From an early age, Art realized his mother wasn't like other mothers:
"She wore combat boots and knew how to fly B-17s. In 7th grade, a bully said something to me about her flying. I told him the truth, she flew planes during the war, and that shut him up. My friends had no idea my mom did that, and they were impressed.
There are only about 120 WASP still living, and less than 20 that can still travel and tell their stories. They aren't mentioned in any history books. They've been forgotten long enough.
They sacrificed a lot for this country. They had their fair share of difficulties. My mother didn't realize why her co-pilot would walk the plane out every morning instead of her, it was to make sure no one messed with the plane.
I've also noticed over the years, the WASP program gave these women a confidence they didn't have before. My mother was very shy in high school, but she's very much a people person ... when she'd get behind a plane she could do some Jedi Knight Stuff in an AT-16. She'd frighten other pilots.
She, like so many other women, just wanted to fly."
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