Fly Girls

At the height of World War II, more than a thousand women left their homes and jobs for the opportunity of a lifetime--to become the first female pilots to fly for the United States military. Eager to prove themselves, they faced danger and discrimination, and 38 gave their lives for their country. Drawing on archival footage, rarely seen home movies, and interviews with pilots themselves, this AMERICAN EXPERIENCE production tells the fascinating story of the Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). Led by America's most accomplished aviatrix, Jacqueline Cochran, these pioneering women logged more than sixty million miles, ferrying planes throughout the United States, test-piloting experimental aircraft, and training men to fly. Still, the WASP fought a daily - and sometimes deadly - battle for respect. The WASP's contribution to America's war effort was invaluable, yet mostly forgotten. In FLY GIRLS, the women of the WASP take wing once again, to tell their story of skill, determination, and courage.