Product Description

During WWII, more than a thousand women signed up to fly with the U.S. military. Wives, mothers, actresses and debutantes who joined the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPS) test-piloted aircraft, ferried planes and logged 60 million miles in the air. Thirty-eight women died in service. But the opportunity to play a critical role in the war effort was abruptly canceled by politics and resentment, and it would be 30 years before women would again break the sex barrier in the skies.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #31417 in DVD
• Brand: WGBH BOSTON VIDEO
• Released on: 2006-06-27
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds
• Running time: 56 minutes

Amazon.com
As America geared up to fight in World War II there was a pressing need for military pilots, and women answered the call. This documentary about the Women's Airforce Service Pilots, an installment of the American Experience series on PBS, tells their oft overlooked story. The WASPs were founded by a famous female aviator, Jacqueline Cochran, and after rigorous flight training at an all-female airbase in Texas, more than 1,000 of them ferried new aircraft to military installations around the United States. The women proved themselves capable, and they eventually wound up teaching men to fly the new B-29 bombers that were being rushed into service. Some of the archival footage shown, such as clips of women putting on makeup in the cockpit, may seem ridiculous or demeaning today. But the women appearing in interviews tell some amazing stories about their wartime service, such as one female pilot who left on what was supposed to be a one-day mission, and thanks to frantic assignments that kept coming, didn't return to her home base for a month. The WASPs faced real danger while flying, had to battle discrimination and even sabotage, and their unit was disbanded while it was still very useful. But they paved the way for other women in the military, and their story is fascinating and this film tells it beautifully. --Robert J. McNamara

Customer Reviews

Fascinating documentary of a long-neglected group of pilots
"Fly Girls" is the story of the Women's Air Force Service Pilots (WASPs) of World War II, who have been neglected and unappreciated for many years. The WASPs were formed to ferry aircraft, tow targets and serve as instructors so male pilots could be freed for combat roles. But, as this film shows, the WASPs faced danger every day by flying every aircraft in the military inventory which more than proved the ability of women to serve as pilots. The WASPs were given the dangerous and dirty jobs to do, and they excelled despite the openly expressed doubts of male pilots.

"Fly Girls" benefits from the contemporary interviews of many surviving WASPs. These interviews, along with archival footage, capture the truly important job these pilots were doing and reflect the can-do attitude that permeated all levels of World War II American society. Although this film does chronicle the support the WASPs received from top military leaders, these women were not recognized as military members and were not even given veteran status until 1977. This film stands as a testimony to their courage and strength.

Illuminating history of Women pilots in WWII
It was most inspiring to see both old and curent interviews with the women who took the jobs of test pilots during WWII (freeing up male test pilots for battle)- they were adventuresses then and their spirits still shine today! It was also disconcerting to hear of the poor treatment they received both from the government and many of the male pilots. Well researched and documented - surprisingly gripping. Worthwhile for all WWII buffs!

And I thought I knew a lot about WWII American History!!
This is a GREAT documentary about the 1000 women who ferried new war planes around the country. In contemporary interviews, Chuck Yeager and Paul Tibbits gushed praise for these amazing women and their accomplishments and abilities. The women themselves talked about their life back in WWII and the stories were inspiring and stirring.

These women paved the way for women's liberation and even though the WASPS were disbanded in December 1944, without ever being granted military status, they broke through one barrier after another and really changed the way this country thought about women.

Their planes were occasionally sabotaged and they put up with a lot of nonsense from their male counterparts, but they pushed on. This video really brings their story to life. I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about this little known bit of WWII history.