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A WASP pilot has passed at the tender age of 103. She was one of many women who volunteered for the Women Airforce Service Pilots during World War II, relieving men to duty to the European and Pacific theaters.<\/p>\n
From the article: TACOMA, Wash. \u2014 Dorothy Eleanor Olsen, a member of a group of civilian volunteers who flew planes across the country during World War II, has died. She was 103.<\/p>\n
The News Tribune<\/a>\u00a0reports that Olsen died July 23 in University Place, Washington. She flew about 60 missions as part of the 6th Ferry Group of the\u00a0Women Airforce Service Pilots<\/a>.<\/p>\n WASP members hauled targets for shooting practice and performed other flying duties. WASPs were not recognized as veterans until 1977 under President Jimmy Carter.<\/p>\n Olsen flew about 29 different aircraft. Her favorite was the P-51.<\/p>\n \u201cMom said the P-38 was an old woman\u2019s plane. She said anybody could fly that,\u201d said her daughter, Julie Stranburg. \u201cShe said that the (P-)51, you had to stay on top of that.\u201d<\/p>\n Stranburg said her mother didn\u2019t fly after she and her brother were born and didn\u2019t even think of flying commercial or private planes.<\/p>\n \u201cShe said, \u2018Why would I want to fly a Cessna when I\u2019ve flown a P-51?\u2019\u201d Stranburg said. – article.<\/p>\n Why, indeed?<\/p>\n Catch the tailwind, Mrs. Olsen. Straight on ’til morning.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"