Nancy Love and the WASP Ferry Pilots of World War II

North Texas Military Biography and Memoir Series, Volume 4

De: Sarah Byrn Rickman

Narrado por: Alice C. Schoo-Jerger

This is the story of Nancy Harkness Love who, early in World War II, recruited and led the first group of 28 women to fly military aircraft for the US Army.

Love was hooked on flight at an early age. At 16, after just four hours of instruction, she flew solo “a rather broken down Fleet biplane that my barnstorming instructor imported from parts unknown”. The year was 1930: Record-setting aviator Jacqueline Cochran (and Love’s future rival) had not yet learned to fly, and the most famous woman pilot of all time, Amelia Earhart, had yet to make her acclaimed solo Atlantic flight.

When the United States entered World War II, the Army needed pilots to transport or “ferry” its combat-bound aircraft across the United States for overseas deployment and its trainer airplanes to flight training bases. Most male pilots were assigned to combat preparation, leaving few available for ferrying jobs. Into this vacuum stepped Nancy Love and her civilian Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS).

Nancy Love advised the Ferrying Division, which was part of the Air Transport Command, as to the best use of their WASP ferry pilots. She supervised their allocation and air-training program. She proved adept at organizing and inspiring those under her command, earning the love and admiration of her pilots.

The book is published by University of North Texas Press. The audiobook is published by University Press Audiobooks

"This book is a must-read." (Peggy Chabrian, President/Founder, Women in Aviation, International)

"A must-read for all who relish courage, tenacity, and a fearless desire to serve our nation in time of its greatest need." (Brig. Gen. Linda K. McTague, Air National Guard)

"This is an 'edge of your seat' story even if you know the outcome.... Worthy of the best-seller list!" (Commander Trish Beckman, U.S. Navy (Ret.))

©2008 Sarah Byrn Rickman (P)2020 Redwood Audiobooks

Wonderful biography of Nancy Love!

We were familiar with Nancy Love and knew she had a part in the development of the Women Airforce Service Pilots during WWII, but this book gave many details about her life and how she became involved with aviation and with the WASP pilots. It clarified much of the story behind her role, and that of Jacqueline Cochran, as they each expressed their desire to have women pilots contribute to the war effort. The book also gave background for the subtle conflicts and jealousies between the two women, as well as the power struggles and ideology differences among the military officials at the time.

This is a great book for anyone interested in the history of the WASP and WWII. The only thing about the audio version that we couldn't rate at the top was the reader's annoyingly perfect pronunciation of every single word. It was distracting, and the perfection sacrificed some of the flow of the content. (If there is a way to adjust the pronunciation or speed of the reading, that might help, but we did not discover it.)