Page 36 - World Airnews Magazine April 2020 Edition

WOMEN IN
AVIATION

MY FRIEND, THE INVINCIBLE

TERESA JAMES

By Julia Lauria-Blum

my distinguished visitor right out of the 1942 with orders to report to the New Cas-
gate and accompany her to my car for our tle Army Air Base, Wilmington, Delaware.

n June 12, 2001, a JetBlue drive to my home. A former speed skater, she learned to fly

Oairliner touched down at JFK With a delightful smile and a youthful at 19 years-old in an OX-5 Travel Air, soloing
International and taxied to its gate after a sparkle in her eyes that belied her ‘80 in four hours and 20 minutes at Wilkinsburg

two-and-a-half-hour flight north from West something’ years, there she was before me, Airport, PA, so that she could impress a hand-

some pilot that she had a major crush on.
Palm Beach. On the other end of the jet the pioneering aviatrix, Teresa D. James,
one of the 28 ‘originals’ of the Women’s

Despite an extreme fear of flying, Teresa
way I stood, awaiting a woman who I had Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS), the obtained her private licence on October

only corresponded with on the telephone first female pilots to fly military aircraft for of 1934. By the time James received the

and through the US Mail in the months the US army air forces, later to be known as telegramme to report for WAFS duty, she
prior to her arrival. the WASP. was a flight instructor in Pittsburgh who

After accepting my invitation to attend As my husband gathered Teresa’s bags, had captured the title of ‘Girl Stunt Pilot’

the dedication of a new exhibit honouring she said to me with a wink of an eye, “Well, performing her signature 26- turn spin and

the Women Air force Service Pilots (WASP) kid, this is Teresa’s Last Hurrah!’’, for it loops at barnstorming events throughout
of WWII that I had curated at the American was now 57 years later that she would be the east coast.
Airpower Museum in Farmingdale, Long returning to the very same hangar from On May 19, 1938, Teresa flew Air Mail

Island, my special guest was to be the which she had once flown P-47s for the war for the National Air Mail Week Campaign

keynote speaker and one of eight WASP effort with the 2nd Ferrying Division of the from Wilkinsburg in commemoration of the

attending the opening of the exhibit the Air Transport Command - the same hangar 25th Anniversary of Air Mail Service in the
following day. that was now the home of the American US while working as a florist at her family’s

Just three months prior to 9/11, the Airpower Museum at Republic Airport. flower shop.

world was a much different place then to- Teresa James’ call to service for country After obtaining her transport licence and

day and I was fortunate to be able to greet arrived via telegramme on September of primary and secondary instructor’s rating,

World Airnews | April 2020
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