A dedication to the ladies, who worked in the Factories.
Rosie the Riveters - America's Sweethearts
This page examines the history of the iconic “Rosie the Riveter” image and its origins as a symbol of women’s empowerment during World War II.
• The image is based on a 1942 song of the same name and a famous 1942 poster by J. Howard Miller.
• Rosie the Riveter has become a global symbol of women’s strength and capability, transcending her WWII origins.
See the full article to learn more – Click link below.
- Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAACs): Later renamed the Women’s Army Corps
- Navy Women’s Reserve (WAVES)
- Marine Corps Women’s Reserve
A dedication to the ladies, who served in Uniform
American Women in Harms Way
WWII uncovered: Honoring the Service of Marie Mountain Clark of the Women Air Force Service Pilots
Marie Mountain, of West Liberty Iowa, served with Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASP) and is noted as one of the the first female pilots to become initiated into the Caterpillar Club.
According to the Iowa Aviation Museum: “While studying music at Drake University in 1939, she joined the Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP), learned to fly at the Des Moines Flying Service, and taught navigation and meteorology in the military training courses at Dowling College.”
“Prior to joining the WASPs in August 1943, she had logged 76 hours. When her instructor was demonstrating spins in a Fairchild PT-19, Marie’s seat belt became unfastened and she was thrown from the cockpit. She was then inducted into the Caterpillar Club, a select group of pilots whose lives have been saved by parachutes.” – Iowa Aviation Museum.”
Following graduation in February 1944 Marie was assigned as a pilot with the US Army Air Force, accumulating about 1000 hours in military aircraft, including the PT-19, BT-13, AT-11 and AT-6 training aircraft, the P-39 and P-63 fighter aircraft and as a copilot in the B-17 and B-26 bombers. Her military service was at the Las Vegas (Nevada) Air Force Base where her duties included giving instrument flying instruction to male pilots, flying mock fighter attacks on the B-17 “Flying Fortress” and serving as an engineering test pilot for P-39 and P-63 fighter aircraft.” – Ann Arbor News
After the war, Marie worked for the Des Moines Flying Service and married John Alden Clark, a former WW2 bomber pilot in 1945. The couple relocated to Ann Arbor Michigan. Mary and John were married for 63 years and had two sons and a daughter.
In 2005 Marie published her World War II memoirs in the autobiography: Dear Mother and Daddy: World War II Letters Home from a WASP.
Marie Mountain Clark passed away on October 2, 2008 in Ann Arbor Michigan at the age of 93. She lies in rest at the Resthaven Cemetery in Des Moines Iowa. Lest We Forget.
“W.A.S.P” Pilot, Betty Blake flew War-Planes from their factories to the coast for shipment to Europe. She said her favorite of all the 36 different types of planes she’s flown was the P-51 Mustang. She also was a witness to the attack on Pearl Harbor, she was in the air with her husband at the time as she was a Tour/Ferry pilot before the war.
Vernon Grant, U.S. Government Printing Office/Office of War Information. Courtesy Library of Congress, LC-USZC4-5604
