Commemorative Air Force A Major Presence at the WASP Homecoming
Sweetwater, TX (April 28, 2023) – The CAF attends Annual Homecoming Celebration of the Women Airforce Service Pilots, produced by the National WASP WWII Museum in Sweetwater, Texas, April 28-29, 2023.
CAF Units in attendance this year include; Central Texas Wing, Devil Dog Squadron, Gulf Coast Wing, Houston Wing, WASP Squadron, CAF RISE ABOVE, West Texas Wing, Marshaling Detachment, and Flightline Services Detachment.
It has been our honor for the CAF to participate in the Annual Homecoming for the past few years, to promote the mission of the National WASP WWII Museum, and to celebrate the contributions women have made to aviation and beyond.
Many of the CAF Units in attendance will be offering living history flights over the weekend. If you want to experience history and fly like a WASP in an authentic World War II aircraft, ride flights can be purchased here.
About the event
Take a leap back in time with live re-enactors. Delight your eyes on the ground and in the air with Warbirds, military trainers, and general aviation on Avenger Field. Tour the Museum and learn more about the WASP from our exhibits and special guest authors and speakers including Erin Miller, Sarah Byrn Rickman, Jacqueline Ruiz, and more! Students and parents will have a great time in the Cadet Zone with all-new STEM activities and crafts. Kids will enjoy flying trainer model airplanes with adult volunteers and viewing replica WWI & WWII model planes. Catch some brunch, lunch and dessert at the full offering of food trucks or enjoy an afternoon glass of exquisite wine from Hidden Hangar Winery.
For a full schedule of events, click here.
If you can't make it but want to stay in-the-know you can follow the CAF WASP Squadron Facebook page here!
About the WASP
Looking for professional opportunities to fly, women pilots formally organized themselves through the formation of the Ninety-Nines in 1929. While many worked as instructors, crop dusters, barnstormers, and aviation entertainers in the early years, female pilots caught their first big break in 1942. General Henry “Hap” Arnold was in desperate need of pilots to carry out duties in the U.S.
The women ran towards the opportunity and formally declared, “We live in the wind and sand, and our eyes are on the stars." They worked with excellence and valor and proved themselves able to fly on par with their male counterparts. Their unit was disbanded, and the WASP did not reach the stars they longed to touch; but they inspired successive generations to fly further. Because of the WASP, women are in the military and have been flying in combat since 1993 – 30 years.
Learn more about the CAF Units dedicated to the WASP by visiting CAF RISE ABOVE and CAF WASP Squadron.
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