17/03/2025
To small men, women are dangerous. This photograph is dangerous.
The history of heroic American women -- like that of the highly decorated WWII-era Women Airforce Service Pilots -- is being deleted, photograph by photography and story by story, from government websites. Imagine being so threatened by women and women's accomplishments, even ones by wartime heroes like the WASP, that you have to make them disappear. This systematic effort that can only be described as a modern-day book burning is the act of a coward and a tyrant devoid of honor.
Erasing the history and photographs of these wartime heroes, dozens of whom died in service to the country, is utterly shameful. What's worse is that this photograph, which had been featured as part of an article about the WASP on the U.S. Air Force website, is only one of tens of thousands of stories and photographs of women veterans and service members that are currently being deleted as part of the federal government's purge of "DEI" content following Trump's executive order.
Under the direction of Trump's controversial Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the Defense Department is currently conducting a sweeping purge of articles and images highlighting the accomplishments of women or minority service members. A federal official confirmed to the AP that the database of images that have been flagged for removal across every military branch includes more than 26,000 photographs. The official further observed that the purge could ultimately delete as many as 100,000 images or posts in total after social media content is also culled.
In an effort to justify such vast and unprecedented government censorship, Hegseth has repeatedly declared that he is "returning the focus of the military to merit." Ironically, Hegseth, himself, lacked the normal qualifications for a person serving as Secretary of Defense, with his military experience being limited to serving in the National Guard and lacking any experience running an institution even a fraction of the size of the U.S. Defense Department. Widely considered a loyalist hire as he frequently celebrated Trump during his past ten years as a Fox News TV personality, Hegseth is clearly devoid of the relevant skills, experience, and, due to the many allegations of sexual assault against him, the character, to 'merit' such a consequential position.
The WASP were founded in 1942; with male pilots fighting in World War II, the military needed women to fly non-combat and training missions. The highly selective program had over 25,000 applicants. It ultimately accepted 1,074 women -- all of whom were experienced civilian pilots -- to perform tasks including ferrying new planes to military bases, testing overhauled planes, and even pulling targets for ground and air gunners to use for practice -- with live ammunition.
Although there weren't involved in direct combat, many of these jobs were dangerous and 38 WASPs died during the two years of the program. However, since the women were not considered veterans, the military did not pay for the funerals of those who died and families were not even permitted to drape a flag on their caskets. The remaining WASPs fought for veteran recognition for decades and it was finally granted in 1977, when Congress passed legislation retroactively granting the WASPs active duty status. The four women pictured here, leaving their plane Pistol Packin' Mama, at Lockbourne Army Airfield in Ohio, are Frances Green, Margaret (Peg) Kirchner, Ann Waldner and Blanche Osborn.
Now the history of these women's courage and sacrifice is simply being being deleted. This is the reality of life under Trump; inconvenient truths -- such as the long history of women's and minorities' contributions to the military and the country -- are being quietly erased. In such times, it's essential to take the warning of George Orwell to heart: "The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history."
To speak out against Trump's appalling "DEI" purge, you can contact your elected officials with 5 Calls at https://5calls.org/issue/dei-diversity-equity-inclusion-executive-order/
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Here is a link to the U.S. Army webpage where the WASP feature had previously appeared: https://www.acc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3317006/the-womens-airforce-service-pilots-wasps-in-world-war-ii/
To view the WASP webpage as it appeared prior to its deletion on the Internet Archive, visit https://web.archive.org/web/20241226233425/https://www.acc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3317006/the-womens-airforce-service-pilots-wasps-in-world-war-ii/
To read the AP report on the Department of Defense's vast photo purge, visit https://apnews.com/article/dei-purge-images-pentagon-diversity-women-black-8efcfaec909954f4a24bad0d49c78074
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The story of these heroic women is told in a thrilling photo-filled book for young readers 10 and up: "Fly Girls: The Daring American Women Pilots Who Helped Win WWII" at https://www.amightygirl.com/fly-girls-women-pilots
For an excellent book for adult readers about the women of WASP, check out "The Women with Silver Wings" at https://www.amightygirl.com/the-women-with-silver-wings
There is also a bestselling historical fiction novel for adults telling the story of a young WASP pilot: "The Flight Girls" at https://bookshop.org/a/8011/9780778369226
Several WASPs are also profiled in the book “Women Aviators: 26 Stories of Pioneer Flights, Daring Missions, and Record-Setting Journeys” for teens and adults, ages 13 and up, at https://www.amightygirl.com/women-aviators
For books for young readers that honor the service of women in the military, visit our blog post "The Price of Peace: A Mighty Girl Recognizes Veterans" at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=12356
For books for children and teens about the importance of standing up for truth, decency, and justice, even in dark times, visit our blog post, "Dissent Is Patriotic: 50 Books About Women Who Fought for Change," at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=14364
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