Customer Reviews

For God, Country, and the Thrill of It: Women Airforce Service Pilots in World War II (Charles and Elizabeth Prothro Texas Photography Series)

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The previous review covers the book thoroughly and well, but I have to add how entranced I was by the recent photos of the women. You can see in their eyes, their faces, and their posture that they are something special. The previous reviewer called this a high-priced coffee table book and recommended another title for more extensive information about the WASPs, but if you want to understand the heart and soul of these women, spend some time with these photos.

Author Anne Noggle is a veteran of the Women's Air Service Pilots (WASP), organized during World War ll to free male aviators from non-combat duties. American women flew every type of fighter and bomber, from the nimble P-38 Lightning to the massive B-17 "Flying Fortress". They ferried warplanes from factory to front, and helped train young men in flying and targeting. And in September 1944, WASP Anne Baumgartner test-piloted the American prototype jet-fighter, the YP-59A Airacomet. This big, glossy book contains a brief history of the WASP and narrative of their training, accompanied by large, high-quality black-and-white photos of the youthful aviators and their airplanes. Their pride of service is evident in their smiling faces and the praise from military leaders such as Generals Arnold and Eisenhower. Their bittersweet sorrow at their post-war deactivation is described poignantly. They continue to meet annually, and the book concludes with a series of more recent photos of the women, as they appeared in the early 90's. Members of the WASP have attended as guest of honor at the yearly reunions of Russian female WWll combat-aviators. (Ms. Noggle has also authored the marvelous book of interviews and photos of veterans of the Soviet women's air-regiments, entitled "A Dance With Death".) Note: while very attractive, "For God, Country, and the Thrill of It" seems somewhat high-priced for what is basically a coffee-table photo-album. The book is really a personal tribute to Ms. Noggle's comrades. For superior text coverage of the WASP, read "Amelia Earhart's Daughters".