by Jess Clackum
"The story of the WASPs belongs with that of the Tuskegee Airmen as a group of individuals overcoming incredible obstacles to serve their nation in a time of need. It is important to remember the WASPs because they turned women flying from a novelty to an everyday necessity. It took a decade or so for the military to figure it out but they were the trailblazers. They did it out of patriotism and love of flying, not to be role models or heroes, although that is how they ended up!"
---Alton "Boots" McCormick
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Boots McCormick. (Photo credit: Air Group One) [/caption] "Boots" McCormick is Operations Officer at Air Group One in San Diego. He is an experienced commercial and military pilot and flight instructor with more than 20 years experience flying fighter jets, tankers, surveillance aircraft, helicopters and vintage military aircraft.
Recently, Boots stepped in to make a WASP wish come true. When WASP Beverly Beesemyer (44-W-6) made it known she wanted to fly in an AT-6 one more time, Boots made that happen. He dropped what he was doing and made a point to be present at the FlyGirls "The Greatest Generation Meets The Next Generation: Women in Flight" event on March 20th in Carlsbad, California, where he fulfilled Beverly's wish.
We thank Boots for being such a passionate supporter of the WASP legacy and FlyGirls!
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Boots & Beverly indulge in a selfie! (Photo credit: Alton McCormick) [/caption] Air Group One is the San Diego Wing of the "Commemorative Air Force". Their mission is "education, such that generations of Americans will value and support the contributions of military aviation in assuring our nation's freedom."
Read more about AG1 at http://ag1caf.org/
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