I have seen that information you posted, and that is a great source. (Note: I do not believe those statistics are only for the Army Air Corps, I believe they encompass the entire US Military) What really blows me away is the average of 170 planes lost a day that were lost in that time frame.
But as for the risks faced by WASPS compared to the Army Air Corps and their eligibility to be buried in Arlington, we will have to disagree on this.
WASPS did NOT fly aircraft to combat zones. They were used for ferrying planes in the continental United States and rarely to Canada.
You said they more than put their lives on the line just as much as the men in the Army Air Corps did, and I could not disagree more vigorously with that statement. Men flying airmail for the government in the Twenties and Thirties were arguably at the same risk level as men in the Army Air Corps flying combat missions over Germany in 1943, and probably getting killed at somewhat the same rate, and they never got buried at Arlington. Flying was still, at that time, an inherently risky business, but there were many more tasks throughout industry that were as dangerous or even more dangerous.
One might say they put themselves at the same risk that male ferry pilots were at, which would be true. But as far as I know, men who worked as ferry pilots for Consolidated or other manufacturers never were eligible for burial in military cemeteries.
But that misses the point completely. At a fundamental level, I believe members of our armed forces deserve, and should get special consideration on many different levels. Both support while in the service, special care provided for injuries of all types when they are out of the service, and special treatment when they die, both in and out of active service. (Note that I am not talking ALL military members, just those who have been exposed to combat in a time of conflict.)
My father was never shot at, but was on a destroyer in the Pacific at the end of WWII, and served on a destroyer in combat situations in Korea and was on another destroyer as XO off Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis, so while I understand some may think he shouldn’t be there, I would disagree. I don’t believe I should be buried there, and rightfully so, since I was active duty in a peacetime Navy. Serving on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier in a peacetime Navy is indeed hazardous as are many of the tasks carried out by a peacetime Army. But being a welder in a shipyard in wartime conditions or ferrying combat planes from Michigan to California or New York are hazardous as well. None of those jobs mentioned in either a peacetime military or a wartime economy should be eligible, and rightfully so, in my opinion.
You have very solid points.
When I made the statement of the women were in just as much danger as the men I was only referring to the atrocious accidents here in the U.S. by all pilots.
The first time I read this I was totally blown away at the aircraft and men lost just state side in these training and routine flying accidents.
Let us agree though all who flew, men and women,during W.W. II put a certain amount on the line every time they flew.
We will never again see such courage and country come together for such a war ever again.