When her country needed her most, Genevieve answered the call. She joined the Women's Air Service Pilots and was among the first women to fly military planes, but when they weren't needed anymore the program was disbanded.
The first draft of Fly Girl: The W.A.S.P. Story has been written in 30 Days, following Ken Davenport's Write a Script in 30 Days Challenge!
Austin started writing this show after growing up hearing about his Grandmother's service in the W.A.S.P.s. She is the W.A.S.P. on the left.
This show has a deep personal connection for Austin.
The W.A.S.P. Program or Women's Air Service Pilots, were a group of patriotic women who flew planes during World War II from their place of manufacturing to where they were needed by the male pilots serving in Active Duty. The program was started by a female pilot named Jacqueline "Jackie" Cochran who wrote a letter to First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt suggesting the use of female pilots in non combat roles.Â
The W.A.S.P.'s did not qualify for military benefits because they were classified as United States Federal Civil Service Employees. It wasn't until long after that they were disbanded on December 20th, 1944, and after a long, hard fight, that the Women's Air Service Pilots received the recognition they deserved as Veterans on November 23, 1977.