Obama Honors First Female Pilots - AWESOME

Their records were sealed until 1975. Now they are being honored by the President.

S.614 for the 111th Congress

Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison, Republican of Texas, and Barbara Mikulski, Democrat of Maryland, introduced the legislation, which they say will give long overdue public recognition to the pilots.

“The Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II were trailblazers and true patriots,” said Ms. Mikulski in a release announcing the legislation. “They risked their lives in service to our nation, but for too long their contribution to the war effort has been undervalued or under recognized.”

Audio Report: WASP

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Air Force News: More than 1,000 women joined the WASP and 38 of them were killed during duty. Following World War II, these women were released from duty and returned home. During their time in the WASP, they held civilian status and were not members of the military. Their contributions went largely unrecognized and the women weren't afforded veteran status until 1977.

The groundbreaking steps taken by the WASP paved the way for today's generation of military female aircrew currently engaged in conflicts around the world.

The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest and most distinguished award Congress can award to a civilian. Since the American Revolution; Congress has commissioned gold medals as its highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions. In 2000 and 2006, Congress awarded the Gold Medal to the Navajo Code Talkers and the Tuskegee Airmen, respectively.