Margaret Chamberlin Smith Collection
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Oral history interview with Margaret Chamberlin Smith
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Primarily documents Margaret L. Chamberlin Smith's background; service in the WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots) during World War II; and the impact of her service on the rest of her life. Smith talks briefly about her family and the influence of her father; her youth activities, including the 4-H; grade school during the Depression; majoring in business education at Eastern Illinois University; her desire to be involved with civil service; and being accepted for radio code training at Scott Air Force Base near Belleville, Illinois. " Smith describes how she developed an interest in flying; taking flying lessons and the planes that she flew; one of her flight instructors from Mascoutah, Illinois, being killed; and having to do a forced-landing while training. She also talks about her decision to join the WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots) rather than the military; her father's support of her decision; and taking the entrance exams. " Topics related to training at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas, include the small salary and paying for expenses; the daily schedule and types of classes; uniforms; how the men felt about the women being pilots; how little time they had for social life and fun activities; what flying was like; and getting thrown into the wishing well for being the first one of her class to solo. " Smith speaks about her life after the war and the impact of her service. She describes meeting her husband; her decision not to fly anymore; having children. She also provides details of her almost thirty-year teaching career in southern Illinois; the dangers of flying; and getting attention from newspapers later in her life for being in the WASP.
