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North Texas Military Biography and Memoir Series
Nancy Love and the WASP Ferry Pilots of World War II
She flew the swift P-51 and the capricious P-38, but the heavy, four-engine B-17 bomber and C-54 transport were her forte. This is the story of Nancy Harkness Love who, early in World War II, recruited and led the first group of twenty-eight women to fly military aircraft for the U.S. Army.
Love was hooked on flight at an early age. At sixteen, 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).
Love had advocated using women as ferry pilots as early as 1940. Jackie Cochran envisioned a more ambitious plan, to train women to perform a variety of the military’s flight-related jobs stateside. The Army implemented both programs in the fall of 1942, but Jackie’s idea piqued General Hap Arnold’s interest and, by summer 1943, her concept had won. The women’s programs became one under the name Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), with Cochran as the Director of Women Pilots and Love as the Executive for WASP.
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. Her military superiors trusted and respected her, to the point that she became Ferrying Division commander Gen. William H. Tunner’s troubleshooter.
By example, Love won the right for women ferry pilots to transition into increasingly more complex airplanes. She checked out on twenty-three different military aircraft and became the first woman to fly several of them, including the B-17 Flying Fortress. Her World War II career ended on a high following a general’s orders, she piloted a giant C-54 Army transport over the fabled China-Burma-India “Hump,” the crucial airlift route over the Himalayas.
Nancy Love believed that the women attached to the military needed to be on equal footing with the men and given the same opportunities to prove their abilities and mettle. Young women serving today as combat pilots owe much to Love for creating the opportunity for women to serve. Her foresight and tenacity nearly seventy years ago helped ensure their future. Now author Sarah Byrn Rickman, aviation historian, presents the first full-length biography of Nancy Love and her role in the WAFS and WASP programs. Her book will appeal to all with a love of flight.
Love was hooked on flight at an early age. At sixteen, 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).
Love had advocated using women as ferry pilots as early as 1940. Jackie Cochran envisioned a more ambitious plan, to train women to perform a variety of the military’s flight-related jobs stateside. The Army implemented both programs in the fall of 1942, but Jackie’s idea piqued General Hap Arnold’s interest and, by summer 1943, her concept had won. The women’s programs became one under the name Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), with Cochran as the Director of Women Pilots and Love as the Executive for WASP.
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. Her military superiors trusted and respected her, to the point that she became Ferrying Division commander Gen. William H. Tunner’s troubleshooter.
By example, Love won the right for women ferry pilots to transition into increasingly more complex airplanes. She checked out on twenty-three different military aircraft and became the first woman to fly several of them, including the B-17 Flying Fortress. Her World War II career ended on a high following a general’s orders, she piloted a giant C-54 Army transport over the fabled China-Burma-India “Hump,” the crucial airlift route over the Himalayas.
Nancy Love believed that the women attached to the military needed to be on equal footing with the men and given the same opportunities to prove their abilities and mettle. Young women serving today as combat pilots owe much to Love for creating the opportunity for women to serve. Her foresight and tenacity nearly seventy years ago helped ensure their future. Now author Sarah Byrn Rickman, aviation historian, presents the first full-length biography of Nancy Love and her role in the WAFS and WASP programs. Her book will appeal to all with a love of flight.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 15, 2008
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About the author
Sarah Byrn Rickman
13 books10 followersThe National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) awarded Sarah's two-volume work, “WASP Pilots,” their 17th Annual Combs-Gates Award. The award is presented for projects that reflect an emphasis on the individual pioneers – the people – who defined America’s aerospace horizons. This is the second time Sarah has won the Combs-Gates Award.
The WASP Pilots Series, written for readers age 10 to adult, now consists of three biographies: the World War II stories of three outstanding women pilots Nancy Love: WASP Pilot; ‘BJ’ Erickson: WASP Pilot and the newest, released October 15, 2020, Betty Gillies: WAFS Pilot..
Sarah is a former reporter/columnist for The Detroit News (Michigan) and former editor of the Centerville-Bellbrook Times (Ohio). She earned her B.A. in English from Vanderbilt University and an M.A. in Creative Writing from Antioch University McGregor.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 23, 2023
This was a fascinating insight on such a private person. It covered all aspects of Love’s life, even the unpleasant. It was filled with context for those who maybe aren’t the most familiar with early aviation or the military which made the book even better. In short, it is a lovely book about a phenomenal person who is finally getting the recognition she deserves.
June 3, 2021
There is so much to love about women pilots.
I had no idea who Nancy Love was until I picked up this book and that’s a shame. She’s quite an accomplished pilot and should be well-known. I had no idea there were women ferry pilots who took planes to the soldiers in WWII. It’s just not touched on in school. That’s a shame. Really. It should be taught.
Nancy Love knew she wanted to fly and her love of flying shows on every page. She wanted to make it possible for other women to fly as well. I liked how she believed there was no reason a woman couldn’t handle a plane, couldn’t make a difference and have a military career. She flew some of the biggest planes of the time and it was like any other day at the office for her.
The book flows well and engrossed me from the start. I learned a lot and I’m glad I did. This was a great book and should be read by everyone.
I had no idea who Nancy Love was until I picked up this book and that’s a shame. She’s quite an accomplished pilot and should be well-known. I had no idea there were women ferry pilots who took planes to the soldiers in WWII. It’s just not touched on in school. That’s a shame. Really. It should be taught.
Nancy Love knew she wanted to fly and her love of flying shows on every page. She wanted to make it possible for other women to fly as well. I liked how she believed there was no reason a woman couldn’t handle a plane, couldn’t make a difference and have a military career. She flew some of the biggest planes of the time and it was like any other day at the office for her.
The book flows well and engrossed me from the start. I learned a lot and I’m glad I did. This was a great book and should be read by everyone.
January 7, 2024
Fascinating and comprehensive deep-dive into WASP director Nancy Harkness Love's aviation journey.
September 10, 2012
This book is a well-researched and very readable account of Nancy Harkness Love and the female ferry pilots that made up the Women's Air Service Pilots (WASPs).
These courageous women ferried planes of all types from the factories to the military bases. They did the job without military benefits, two-thirds the pay of civilian male pilots and a whole lot of ridicule and abuse.
While this story centers on Nancy Love's life before, during and after her flying career, it includes significant information on the WASPs and other prominent female pilots. When the War Department invited women to submit an application due to the shortage of male pilots, over 20,000 applied. Over 1,000 earned their wings and during the course of the War they ferried 12,000 aircraft of 78 different types. They towed target planes and damaged planes and ferried the planes that men were afraid to fly. The WASPs lost 38 women killed in the line of duty.
This book pays tribute to their contribution in winning the War and to the woman whose inspiration, professionalism and refusal to be denied started the whole program!
The book has a robust bibliography, is well-sourced, contains a glossary of military terms, a table describing the different types of planes flown, numerous photographs and is fully indexed. This is a must read for any World War II buff and anyone else interested in how American women helped shape our victory in World War II.
These courageous women ferried planes of all types from the factories to the military bases. They did the job without military benefits, two-thirds the pay of civilian male pilots and a whole lot of ridicule and abuse.
While this story centers on Nancy Love's life before, during and after her flying career, it includes significant information on the WASPs and other prominent female pilots. When the War Department invited women to submit an application due to the shortage of male pilots, over 20,000 applied. Over 1,000 earned their wings and during the course of the War they ferried 12,000 aircraft of 78 different types. They towed target planes and damaged planes and ferried the planes that men were afraid to fly. The WASPs lost 38 women killed in the line of duty.
This book pays tribute to their contribution in winning the War and to the woman whose inspiration, professionalism and refusal to be denied started the whole program!
The book has a robust bibliography, is well-sourced, contains a glossary of military terms, a table describing the different types of planes flown, numerous photographs and is fully indexed. This is a must read for any World War II buff and anyone else interested in how American women helped shape our victory in World War II.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews