RARE & UNUSUAL HALF WING - WAMS Women's Airline Maintenance Squadron

[COOKIEMAN]

Recently obtained the half-wing depicted below. Would like to find out exactly what it is. Some have said it might be:

 

W ?? Air Mail Service

 

W ?? Air Mechanics School

 

Flight Engineer for an Airline.

 

It has a 'C" catch and is marked STERLING / MORTONSON / N.Y.C. / NEWARK

 

Any ideas out there.

 

Thanks for your help

[pfrost]

Try Women in Airline Maintenance or WAMS. A group apparently developed by a number of the big airlines to address aviation maintenance issues.

 

https://books.google.com/books?id=F9GLAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT72&lpg=PT72&dq=w.a.m.s+airlines&source=bl&ots=rnYfW8HeWI&sig=mAxz1xckLgKk3PeMSkG6NDVLZrQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiD9oL78trPAhUhhlQKHfKCCBsQ6AEINTAE#v=onepage&q=w.a.m.s%20airlines&f=false

[bschwartz]

Wow, now that's an obscure one. Nice detective work google Patrick, ha.

[pfrost]

google... solving on-line arguments and triva questions since 1998.

[firefighter]

Great looking wings. So were these worn on a military uniform?

[pfrost]

No probably not. Civilian wings more than likely

[Ron Burkey]

Mystery solved. Not exactly what you thought Patrick, but your initial research led me to the actual ID.

 

I have had one of these wings in my "Unidentified" section on my web site for 20 years, so it was great to finally find a positive, and MILITARY ID. Read on...

 

Although the use by TWA of a 3 blade prop in their logo at the appropriate time did lend a lot of credence to the "Women in Airline Maintenance" theory, which more than 1 writer applied the "S" to in acronym to come up with "WAMS", the "official" "S" at the end of the acronym on the wing did not sit comfortably with me when I could find no mention of something like "Women in Airline Maintenance Service" or "Women's Airline Maintenance Service". So, I dug a little deeper.

 

Googling "Women's Aircraft Maintenance Service" led me to the obituary of Virginia Carolyn Molloy:

 

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/99230570/virginia-carolyn-molloy

 

Where I found that Mrs. Molloy was a member of the WOMEN'S AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE SQUADRON in WWII, which trained at the Women's Aircraft Maintenance School

in Springfield, Massachusetts.

 

Now, here I was on to something. But, was it the Squadron or the School that this wing was made for? And, having never heard of this unit or school in the last 30+ years of delving into military history, would I EVER know which it was for???

 

Being able to now search for the "Women's Aircraft Maintenance Squadron", ironically, having just moved from there, I found a GREAT article in the 30 April 1943 Portsmouth (New Hampshire) Herald on Newspapers.com. This explained not only how the women of the unit trained, but also that they were posted to either Westover, Bradley, or Grenier Army Air Field after graduation. And most importantly, it describes their insignia, mentioned as a sleeve patch, with a matching overseas cap.

 

Until we find photographs of the wing in wear, we won't know if it is a breast wing, or more probably, a hat wing, but in any event, it is MILITARY, and related to WWII Women's Service, and is Aviation!

 

 

Full Article:

 

 

[rathbonemuseum.com]

Wow! Great work! A mystery finally solved and super obscure. Thanks to John, Patrick and Ron for sharing, digging and solving!

[vintageproductions]

Always love seeing pieces like this finally getting a proper ID.

[WAMSson]

My mother, Anita St.Jean Ryals was in the first WAMS training class.  I know this because I have my mom's class book.  Her picture, attached.  The first class of the first Woman's Aircraft Maintenance Squadron started on 14 Sep 1942 and graduated 14 Dec 1942, a dark time in WWII.  They were formed at Westover Sub-Depot Training School at Westover Air Base.  My mother worked in the "engine room" fixing carburetors on B-25s and P-47s as she related to me.  In the class book is the phrase "keep-em flying" which these women did.  My mother tried to join the air corps as a pilot but was told women can't do that.  Want to be a mechanic?  She said yes and was in the first class. I very much thank the first person to put the WAMS wings in here.  It helped me identify the patch on my mom's left shoulder.  Also looks like it is on her hat.  I don't see the wings on her uniform.  I went on to fulfill my mom's dream of being a pilot and retired from the USAF with operational tours in the OV-10, T-41, T-37, F-15, F-117 and F-16.  I know my mom is smiling.  I am so proud of her.  

 

[rathbonemuseum.com]

@WAMSson thank you for sharing your mother's story here and adding more details to this little known and remembered bit of WWII history. If you can, I know we would all appreciate if you would share more photos from the class book that show details of insignia uniforms and wings. 

Cheers,

Tod