By late 1944, the American government and military leaders knew that the war in Europe was practically over and the Allies were going to win.
Because of this, they started “drawing down” military personnel in the various European theatres, and the decision was made to discontinue the WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots) program, because pilots returning from the European theatres could be used to take over what the WASP were doing.
In September, 1942, the Women’s Flying Training Detachment (WFTD) and the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS) were founded in the United States, and on August 5, 1943 they were merged together and renamed the WASP. (I’ll be going more into the WASP in future blogs.)
On June 21, 1944, a bill introduced in the U.S. House to provide the WASP with military status (HR 4219) was defeated 188 to 169.
On December 7, 1944, after a couple of months of Jacqueline Cochran and Nancy Harkness Love attempting to keep the program alive, the final class of WASP (71 women) graduated. On December 20, 1944, all WASP were dismissed and sent home (and every WASP had to find her own way home, as the WASP was a quasi-military civilian organization. In fact, the funerals for the 38 WASP who gave their lives had to be paid for by the women’s own families.)
In addition to the WASP program being cancelled, munitions companies and aviation construction businesses also began to wind down.
On 8 May, 1945, the war ended in Europe with Germany‘s surrender. There were a few more battles on the Russian front, but for Americans the actual war ended on 8 May 1945.
The war with Japan ended on September 2, 1945.
By late 1944 if not earlier owners of aviation businesses began planning for the expansion of aviation after war’s end.
The organizers of air shows and air races prior to suspension by the start of the war, also began planning to reinstate those shows.
National Air Races
As early as March 3, 1945, newspapers began reporting that the National Air Races would probably be resumed soon. The Lancaster Eagle-Gazette, of Lancaster Ohio reported on 8 June 1945 that “Tentative Plans Underway for the National Air Races.” On 21 Septembe,r 1945, the Wilmington News Journal of Wilmington Ohio reported, “National Air Races To be Held Next Summer.”
When the first National Air Races were held from August 30 – September 2, 1946, there was a race for women, and veterans of the WASP, replete in their Santiago Blue uniforms, actually ferried over 200 of the planes to be used at the races, to the airfield. (More on that in later posts.)
All-American Air Maneuvers
On August 22, 1945, the Miami Herald reported that “Famous Air Races May Be Resumed Here: Jan 4-5-6 [1946] Suggested as Dates, Chamber Committee to Discuss Details.” The article is in reference to the All-American Air Maneuvers that had been staged for over 10 straight years prior to the start of the war.
Those Air Maneuvers did in fact take place on those dates, and there were a couple of events for women pilots scheduled.
When the All-American Air Maneuvers were planned for 1947, events for women pilots were not included. This caused the 99s and WASP veterans to stage their own Women’s Air Show in Miami just a couple of months after the Air Maneuvers. (More on that in later posts.)