Really cool WASP Group - Elizabeth Gardner

[stratasfan]

Found this on eBay and thought I'd post it. From the pictures, it looks like a killer grouping! 

 

 

 

Here is the link to the auction.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_L._Gardner

 

 

 

Cool lady! Flew B-26s, trained as a test pilot and flight instructor. Post-War, she was a commercial pilot with Piper Airccraft. 

[stratasfan]

Some more pics from the listing:

 

 

 

 

TWO Caterpillar pins!

 

 

[manayunkman]

That’s an amazing group.

[stratasfan]

Isn't it? I was just browsing looking at pilot groups and found it. :) Then I had to read up on the WASP herself! Then I thought I'd share it! -grin-

[rathbonemuseum.com]

Thanks for archiving this here Elizabeth. Yes, an amazing group.

[VickiMouse]

What do the wing experts think about these wings, especially the class wings?

[jeff41st]

Not an expert, but no questions have been raised about the authenticity of those wings in discussions with other very experienced collectors.

 

Here is legit WASP class ring for comparison

 

http://www.ww2wings.com/wings/usaaf/wasp/jcw1wasp.shtml

[jeff41st]

2 hours ago, jeff41st said:

Here is legit WASP class ring for comparison

Sorry, class wing not ring.

[warguy]

There is another thread here with a robust discussion about this lot including at least one opinion that the wing is genuine. You can find that here:

 

 

[rathbonemuseum.com]

I note with interest these notes from her Wikipedia entry:

 

The Piper badge 

In December 1944, the government disbanded WASP, and Gardner returned to the private sector. She was a commercial pilot after World War II, flying for Piper Aircraft Corporation in Pennsylvania.[10][21] In that capacity, she became involved in public relations, using her piloting skills to ferry Piper customers, meeting with the Department of Defense, and writing all of William T. Piper's speeches.[21]

 

The two parachute award badges

Gardner worked as a test pilot after the war, including for General Textile Mills, which was working on an aircraft parachute that was intended to safely land aircraft that became disabled in flight. She participated in at least two tests with the device in December 1945, both of which forced her to bail out of the aircraft when the parachute became tangled in the test aircraft. During the second incident, the aircraft entered a dive when its elevators were jammed by the parachute; Gardner escaped from the cockpit, but she was only 500 ft (150 m) from the ground when her own parachute opened.[22]

 

[manayunkman]

Seller has more photos including these

[dmar836]

Wow. Are those in another auction? If so, maybe the seller broke up an even larger grouping.

Interesting how the private sector adopted the caterpillar pin even after the war.

[manayunkman]

The seller says that the photos will be part of this auction.

 

But dont take my word for it ask them.

 

Apparently they have a bunch of civilian photos too.

[Bodes]

What's the bidding currently up to?....I haven't been able to find the item on eBay...Bodes

[dmar836]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/234922179456

[manayunkman]

What is the chenille patch?

[dmar836]

I think that may be a high school patch.

[dmar836]

Is the 2" shirt wing (top left) cast? It appears to have a couple voids on the lozenge and the back looks pretty much like a cast pin. Maybe its just salty and I'm seeing things?

[GAZOO]

Wonder why its SCRATCH MARKED Labeled
WASP, ?

[pfrost]

Those little wings are more than likely reunion pieces.  IIRC the WASPs didn't have 2 inch wings issued to them during the short time they were active.  I do believe that these small wings were made for and given out at post war reunions that started in the 60's.

[5thwingmarty]

I think the big patch and the ring are both school related, the ring says I believe Rockford and the patch is a big R.

[dmar836]

Yeah, agree except that the ring has wings on the side so...

[US82Bravo]

31 minutes ago, dmar836 said:

Yeah, agree except that the ring has wings on the side so...

FWIW -

 

From  https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/rockford-illinois-high-school-1936-1753647442

 

1936 Class ring with 'wings'-

 

 

 

 

 

Larry

[pfrost]

By mid-late 1930's a lot of high schools and colleges started offering basic flight training classes through the CAA program. Eventually many of these programs would provide initial flight training for pilots going into the military once WWII started for the US. What is interesting to me, is that in 1939 or so, these programs were opened up to not just to white males, but were specifically available to African Americans (many of whom went on to be Tuskegee airmen) and women pilots.  I suspect that in 1939 you could get a class ring with some sort of personalized decoration (say you were a letter man, you could get a football, baseball or running shoes) on your ring.  That would explain her ring.  If I had to guess, I would say our beautiful Ms Gardner was interested in flying in high school and had taken some CAA programs before going on to college and the WASPs.

 

Prior to the CAA forming in the 1930's, many women who became pilots often had rich/wealthy husbands or families that would support their flying habits. Many of these ladies, once bitten by the flight bug became avid avatrix... er avatrixesses.... aviatrices er... aviatrixes!  We all  know about the Amelia Earhearts and Nancy Loves and Jackie Cochranes. If you are really interested in learning about the early success of women pilots, there is a great deal of information about them--read up on the 99s. They used to publish newsletters, many of which can be found on line. They had a LOT of different chapters and were really dedicated to supporting young women pilots (and some older pilots as well).  They sponsored air races of all sorts, and offered scholarships to young ladies.

 

My point is that I often get the impression that many collectors kind of focus on the WASPs as the beginning and ending of women aviation in the US.  Actually, there was a pretty interesting and vibrant community of early aviatrices that contributed to early civilian (and military) aviation that likely started right when Orvil and WIlbur's sister Whilimina said "big deal, I can do that too, but I'll do it backwards and while wearing high heels!"  LOL.... not really, but you see my point.

 

The WASPs always did have excellent public relations!  Not that there is anything wrong with that.

 

[Bodes]

9 hours ago, dmar836 said:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/234922179456

Thank you....Bodes