Posted on 04/24/2010 10:56:05 AM PDT by JoeProBono
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.- More than 60 years after she flew military planes during World War II, a 93-year-old Florida woman got a chance to fly an AT-6 Texan again.
Tex Meacham had a large cheering section Friday as she got into the cockpit of the training plane at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, The Miami Herald reported Saturday. She was serenaded by the men's choir of John Knox Village in Pompano Beach while about two dozen members of the village chapter of the Red Hat Society applauded the woman they call their "queen bee."
Meacham spent two years in the Women Air Force Service Pilots, ferrying planes across the country and training pilots in navigation, and met her husband, John Meachem, a navigator, when both were stationed in Hondo, Texas. The WASPs were only recognized as war veterans in 1977 and the 300 survivors each received a Congressional Gold Medal in March.
Friday's flight was arranged by History Flight of Marathon, Fla. Meachem was accompanied by pilot John Makinson, who gave her the controls while she executed two rolls and a climbing and banking maneuver.
"Super! He let me solo," she said after the 30-minute flight.
That’s Cool!
very cool
WASP ping, not sting
She got busted to a trainer? Aw! Too bad they didn’t have a P-51 or a P-38 around ... :-)
Put her in the cockpit of an F-16.
That will scare the crap out of the Iranians. Go Tex!
Thanks for the WASP ping, not sting! Excellent!
Nice!
Bump...
reminds me of the WASP in Brokaw’s “Greatest Generation” book...
ping
Not bad after 60 years. Fly on!
“Atta girl!!!
92? Why she doesn’t look a day over 70! God Bless her.
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