WASPS--Women Pilots of WWII Honored

I really had no idea that there were female fighter pilots in WWII. These women were finally honored with a medal for their service many years overdue.

"Women weren't doctors, lawyers, engineers. I could be a nurse, a librarian or a teacher. Those were my choices. And if it wasn't for the war and the fact that they were so short of pilots that they condescended to let us enter the sanctum sanctorum. And they let us know that. They let us in because they needed us. They needed pilots."
-- Kaddy Steele, WASP 1942-1944

From 1942 to 1944, more than 1,000 women were trained to ferry aircraft, test planes, instruct male pilots, and tow targets for anti-aircraft artillery practice. The women came from all socioeconomic backgrounds: teachers, nurses, secretaries, factory workers, waitresses, students, housewives, debutantes, actresses, even a Ziegfield chorus girl.

Margaret Callihan gets out of a plane at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, TX. Photo courtesy of The Woman's Collection, Texas Woman's University.
On the surface, their differences seemed vast, but knew they all shared one commonality ‚ a passion for flying.

"We thought we'd died and gone to heaven," WASP Caro Bayley Bosca said. "We would have done it for free. It was hot, we were tired, we were sticky half the time, but we were having a ball because we had those airplanes and we all loved to fly."

They were pioneers, and as such they often faced disbelief and resentment from male officers. Nonetheless, the female pilots were fearless and committed. Thirty-eight women would be killed in the line of duty.

Here are some fantastic pictures of these true heroes. Hope you are having a great week friends!

Nazis

Prisoners in their makeshift beds

Shoes of those who were put to death

The gates of Auschwitz

Jewish prisoner in Auschwitz

Dr. Josef Mengele

I know I usually post on topics that are lighter, but I watched a fabulous special on the Military Channel today that fascinated me. I knew Josef Mengele, the horrible doctor who performed experiments on Jews was in hiding. He left Germany early on and was on the run for years. He lived in fear constantly, so while living in a shack in Brazil, he kept a pistol in his bed. He died while having a massive stroke swimming off the shore of his house in 1979.

In 1985, the authorities finally found his whereabouts. "The Angel of Death," as he was known was just a pile of bones buried in his house. There were many tests to be done to determine if it was truly Dr. Mengele. The way they determined it was Dr. Mengele was by dental records and x-rays.

After nearly 50 years, the Nazi hunters could give some closure to the Jewish families affected by his horrible atrocities.

I am shocked at how many still try to locate Nazi officers on the run. It seems no one will ever forget the terrible crimes against humanity these men committed. Here are some pics of Josef Mengele and Auschwitz. Some of the pics are graphic. I contemplated posting this today, but feel it is important we never forget.

According to this documentary, many Nazi war criminals are still living in America.

Do you have any thoughts on the Holocaust or Dr. Mengele? I would love to hear your take.