Art Roberts, son of WASP Betty Strohfus and FlyGirls fan

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."

Elizabeth "Betty Wall" Strohfus on why the FlyGirls story is so important!

"We worked so hard for our country, and they forgot about us for 35 years...that's why this production, FlyGirls is so important."

After Betty earned her wings in 1944, she was stationed at Las Vegas Army Airfield and was assigned to Gunnery Training. There she piloted the B-26 Marauder, towing targets for fighter target practice, dove at bombers in pursuit aircraft, and at infantry in the AT-6 for gunnery and aircraft target practice.

Responding to the call for instructors, Betty was accepted and sent back to Avenger Field for training. Once she earned her instructor certification, she returned to Las Vegas and became the first woman to teach instrument flight male cadets. "You see, they didn't think a woman could do it, but they learned soon enough."

Betty was stationed at Las Vegas until the WASP were disbanded on December 20, 1944.

When it was announced in 1976 that women were about to fly military aircraft for the "first time", Betty and six other WASP went to Congress and showed them their credentials. They were partly responsible for the 1977 bill that gave them their veteran's status. In 1979, Elizabeth received her DD214, an honorable discharge and became a United States Veteran.

On July 11, 2015, at 95 years old, Betty went up in Julie Clarke's T34. Julie is one of the top aerobatic pilots in the nation, and close friends with Betty.

"I never got sick flying planes when I was younger, I don't expect to start now at 95. As long as Julie kept speed I was fine." In mid loop, they pulled 4.5g's.

"It reminded me how I use to give the guys a good scarring. They didn't expect to see a female pilot, let alone a female instructor going that fast".

For the past 25 years, she's been telling her story as a WASP, visiting 32 states. Most recently she told channel nine news in Saint Paul she intends to die with "shoes on and mouth open."

We salute you, Betty!