Jacqueline Cochran's final speech to the WASP
WAR DEPARTMENT
Bureau of Public Relations
PRESS BRANCH
December 7, 1944
ADDRESS BY JACQUELINE COCHRAN, DIRECTOR OF WOMEN PILOTS
BEFORE WASP CEREMONY, SWEETWATER, TEXAS,
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1944
The emotions of happiness and sorrow are pretty close together and today, I am experiencing them both at the same time, as well as the third emotion of pride.
I am proud that we have been greatly honored today by the presence of the Commanding General of our Army Air Forces, General Arnold, and by the presence also of General Yount and General Kraus and General Williams. Seldom can one see such a group of stars clustered together--no greater honor can the WASP receive than this.
General Arnold made this women pilots program possible and followed it with keen interest, and when General Arnold gave the word “go,” General Yount turned in and gave every possible cooperation and support at all times. These men deserve and have our everlasting gratitude and thanks.
I am proud that the WASP have merited praise from General Arnold and General Yount. They think the WASP have done a good job. That makes me happy.
Happiness also swells within me from the knowledge that the WASP have successfully completed their twofold mission. By twofold, I mean we have flown scores of millions of miles in relieving the pilot shortage and we have proved that women can be trained as pilots easily and used in many ways in the air effectively. What the WASP have done is without precedent in the history of the world.
As much as the WASP want to help by flying, we can all be happy that our Air Forces are now so built up and the progress of the war is so favorable that our services are no longer needed. We would stay if it would shorten the war by a day. We would go if our flying would take flying time away from male pilots who could use the time to advantage in perfecting themselves while awaiting assignment to combat duties. But there is also the feeling of sorrow that we are being demobilized, that we are no longer to fly with and as a part of our great Army Air Forces.
My memory takes me back to the days in the fall of 1942 when about two dozen women pilots started to fly for the Ferry Command, and another two dozen started the training program. That was down at Houston on a field that had no housing or feeding facilities. The flying equipment was old, to say the least, but it was a start and the results there gave us Avenger Field. Since then, we have turned out over one thousand well qualified WASP who have carried their own weight in duties performed.
Without militarization there were some inherent organizational weaknesses which might have been very serious to the program except for the loyalty and good sense of the individual WASP. For that loyalty and good sense you have my deepest thanks.
My greatest accomplishment in aviation has been the small part I have played in helping make possible the results you have shown. I am sure that if the Air Force needs the WASP back at any time, they can count on us to respond to the call with speed.
Thank you all--keep in touch with me.
