Marjorie S. Thompson Collection
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Marjorie Thompson in a car with a puppy
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WASP Marjorie Sanford Thompson poses in the passenger seat of a car with a puppy, circa 1944. She wears the WASP dark olive drab trousers and shirt with a General Army Air Forces Headquarters patch on the upper left sleeve.
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Oral history interview with Majorie S. Thompson
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Primarily documents Marjorie Sanford Thompson's service in the WASPs [Women Airforce Service Pilots] from 1943 to 1944. Thompson briefly discusses her education, pre-war teaching career, and training in the Civilian Civilian Pilot Training Program. She describes joining the WASPs in 1943 and her subsequent training at Avenger Field, Texas, including: civilian instructors, check rides, washing out, getting wills and dental records up to date, and training deaths. Of her time in Dodge City, Kansas, Thompson discusses: being one of the first 11 women to fly a bomber plane, being the first to fly without an instructor; using a parachute; and male response to female pilots. She shares a story about another WASP's experience with racism towards Asians. Thompson describes in detail the process of towing targets at Harlingen, Texas, and recalls another WASP being purposely shot down. She remembers the crash of a plane that she was scheduled to be on and recalls landing a plane with a dead engine. Other topics include: attitudes towards the WASP, her admiration of WASP director Jacqueline Cochrane, uniforms, rooming with WACs, and social activities. " Post-service topics include: her work analyzing aircraft accidents in Winston-Salem, North Carolina; flying a private plane in South America, and volunteer activities as a docent, in a hospital, and with Junior League.
