President Obama has signed legislation to award the nation’s highest and most distinguished civilian award to 300 surviving women, including Auchterlonie, who served in the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) program.
“The Women Airforce Service Pilots courageously answered their country’s call in a time of need while blazing a trail for the brave women who have given and continue to give so much in service to this nation since,” said Obama. No date has yet been set for the ceremony.
Auchterlonie now lives in Everett. Two other WASP pilots live in our area: Mary “Pat” Hiller Call, 89, of Mount Vernon, and Margaret Neyman Martin of Oak Harbor.
Between 1942 and 1944, young women from across the country volunteered for flight training and service. They were America’s first women to fly military aircraft, and were recruited to fly non-combat missions. By the time the war ended, 1,102 female pilots received their pilot wings, and all told, they had flown over 60 million miles. They were disbanded before the end of WWII.
Auchterlonie graduated WASP training on Dec. 17, 1943, and was assigned to Williams Army Air Base in Ariz. She lived in Skyline for about 25 years. In January, following an illness, she moved to Everett to be near family.