Posted on Mar 22, 2016
House Passes Bill to Allow Female Pilots' Ashes at Arlington
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WASHINGTON — The House has passed legislation to allow female World War II pilots known as WASPs to continue placing their ashes at Arlington National Cemetery.
Lawmakers on Tuesday voted 385-0 to approve the bill sponsored by an Arizona Republican, congresswoman Martha McSally, herself a retired Air Force fighter pilot.
The WASPs served in a special unit called Women Airforce Service Pilots. They flew noncombat missions to free up male pilots for combat.
During the war, the women were considered civilians. But since 1977, federal law has granted them status as veterans. They had been eligible since 2002 to have their ashes placed at Arlington with military honors. But the Army ruled last year that the WASPs never should have been allowed in and revoked their eligibility.
McSally's bill reverses that decision.
Lawmakers on Tuesday voted 385-0 to approve the bill sponsored by an Arizona Republican, congresswoman Martha McSally, herself a retired Air Force fighter pilot.
The WASPs served in a special unit called Women Airforce Service Pilots. They flew noncombat missions to free up male pilots for combat.
During the war, the women were considered civilians. But since 1977, federal law has granted them status as veterans. They had been eligible since 2002 to have their ashes placed at Arlington with military honors. But the Army ruled last year that the WASPs never should have been allowed in and revoked their eligibility.
McSally's bill reverses that decision.
House Passes Bill to Allow Female Pilots' Ashes at Arlington
Posted from military.com
American History
Military History
WWII World War Two
Posted >1 y ago
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PO3 Steven Sherrill
CSM Charles Hayden The WASPs may have been "non combatants," but they ferried military aircraft to the war zone. That in itself could be dangerous. I highly doubt that any German or Japanese pilots cared whether they were civilian or not. Point being that in some instances they may have had it worse than the combat pilots. Imagine ferrying a P-51 to Europe. Loaded with fuel, no munitions, and a flight of ME-109s is encountered. Trouble. Big Trouble.
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SP5 Mark Kuzinski Without a doubt the WASPs should be treated as veterans. Absolutely they should be interred in our national cemeteries right alongside everyone else who has earned that honor. That being said Arlington is above and beyond just a national cemetery. I think that selection for interment in Arlington should be highly selective. That should be applied to all who wish to be interred there. I am not saying that they should not be in Arlington, and I am not saying they should be in Arlington. I am saying that it should be based on merit case by case.
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