tanks; 2,381 produced. * B-24E - Modified propeller systems; 801 produced. * B-24G - Fitted with R-1830-43 engines; powered nose turret with 2 x 12.7mm machine guns. * B-24H - Improved Model with extended nose section; 3,100 produced. * B-24J - Fitted with R-1830-65 engines; improved bombsight; autopilot functionality; 6,678 produced. * B-24L - Based on B-24J model but fitted with hand-operated tail guns; 1,667 produced. * B-24M - Based on B-24J model with lighter mounting for hand-operated tail gun; 2,593 produced. * XB-24Q - General Electric Conversion Model of B-24L model fitted with radio-controlled tail turret. * B-24Q - Final Production Model Designation * B-24Q * LB-30 - Transport Variant * C-87 - Air Force Transport Variant * RY - Navy Transport Variant * C-109 - Fuel Tanking Model * F-7 - Photographic Reconnaissance Model * PB4Y-1 - Patrol Bombing Model * PB4Y-2 - Specialized Model with single vertical tail surface assembly. * GR - British Maritime Reconnaissance Model.
