photo #1167310

22 year-old Shirley Slade was one of about 1,100 chosen for a group of all female pilots, called the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) during WWII. During World War II more than 1,000 women were brought into the U.S. military where they were given a seven month course to become the first female pilots to ever fly for the Air Force. Due to pilot shortages, the Air Force had no choice but to bring women into the air for non-combat related functions. Known as WASPS, or Women Airforce Service Pilots, their lives were no less in danger than their male counterparts.Even though many of these women lost their lives in service to their country they weren't seen as equals to the men in uniform. In fact, the women were essentially seen as civilians in spite of their daring work for the U.S. government. The families of the 38 women who died during World War II were refused the same privileges of their male counterparts including burial or the American flag draped over their coffins.The WASPs were finally given full military status on November 23, 1977, after decades of fighting with the U.S. government. In 2010 the surviving women were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for their bravery.