KLAS-TV Channel 8 News Las VegasNevada WWII Female Aviators Honored With Congressional Gold Medal
Washington D.C.-- Congresswoman Shelley Berkley honored three Nevada women for their role as Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) in America's military efforts during World War II. As members of WASP they will receive the Congressional Gold Medal at a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol today.
Nevada WASP members Madge Moore of Las Vegas, Julia Bartlett of Reno and Dorothy Eby of Gardnerville will participate in today's ceremony.
Madge Moore, Julia Bartlett and Dorothy Eby, along with other women of the WASP program flew supply planes to U.S. forces and other war efforts during World War II.
The WASP was established during World War II with the primary mission of flying noncombat military missions in the United States, thus freeing their male counterparts for combat missions overseas. They were the first women ever to fly American military aircraft and they flew almost every type of aircraft operated by the Army Air Force during World War II, logging more than 60 million miles.
