Sarah’s Nancy Love Book Debuts at Home
and Travels to WASP Museum in Texas
Homecoming brought five WASP and a couple hundred of their friends to the hangar on the southeast side of Avenger Field — a mile or so off I-20 and just west of Sweetwater. Talks by WASP Betty Jo Reed and Dawn Letson, the Director of the Woman’s Collection, Texas Woman’s University Library — home of the WASP Archives — augmented Open House activities. Several US Air Force Academy female cadets volunteered their services to work the event.
Beneath huge wall-sized posters of Nancy Love, Jackie Cochran and Hap Arnold, I sold copies of my three books and enjoyed talking to people. My “mostly” black Lab, Willa, joined me and charmed everyone with her sweet nature and exemplary behavior.
A Texas-style barbeque in the hangar — in spite of a Texas-sized thunder and lightning storm — was the evening highlight. Some guests came in WWII “period” dress. Banquet speaker was Major Nicole Malachowski, first woman USAF Thunderbird pilot. A memorial service was held for the 38 WASP who died during World War II. Then WWII-style dancing on the hangar floor — to a big band sound — followed and some of the WASP were seen “cutting a rug.” waspmuseum.org
See photos below.
May 10 — Wine, Cheese and Books in Centerville, Ohio
Shirley Heintz and I have been friends for 30 years. During that time we both have served the City of Centerville: she, as Mayor and Council Member; I, as community newspaper editor and later city newsletter editor. Shirley invited a number of our mutual friends to a very special party in her home on what turned out to be a lovely Saturday in May. Members of her book club were co-hostesses.
This occasion was to introduce my new book, Nancy Love and the WASP Ferry Pilots of World War II, to Centerville. If those attending had a sense of déjà vu, it was because she did the same thing in November 2002 to introduce my WASP novel, Flight From Fear.
Our friends John and Barb Moraites videotaped my talk — just as they did in 2002 — for local Cable Television Channel 23, Miami Valley Communications Council. Two special friends joined us: WASP Nadine Nagle and my literary mentor, Dr. Lillie Howard. Afterwards, I sold books. A good time was had by all!
See photo below.
April 6-13 - Sun n Fun at Lindner Airport in Lakeland, Florida
Other than selling lots of books, the highlight at Sun n Fun was my 15-minute flight in an AT-6. Read my blow-by-blow description of the flight along with photos on this Web site.
March 15 - Women In Aviation, International (WAI) in San Diego
Nancy Love was inducted into the WAI Pioneer Hall of Fame. Her daughter, Allie, accepted the plaque and I served as Allie’s escort for the ceremony. It was so fitting to see Nancy’s hard work during those World War II years recognized.
See photo below.
