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Those Magnificent Women...
Women were breaking ground in the field of aviation, particularly at the College Park Airfield, even before it was fashionable to do so! Since its founding, the Airfield has always welcomed women who were interested in flying, starting with Mrs Ralph Van Deman in 1909, who flew as a passenger with Wilbur Wright. Bernetta Miller came to the field in 1911 to demonstrate the Bleriot for the Army Aviation School. Throughout the 1920s and 30s, fascinating women pilots such as Phoebe Omlie, Edna Gardner, Helen Frigo, Helen McCloskey and others participated in popular races and meets at the Airport.
Elaine Harmon was a young woman in her senior year at the University of Maryland during 1939-40 when she heard of the Civilian Pilot Training Program and decided to learn to fly. The cost was $40 which included ground school, 35 hours of flight time, and insurance. Her flight instruction was at College Park Airport.
Several years later, Elaine, whose husband was preparing to go overseas for the war, decided to join the WASPs -- the Women's Air Service Pilots. The Wasps were the first women to serve as military pilots for the US. They received the same type of flight instruction given to their male counterparts, and flew every type of mission needed within the Continental US. This included instructing pilots, test flying and towing targets for ground crews who were practicing with live ammunition. The WASP program ended in December 1944. |