At the height of World War II, the US Army Air Forces faced a desperate need for skilled pilots. But only men were allowed in military airplanes, even if the experts training them to fly were women. Through grit and pure determination, 1,100 of these female pilots—who had to prove their worth time and time again—finally won permission to ferry planes from factories to bases, to tow targets for live ammunition artillery training, to test repaired planes and new equipment, and more.

Though the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) lived on military bases, trained as military pilots, wore uniforms, marched in review, flew in dangerous noncombat missions that many military pilots refused, and sometimes died violently in the line of duty, they were civilian employees and received less pay than men doing the same jobs and no military benefits, not even for burials.

Their story is one of patriotism, the power of a positive attitude, the love of flying, and the willingness to do good without thought of personal gain.

From the dust jacket