Hazel Jane Raines

As conditions led up to World War II, the United States joined European nations in strengthening its armed forces, which included the training of civilians for participation in the country's defense. The experimental Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP) had been operating since 1938, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Civilian Pilot Training Act on June 27, 1939. The legislation contained a key provision from Illinois congressman Everett Dirksen, "none of the benefits of training or programs shall be denied on account of race, creed, or color",[5] and opened the doors to people who would not otherwise have been eligible in the segregated armed forces that existed at that time. The "redtails" of the Tuskegee Airmen were a direct result of that program.[5] And for the first time, women were being trained as pilots in large numbers. Within its first year, the program qualified 2,500 women as pilots. By the time it ended in 1944, 435,000 men and women had qualified as pilots at 1,460 flight schools, and 1,132 colleges and universities.[6]

Receiving her flight instructor's rating in 1941, Raines became an instructor with the CPTP program in Georgia and Florida in 1942. Besides being an instructor, Raines held a commercial pilot's license, had a documented 1,300 hours of flying time, and was a member of the Ninety-Nines, the Macon Aero Club and the National Aeronautical Association.[7]

Pioneering American aviator Jacqueline Cochran was at that time involved with recruiting women for the British Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) Ferry Pool Service, 14 individual pools of pilots in England and Scotland who were civilian contract employees to the Royal Air Force.[8][9] The escort fighter aircraft used to accompany bombing raids over Germany were transported from one air base or squadron to another by the ATA. They employed both men and women, with the latter being 16% of the force. Requirements for both men and women were similar but had some key differences. Women pilots were accepted at a slightly younger minimum age, had an education requirement of completing high school, and needed two letters of reference. The male pilots had no education or reference stipulations for their service.[10][7]

Even though Raines modestly joked about being "a two bit flight instructor" for the CPTP,[12] Cochran was sufficiently impressed with her credentials in 1942 to schedule an interview in New York, that resulted in Raines being accepted into the Ferry Pool Service.[13] Training commenced at White Waltham Airfield, during which each pilot was each given a set of Ferry Pilots’ Notes on index cards, instructions on how to fly any plane they were assigned to, whether or not they had prior experience or knowledge of any particular plane.[14] Raines and the 24 other female American flyers working for the Ferry Pool Service during that period established themselves in aviation history as the first women from the United States to fly military aircraft, and they did it in a theater of war. To fly undetected by enemy radar, they used no navigational instruments, made no radio contact while flying, and had no ammunition for defense if the enemy spotted them.[15]

During her service with the ATA, Raines flew numerous types of British escorts, including the Hawker Hurricane, the Supermarine Spitfire, and the de Havilland Tiger Moth.[16] She survived a March 2, 1943 crash landing at Collingbourne Kingston when her Spitfire's engine malfunctioned, landing atop an English cottage.[11] Although the cottage was severely damaged, but there were no casualties. The Spitfire lost its wings, Raines managed to pull herself out of the plane and followed the ATA instructions on securing the aircraft, commanding "London – guard that plane!",[17] before being transported to a medical facility. Her head and eye injuries were severe enough for a mandatory medical leave from flying.[18] She resumed her duties in June, flying Airspeed Oxford and Fairchild 24 planes, but was unable to wear a helmet due to ongoing issues with her injuries. Raines left the ATA with the rank of Captain, and returned to the United States in August.[19]

The United States Army Air Forces had begun to use women pilots as civilian contract labor in 1942. When Cochran returned to the US, she headed the Women's Flying Training Detachment (WFTD). Aviator Nancy Harkness Love was named head of the Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS).[20] The two groups were combined under the directorship of Cochran in 1943 to form the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), with training at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas.[21]

Prior to her return to the United States, Raines and some of the other women pilots had received a letter from Cochran crediting them with laying the groundwork for the creation of the WASPs.[22][23] In November, Raines joined the WASPs and was made squadron commander at Avenger Field, completing her training ahead of schedule after learning to fly the Martin B-26 Marauder. Her next duty stations were as squadron commander at Pecos Army Air Field in Texas, and Kingman Army Airfield in Arizona.[24]

Both Cochran and Love lobbied for the WASPs to be fully militarized as a branch of the armed services, thereby giving the women not only recognition for their services, but also the same government benefits as the men. Their efforts were unsuccessful, and the WASP program ended on December 20, 1944.[25][26]