Professional Documents
Culture Documents
NEWSLETTER
Editor
REUNION
- Lola
Perkins
IN RENU
140
103
65
_9_
317
THINKRENO
THINKRENO
THINKRENO
Ricci
Vol.
IX
December
1973
AMERICAN WOMEN
FL YERS SHOT DOWN,
TOKYO BROADCASTS
London, July 2 (APl - The
Tokyo radio today said three
American aircraft piloted by
women had been shot down
over Kweilin, China.
"Thus it is assumed that
a shortage of American air
crews is so acute that women are now being employed
on operational
duties,"said
the broadcast.
The planes were flown by
American girls dressed "in
smart outfits which may
have been designed by Walt
Disney because they were
so natty," said the Tokyo
broadcast.
From the L.A.Times
July 2, 1944
NOMINATIONS,
ANYONE?
Nominations
are now in order for the new
officers who will serve you from the 1974
"Reunion in Reno" until the next gathering
of the Order of Fifinella.
If you have a favorite "Leader" send her
name to the Nominating Committee.
Same for
someone you would. trust with your money as
Secretary/Treasurer.
Newsletter Editor needs a bit of selfnomination. The job requires enthusiasm,
at least 2 weeks of concentrated
time to
put material together, and a typewriter
(or an assistant able to do same). Some
where midst our ranks there must be some
frustrated "editors" hiding. Please make
yourselves known-the job CAN't just be
thrust on someone.
Nominating Committee:
GENE FITZ PATRICK, Chairman (44-1)
2345 Sparta Drive
Miraleste, Calif 90732
CATHERINE MURPHY LORTZ (44-1)
DELORES MEURER REED (44-1)
JEAN PARKER ROSE (43-7)
Mail all Nominations
to the Committee
Chairman by 31 Jan 1974. Acceptance to run
mu~t b~ obtained so voting can be done by
ma1l before the June Reunion.
WASP PLAQUE
BOOKS:
The WASP plaque is on display at the Air
We Were WASPS by M.Winifred Wood & illusForce Museum at Wright-Paterson
AFB in Daytrated by Dorothy Swain, 1945
ton, Ohio. It lists the names of 38 women,
Glade House, Coral Gables, Fla.
and carries these inscriptions:
Flydown of the WASP by Mardo Crane, 1967
Top - This plaque was dedicated Dec 7,
Pageant Press, New York
1944 at Avenger Firld, Sweetwater,Texas
Over the Hump by William Tunner
by General H. H. Arnold, Commanding
This Flying Game by H.H.Arnold & co-author
General, Army Air Forces.
Ira C. Eaker. Funk & Wagnalls
Bot~m
- These brave women gave their
Stars at Noon by Jacqueline Cochran
lives in the performance
of duty for
their country in the Army Air Forces
~his list was compiled by our Historian,
as members of the WASP (Women Airforce
Marty Wyall. If you know of additional maService Pilots) 1942-1944
terial, please contact her so our records
can be brought up-to~date.
PUBLICATIONS
ABOUT WASP
Mary Anne Wyall
P.O.Box 9212
The following is an incomplete list of
Fort Wayne,In.46809
published articles and books about the WASP.
Someone of us may be able to add the missing gaps in the WASP Library.
PRESIDENT"S
MESSAGE
It's THINKRENO for June '74:
ATA - "WAAFS Keep 'Em Flying" - Christian
Fran Gustavson, Betty Boyd, Hazel Hohn,
Science Monitor, June 13, 1942 .
and Gerry Michelsen of the Convention
Co~"ATA Girls" - Flying, August 1943
mittee are making wonderful plans with the
Reno Chamber of Commerce for a fun-filled
WAFS - "WAFS" - Time, September 21, 1942
western WASP reunion. So y'all come, ya
"WAFS Fly for the Army" - Scholastic,
heah: :
May 17, 1943
In the meantime I want to say thanks for
"WAFS Women" - Life, Sept 28, 1942
the suggestions
and cooperation
given us
"Women's Ferrying Squadron Planned"
Order Of Fifienella officers--it's
been
Educ.Vict. ,Nov. 2, 1942
greatly appreciated. We aim to please.
"At Twilights Last Gleaming" by C.Fort
Womans Home Companion, July 1943
NANCY B. CREWS
& ~cholastic, October 11, 1943
,-
LtCol.ANN JOHNSON and her wonderful retireswim meets. Sounds as though she hae real
ment sound so great, and her plans for
Olympic material there as son Steve did
travel make us all a little green with
very well in the L.A.lnvitational.Joined
envy. After 20 years of roaming the world
the L.A. area WASP on the 26th,but reported
she has now purchased a condominium in
that daughter Shelley had broken her wrist
Clearwater,Fla with a view of the beach
in a bicycle accident.
and Gulf from her living area. ANN and
BYRD HOWELL GRANGER has so many academic
EVELYN GREENBLATT are spending the month
achievements it would take a whole Newsof August touring Europe.
letter ~o cover them. She is still Prof.
MARION MACKEY deGREGORIO and husband Felix
of Fo,lklore& Literature ,and Director of
are also Europe travelers this summer,
Folklore Info Center at the U.ofAriz. in
visiting Paris,London.Dublin and driving
Tucson, but has just added a new civic
thru Ireland. No word directly from MARduty as chairman of Heritage'76 Committe
JORIE GRAY,but Marion informed us that
Ariz Region#18, American Revolution BiMarjorie was on a trip thru Italy. Hope
centennial Celebration.
we can catch up on Marjorie in the next
Newsletter.
JANE STRAUGHN is still working at the Social
MAGDA TACKE and George are planning to r~Security office in Silver Springs,Md.and
tire this fall. They plan some traveling
both boys live nearby. She misses seeing
after that,but at the present time are
an; of the ~
who live in that area and
golfing,bowling,and trying to decide
asked that they call her it t~ey have time
whethe~ to spend those retirement years
Her new phone # 649-4926. Her comment "I
in the nice weather of N.C. or back up
cap remember laughing when my grandmother
North where all the family lives.
referred to her friends as girls-now I do
BETTY TACKABERRY BLAKE, BROWNIE KINDIG,&
it, too." Jane and her husband spend all
GERRY LAMPHERE NYMAN had a great reunion
their weekends and vacations at the ocean.
on the 4th of July in Phoenix."We spent
Sounds like great fun.
a.'greatdeal of our time together tellDOTTIE YOUNG writes, "1973 started out real
ing each other that it couldn't possibly
keen-the company acquired an Enstrom helibe 30 years ,because we didn't feel or
copter and I put in some 30 hrs instructlook 30 years older."
ing before we both went into the shop; it
BETTY BLAKE has 3 sons,ages l4,16,and 19,
for overhaul and me for an eye operation.
and is doing great in the real estate
Three months later we were both airworthy
business in Phoenix. She toured the Caagain~ Enjoyed a very productive WASP
nadian Rockies last summer.
Board meeting at Wichita Falls,Texas in
BROWNIE KINDIG is working in Phoenix as a
March and have kept fairly busy as Adminlegal secretary and really enjoying the
istrative Assistant to Susie Sewell,Pres.
Southwest. She didn't particularly enjoy
of the 99s. Husband Pete retired from the FAA
the ~wister last Feb that lifted her
FAA July 1st. Don't know who started the
storage shed 6 feet and transplanted it,
"retire,relax and travel"adage,but it does
but otherwisethinks Phoenix is great.
NOT apply to us-house and yard projects
GERRY NYMAN and Van have just returned
keep piling up rather than diminishing!
from a month on Coeur d'Alene Lake in N.
Was honored to be asked to be a pilot on
Idaho,spending most of the time snorkling
the U.S.Women's Helicopter Team for the
All of last year's vacations and weekends
World Helicopter Championships in England
were spent in Mexican or Baja waters also
this July-but couldn't accept as the eye
in snorkle outfits-find that this easily
reouperation prevented attending refresher
takes the place of the 3 days/wk of skiing and pre-contest training."
done all winter in Idaho before moving to
the Southwest. A new grandson was visited 43-2 Secretary: MARION SCHORR BETZLER
1306 Stone Ridge Dr. Apt. 0
while up North,too. Gerry was appointed
Columbus, Ohio 43213
to an 18 person Governor's Advisory Board
6 months ago and will now spend 2 or 3
days a week traveling allover the state. ALM~ JERMA~ HINDS operated H&H Flying SerThis Board is over the other 20 Advisory
Vlce untll 1969, when she retired from
Boards in the state,so concerns everyac~ive business management. She has three
thing from veterans to retarded children,
ch~ldren and seven grandchildren. Alma is
old age,etc."The old age I should be able ~tlll,an active pilot,was flying as pilot
to handle well,when I think it has been
ln thlS year's Powder Puff Derby, but had
30 years since WASP days ...."
to drop out enroute to Elmira N.Y.
SIDNEY MILLER is doing terrific in her plasRUTH FRANCKLING REYNOLDS and he~ youngest
tics business of "Sidneys". She spent sev Peggy,15,were in Santa Barbara for a fo~r
eral years as editor of a local newspaper week visit with MARTHA WAGENSEIL DAVIS
but when it was sold recently,she decided RUPLEY. They all went south for a week to
to devote full time to her business,even
Los Ange~es, Laguna Beach, La Jolla (Sea
tho the newspaper still wants her.
World, Dlsneyland,Marineland,etc.) , back
MARY LOU COLBERT NEALE has spent some hectic to Palm Springs and over to the north rim
but rewarding weeks with her 2 boys in
of the Grand Canyon-walking down to the
bottom and back. They returned to Santa
-.
W. Lafayette
Ind. 47906
Went to Disneyland
and spent a day with
my fermer employers,Flying
Tiger Linefound they recently hired 3 of my grads
from Purdue's Professional
Pilot Program.
Also visited Marjorie Wakeham(43-6)
at
her restaurant nearby. Enroute to the
Grand Canyon we stopped in Indio and
called Jacqueline Cochran, but she and
her husband were in L.A. and it was too
hot to hang around. On to Denver-and
what a beautiful route that was-where I
visited the AFRes Records Center, Jeppeson & Co(air charts) ,and UAL Training
Center. A friend and 99, Doris Langher,
has been with UAL 30 years took me thru
the school-wish
Purdue had that type of
equipment! Next we visited a friend of
Tibby's in Colo Springs. After that we
stopped in Wichita Falls for breakfast
with Dedie and her Cliff-delicious,Dedie:
Tibby and I separated in Dallas-I visited
a nephew and had an opportunity
for dinner with Faith Richards(43-4).
The trip
was wonderful-the
USA is one beautiful
country-& the WASP I saw looked just
great (each and everyone::)
MARION STEGEMAN HODGSON is one busy gal.
During the reunion she married off her
handson son, and late in June '73 her
lovely daughter took the plunge-now has
only one son to go. Remember I mentioned
our gourmet meal at the Hodgson's?
Well,
Marion has just come out with her third
cook book. First was,"The Original College Kids Cookbook" sub-title "no brains
required";
second "The Brides Survival
Kit" sub-title "if she can read she can
cook--no experience necessary";
third is
"What's Your Beef?" sub-title "beef recipes for Beginners,Brides,Batchelors,
&
busy Ms." (these sub-titles do not describe Marion, she's got the brains) Besides the cookbooks, she's on a more difficult task-a mystery novel--we wish her
continued success. Also want you to know
she is the same beautiful "Scarlet" that
she was in Sweetwater.
She says she's now
interested in getting a light twin rating.
How about that!
MARJORIE SANFORD THOMPSON says that she and
her husband Braxton bought an Apache and
had it converted to a Geronime and have
just returned from a five and half week
flight thru South America. She said their
next planned trip will be around the world
isn't that great!:.
SHIRLEY SLADE TEER was at the reunion still
looking like a "Cover Girl". She's living
in Houston and an avid tennis player and
equestrian.
(End of Bay Mates)
PAT HILLER CALL reports that she is teaching
4th grade in the winter and enjoying summers as chief gardener,cook,and
seamstress
for her husband and 4 children,3 of whom
are in college. Two do summer work for
the Forest Service. Pat did not attend
the Reunion because they'd been in Sweetwater the summer before.
the Stratford Harbour Golf Club and servingon the Board of the S.H.Property Owners Assn.(I'd say Stratford Harbor,Va.
got themselves
an A-OK new citizen:)
RUTH ~AGEMANN WHEELER is our traveling WASP
be~1eve she should write a Travelog book.
Th1s summer she saw her son graduate at
Stanford,Cal;
next to Vienna to meet her
daughter,Sylvia,who
took her junior year
in college there; the she and husband
T.L., and Sylvia went to Rome. They aiways look up Kay Kleinecke (44-9) who
takes them to unknown places for delicous
meals-Ruth
said they have a time chatting
and watching the World go by while drinking a DOLLAR cup of coffee: Ruth plans to
end her summer travels in New Guinea to
enjoy the native tribal dances. She did
not attend the '72 Reunion because she
was in Alaska visiting Nancy Baker (43-4)
in Fairbanks.(Maybe
one day she'll stop
by Dallas long enough to visit?)
HARRIET URBAN WHITE-had a ball with Harriet
when I was in Albuequerque
in June. She
has more pep, vim and vigor than a teenager and looks terrific: Here is her report,"five children later and this exWASP is beginning a new career-teaching
English as a foreign language and College
Enrichment English(college
recruitment).
After a divorce went back to the life of
a university student-BA
in Spanish and
Soc Ed, MA in TESOL (foreign language
English), Education Special ish in language teaching. Worked 3 yrs with College
English Tutorial Program-both
enrichment
and foreign students. The 5 kids, 4 of
them boys, are all specializing
in studies
Oldest is in optometry school in Ore; girl
is married and working with retarded
children and in psychology;
another works
in Water Resources
in N.M; #4 will be a
sophomore at the U.ofN.M.; #5 has 2 more
years of hi-school. To supplement her income Harriet has graduate and foreign
students as boarders. This summer she has
been teaching at the N.M. Institute of
Mining & Technology.
(Really do admire
what she has done.)
JEANNE D'AMBLY is happy with her work as an
Air Traffic Control Specialist with the
Flight Service Station at Los Angeles,
and, up until a few months ago, was the
only female voice doing the recorded weather sequences and flight briefings.
VIVIAN CADMAN EDDY has been busy visiting
her new granddaughter
in San Francisco &
her continuing
job on the Mercer Island
newspaper. Viv and husband Howard found
time to pack 2 college-age
daughters and
themselves
into their new Piper Arrow for
a holiday session in Mexico.
VIRGINIA ARCHER WILLIAMS is chief bookkeeper for her husband's garage. Two of her
sons are in service; one flying the F-4
in Phoenix, other flying helicopters
at
Ft.Eustis,Va.,
youngest just gradua~ed ..
from Worchester
Poly Institute and 1S In
the throes of obtaining a job as a mechrrnical engineer. While visiting her son
in Va. Virginia went into D.C. for a delightful visit with JULIA LEDBETTER.
(and
where's your news, Julia?)
HAZEL S. WOLFE" has been a "home engineer"
for 31 years. Her husband was a career AF
man, now retired. They are "sorta,kinda"
in the antique business-have
had shows all
over Texas this past year. The name of
their ship is "The Wolfs' Den" and she
hopes some of us will come by San Angelo
and at least browse.
Really did enjoy hearing from the WASP who
responded-just
hope I did each one of you
justice? Out of 79 inquiries, I received
22 returns-next
round, let's hear from
everyone. The following letters were returned, anyone knowing their wherabouts?
GAYLE BEVIS,LORRAlNE
BLAYLOCK ,RUTH BOYEA,
ELLEN CROXTON, E. LILLIANEPSBERG,ETHEL
FINLEY,SYLVIA
GRANADER,ANN
McCLELLAN,FLOELLA McINTYRE ,NADINE RAMSEY,BARBARA
RUNTON
and JANE SCOTT.
43-6 Secretary:
CAPPY
4175 Kenneth Ave
Fair Oaks, Calif.
WHITAKER
JOHNSON
95628
clock can be turned back and memories resurf". In spite of her experience
in the
lived?" Frankie and Pierce were married
devastating
flood last summer, Jana can
when he was stationed at Randolf and she
still say,"Virginia
is a lovely place
at Hondo, Tex. Their first child, Michael,
to live."
was born while Pierce was flying the "Hump"
MARCIA WENZEL MILNER-a big event in the
In the ensuing years Frankie and Pierce
lives of Marcia and Phil. Their son Phil-.
had four more children, Patty,Kelley,Franlip Jr. was married June 17. The beautiful
ces and Sharon. Her youngest,Kelley,
whom
bride, Maria Lott, graduated from Hollins
we all met at the reunion, is enrolled at
College, Va. and is a well-known
horsethe U.of Texas and plans a career in math.
woman. Phillip Jr. graduated from the
Frankie says,"I'm very proud of my childSchool of Commerce at Washington & Lee U.
ren and feel somehow that my existence has
Marcia is writing from Weekapaug, R.I.
been justified." Frankie and Pierce both
(have you moved?) and is flying a Piper
work for Ling-Tempco-Vought
Aircraft,
Cherokee 140 out of Westerly,R.I.
Marcia
Pierce for 23 years in the Training Dept.
says,"It's
good to get whatever news there
and Frankie, 15 years in the Purchasing
is and I for one appreciate it. Often look
Dept. She is working on a degree in Manat our snapshots of Calif reunion. What
agement. In closing Frankie said,"We'll
fun! Hope we can get together soon again~
meet again next year and share old memoSee you at the '74 reunion, Marcia.
ries and bring back a part of the past.
LOIS MONK MacKENZIE-Lois
and her husband reOne thing I know ...our country may be in
tired from the AF in July and are enjoying
one hell of a mess right now ...but we have
life free from the daily grind. They are
a great heritage ...and as one WASP to abuilding a vacation home at the ocean
nother, we did our small part 30 years ago ...
which backs up to the fifth green of the
and if need be ..we can' do it again~"
golf course. Much of their time will be
spent "hitting that elusive white ball a44-1 Secretary:
JEANETTE J. JENKINS
round." Lois has taken a years leave of
340 Third St.N.W.
absense from her clubs in anticipation
of
New Philadelphia,
Ohio 44663
all the fun and games. Enjoying her Memorial Album of our 30th Reunion, Lois says, HARRIETT KENYON CALL is very busy as Presi"What a going bunch of gals they all are."
dent of the company operating Air Park So.
MARGE SELFRIDGE DRESBACH and husband John
in Springfield,
Missouri. She says her
are enpty-nesters
now. After seeing their
newest hobby is rocking the new grandson.
youngest off to U.C.L.A. last fall, Marge
It was with tears in my eyes that I read in
and John took a wonderful vacation touring
IDA CARTER's "profile" that she used her
Europe. We enjoyed hearing about their excoin collection over 30 years ago to take
citing adventures when Jack and I had a
flying lessons. As she looks back, I hope
fun visit with them in their lovely home
she has no regrets.
in La Habra, Calif. during the Christmas
MARIE MOUNTAIN CLARK reports that the Clarks
holidays.
have been in Europe and the Middle East
HELEN TRIGG LUTS-our daughter Jonelen gradthis past year. Marie says she learned to
uated from the U. of Calif. at Irvine. She
ski in Italy, enjoyed seeing the Holy Land
has completed practice teaching and coursand the wonderful music in Berlin. They
es in special education.
She plans to
will bring home a real German Dachshund
teach the mentally retarted. I've quit
when they return. MARGE HARPER WATSON and
talking about the house we're going to
Elmer visited the Clarks in Munich.
build-we keep making improvements
on our
MARDO CRANE is busy these days and doing an
cabin. Jack is "learning" on the cabin so
excellent job as Editor of the 99 News.
he can do it himself and truly say,"This
The 99s are working on plans to build an
is the house that Jack built." So summers
International
Women's Air Museum. If you
come and go-right now I'm getting a new
would like to support this project or make
kitchen. Life in the mountains
is excita memorial contribution
I feel sure it
ing. We live like the squirrels-racing
to
would be welcome.
keep up with the seasons. Work all summer
DEBORAH STEMPEL DICKENS has a new address.
to be ready for winter and all winter to
In 1972 she and her husband retired and
be ready for spring. Our first efforts at
moved to Springfield,
Mo. It was shortly
an "organic-no
pesticide" garden were surafter this that her husband passed away,
prisingly rewarding.
Symbiosis really
but she plans to stay in the beautiful
works. Looks a little odd but grows like
Ozark country and enjoys painting, plus
a jungle.
volunteer work at the local hospitals,
FRANKIE McINERNEY WARMS-sorry
space doesn't
"Crosslines"
and "Meals-On-Wheels".
She
permit a complete reprint of Frankie's lethas been in touch with Kenyon who also
ter. It's all so interesting,
I really
lives in Springfield.
don't know what to leave out. She writes,
Nice to have a new address for DOTTIE DODD
"It was really a great reunion but much,
EPSTEIN in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
much too brief! I could only look about me
and absorb all the happiness with which I GENE SHAFFER FITZPATRICK writes that she &
DOLORES MEURER REED flew in the Interconwas surrounded.
Isn't it faptastic how the.
Secretary:
MARY ELLEN KEIL
56 South Chesterfield
Road
Columbus, Ohio 43209
Phone:
(614) 231-7367
Secretary:
DOROTHY MOULTON ROONEY
6977 Buchanan Ave.
San Bernardino,
Calif. 92404
1973 Secretary:
ISABELLE
McC. HALE
ROHRER
.,
each summer traveling to various parts of MARGARET PARISH GARLAND in July 1972 receiEurope, usually renting a car or camper
ved an American Motors Conservation
award.
in order to see more of the out-of-theAs chairman of the Vermont Natural Resourway places and people. This year they
ces Council, joined conservationist
athave decided to see more of North America
tempts to insure the Vermont Yankee plant
going first up through Canada, then drideveloped environmental
safeguards and alving down the newly constructed highway
so worked on developing Vermont's land use
to La Paz, Mexico.
and development
laws. She was reappointed
GERRY VICKERS, BETTY WILLIAMS, HALLY STIRES,
to the City of Burlington Planning Comm.
and NANCY CREWS got together recently to
appointed as Burlington's
representative
plan a get-together
of Los Angeles area
to the County Regional Planning Comm; in
WASP at Gerry's home on Aug 26. Even tho
March.was appointed by the Gov. to another
Gerry was suffering thru a bad cold, she
4-year term on the State Environmental
entertained
over 25 talkative women and a
Board and in May was re-elected
for 2 more
few husbands. Gerry is now in France for a
years as President of the Vermont League
three week visit with a friend who is a
of Women Voters.
pilot - and who has promised Gerry a ride DOROTHY SMITH LUCAS - during a visit to her
in a French aircraft.
mother in Maryland had an opportunity
to
LOIS THOMPSON NELSON this spring became the
get together with lola Magruder for a
only woman member of the Board of Inter-short time. She is trying to locate MARY
national Downtown Executives Asso. In June
QUIST EDWARDS for us in Mexico City as
she was elected Vice President of the Ad
her mail is being returned~ Keep trying,
Club of Tidewater,
and in Dec. she will
Dorothy.
take over as President of the Woman's Div. lOLA CLAY MAGRUDER - since information
in
of the Norfolk CofC. Over this past year
last year's Newsletter was not correct,
she has been serving as a member of a speshe tells us she has two daughters-one
a
teacher, the other a secretary. They still
cial committee named by Gov. Holton to rehave a horse farm for leisure hours while
study the Urban Assistance Fund of the
lola continues her teaching for special
Commonwealth
of Virginia. As you can see,
education "disadvantaged"
students. lola
she leads a very active community life,
has a couple of old "Avengers" she would
serving in many different areas.
be glad to donate to a museum when established. She used to be associate editor,
44-7 Secretary: BETTY PETTITT NICHOLAS
doing features and news and "Tailspins"
125 West 82nd Street
for 44~7. She wrote a short book about the
Indianapolis,
Ind. 46260
WASP-but got a rejection. Is now busy reJANE HARRIS CUNNINGHAM
started last year on
viving her hobby of oil painting.
a Juvenile Conference Committee for stuLILA MOORE MANN and husband visited Europe
dents in trouble to help them find a more
last fall and also visited daughter Alice
positive direction. She felt the need for
and family while there. All are now back
a better background so earned some credits
in Downey, Calif. Helen and Lois Ma~n now
taking courses at Community College. Thru
collegians. Lila and Don are busy w1th
her classes, she became acquainted with the' their fishing boat/paddle
boat rental buscounty Administrator
of Assigned Council
, iness at Green Valley Lake, Calif. She'd
and is now doing volunteer work in locating ...
welcome any WASP contact any time.
lawyers for those who can't afford legal
'MURIEL RATH REYNOLDS is still teaching Phyaid in court. She is also amember of the
sical Education to junior high school
Law & Justice Planning Committee for her
girls. She's busy nursing a new lawn at
county. She admits "there's a dance in the
her new home as well as new fruit trees,
old dame yet . "
but temperatures
above 100 degrees are
EILEEN WRIGHT FERGUSON teaching primary granot helping.
des in Alhambra, Calif. has compiled an al. BETTY PETTITT NICHOLAS is still manager of
bum of mementos and photos of WASP days
a Word Processing Center and enjoying
she'd life to have enyone see (visitors
working in the local architectural
wonder
always welcome).
Son Scott is working toThe Pyramids. still fly my Cess~a 150
ward Eagle Scout and starts high school in
when time permits and enjoy tak1ng up
the fall. Eileen is Asst. Supt. of her
first-timers.
Would enjoy hearing from or
church school' and helps with scout and
seeing other WASP as they come through or
school affairs.
near Indianapolis--office:
871-4326.
MARY ANN WALKER DREHER
says her husband,
Frank, retired from the USAF and they have 44-8 Secretary: VIRGINIA FISHER WISE
"settled in our own Western White House in
229 Westridge Drive
Tallahassee,
Florida 32304
San Clemente - overlooking
the blue
Pacific."
Some sneaky person, namely DORIS ANDERSON
GERRI BOWEN OLINGER is working for KTTV in
DANIEL
maneuvered me into this class secLos Angeles as an Ad Asst. to Production
retary'position
at the last minute. So,
Manager. Her daughter is still in ~chool,
"what you see is what you gets:"
but 22 year old son is working in San
Not many of you showed up at the Sweetwater
Diego.
&
fie Controller
in the Denver Center, and
am still with that (now FAA). Have one
daughter, married to an AF Capt, 2 grand~
daughters,
and a wife who still puts up
with me, or at least pretends to? and 3
minature daschunds."
GILBERT M. GEURIN is a Capt. with Eastern
Airlines in the Atlanta office-gives
ck.
rides and transitional
rides. He's been
with EAA since leaving Sweetwater.
GERRY BOXBERGER
- after 13 years on 707s is
now happily .driving TWA's L-lOlls from
Los Angeles to Boston. In mid-August
he
sunk his first hole-in-one
at the Los
Posas CC--and has a plaque to prove it:
RALPH HARRIS is the Harris Oil Co. in Longview, Texas.
EARL E. SIMMS, Jr. is a screen writer and
living at 4226 Toluca Lane, Burbank, Ca.
J.R. SMITH is the Publisher of this issue
of the Newsletter.
His Smith Printing in
Hot Springs is responsible
only for the
printing, not the errors. Our thanks.
A SALUTE
TO AILSA
SIMONSON
Ailsa eonnolly Robinson Simonson was appointed as director of the N.D. State Labin Bismarck and is the
Had an important complaint about the '72 oratories Department
Newsletter--Margaret
Chamber1ain
Tamplin of only woman .named to head a state dept.,
agency or institution.
Altho active as a
44-3 worried that her name wasn't on the
news editor of the Divide County Journal,
list of attendees at Sweetwater,
and that
and the mother of five, she is delighted
her classmates might think her a "nonwith the challenge. She and her family are
payer". Well, Margaret, your cancelled
moving to Bismarck immediately.
check (and memories) prove you "participated" and you're in the same boat with the
supplie~ of the list, Faith Richards--and
her on the Reunion Committee,
too--she
forgot hers:***** To all of you with memories: we need to share those "stories"
before they are forgotten. Write them up
briefly and mail them in.***** When news
of women entering the Navy Flight Program
hit the papers, many WASP grabbed their
p~ones to demand space for OUR program-Mary Jones, our Sec/Treas even had a big
article in the Cleveland Press refuting
the Navy's claim of "first women as military pilots"; Marjorie Thompson, 43-5, was
special guest on Houston TV recounting her
years as a WASP; your Editor joined with
Betty Williams,44-6,
and Gerri Olinger,
44-7, on Los Angeles TV talking of training
experiences
as the station showed many of
Gerri's personal photos.*****
As for a WASP
stamp--forget
it. We can't even petition
for one until we're over 50 years old (the
organization,
that is).***** Parts of uniforms and informational
material are still
needed for several exhibits at museumsFifi was very much in ev:idence when
let me know if you have things to spare**
SCM Business Equipment threw a big
*** The past several reunions have gener"This is your Life .... " retirement
ated a feeling of esprit de corps-let's
party for Lauretta Darcy (43-6) in
keep it glowing. See everyone in Reno by
August ..Hope Lauretta saved the color
June 13, 1974*****Editor
Lola Ricci.
poster and shows in Reno with it::
OUT OF THE PIGEON-HOLE:
\
L]
",-
Intercontinental
Air Race Terminus,
June 16, 1973. Nassau, Bahamas
Dolores Reed 44-1, Ann Ross 43-7,
Fran Sargent 43-4, Kay Strehle 43-4
and Gene FitzPatrick
44-1.
ATTENTION
MEMORIES,
ANyONE ???
...
McClellan Field, Calif. drew this
lovely group of 43-2--Esther
Poole
Berner, Mary Darling Graves, Margaret
Ann Hamilton Tunner, and Marion Schorr
Betzler. The year was 1943 and their
wings prove they'd just delivered the
aircraft (ATC insignia).
Contestants
Gene FitzPatrick
and
Dolores Reed, both 44-1, at Opa
Locka, Fla. enroute to Nassau in
the ICARace. They were 10th.
REMEMBER:
RENO,
NEVADA
JUNE
13-15,
1974
FAI honors
KAY BRICK,
43-3
My Most
as a WASP
BETZLER
43-2
ITEMS AVAILABLE
THRU
THE SEC/TREAS
Nominations
are due for President
and Secretary/Treasurer.
Volunt~ers
are needed for Newsletter Editor.
Mail suggestions
immediately to
Nominating Committee.