National WASP WWII Museum

06/05/2026

We are very excited to be a part of this event and partner with CAF RISE ABOVE WASP! Come down to the park on July 4th and celebrate 250 years of freedom.
Later head down to the Museum for FREE admission all day to walk where these brave women flew.

Thank you National WASP WWII Museum for your sponsorship to Sparks in the Park 2026!

06/03/2026

It was a wonderful day at the WASP Museum! ✈️💜

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us for our Morning Chamber Coffee and Ladies Leadership Luncheon. We are grateful for the opportunity to share the inspiring story of the WASP and connect with so many members of our community.

A special thank you to the The Chamber, Sweetwater and Nolan County Chamber of Commerce for sponsoring today's events and for their continued support of the Museum and our mission.

We would also like to give a huge shout-out to Bobbi Hanson for her incredible presentation. Her remarks were both moving and inspiring, and she shared a remarkable connection to WASP history. She was born in the very same month and year that Nancy Harkness Love passed away. Moments like these remind us how one generation's legacy continues to inspire the next.

Thank you again to everyone who attended. Your support helps us preserve the history, promote the legacy, and inspire future generations through the story of the WASP as their legacy is not limited to the Museum walls.

06/03/2026

06/03/2026

Join us in Hangar 2 this morning at 10 am for the June Chamber Coffee this morning!
Come walk where these WWII heroes flew this morning 🇺🇸

06/02/2026

05/29/2026

✈️ Future in Flight: Aviation Days is now open to ALL students ages 14–18!

This two-day experience is perfect for students interested in aviation, aerospace, STEM, or exploring exciting new career paths. Participants will enjoy hands-on activities led by Skyline Aviation Training Academy and learn directly from aviation professionals in an engaging, interactive environment.

Whether your student dreams of flying or is simply curious about the world of aviation, this is an opportunity to explore, learn, and connect. 🌎🛩️

Spots are limited, so we encourage students to sign up ASAP at https://bit.ly/waspfif!
Scholarship opportunities are available for female students presented by Women Military Aviators - Public
Please reach out for scholarship information or visithttps://waspmuseum.org/web/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/WMA-Scholarship-Application.pdf

05/28/2026

✈On May 28, the first graduating class of the Women Airforce Service Pilots officially graduated at Avenger Field.

This local newspaper clipping from June 4, 1943, captures Class 43-W-2 standing at attention at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas. While the pioneering first class (43-W-1) graduated in Houston, Class 43-W-2 holds the historic distinction of being the very first class to graduate physically here at Avenger Field, flying in the day before.

05/25/2026

Today, we had the privilege of attending the memorial service for WASP Jerrie Philips Badger, who passed away in January at the age of 104. It was a beautiful and deeply moving service honoring a woman whose life represented courage, resilience, and quiet strength.

To stand among those remembering her and celebrating her legacy was truly an honor. Jerrie was part of a remarkable generation of women who stepped forward to serve during World War II, helping open doors for the generations that followed.

This Memorial Day weekend, we remember Jerrie not only for her service, but for the life she lived and the legacy she leaves behind. Women like her changed history, and it is our privilege to help ensure their stories are never forgotten.

05/25/2026

Today, on Memorial Day, we honor those who served, sacrificed, and helped shape history through courage and determination.

This year, we also remember and celebrate the life of Jerrie Philips Badger, whose story reminds us that service comes in many forms and that the legacy of the Women Airforce Service Pilots continues to inspire generations.

We are grateful for all of the WASP who answered the call during World War II, breaking barriers and proving that dedication, skill, and patriotism know no boundaries. Their contributions to aviation and military history paved the way for so many who followed.

Jerrie passed away this January, and today members of the National WASP WWII Museum staff were honored to attend a memorial held in her honor as we remember her life, legacy, and service this Memorial Day. Below are moving words written in memory of Jerrie by her daughter, Laura Sotka.

WASP Jerrie Philips Badger 1921-2026
On January 17, 2026, the world lost Jerrie Philips Badger, one of the last living Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II, at the age of 104.

Born in 1921, Jerrie was part of a small, extraordinary group of women who stepped forward when their country needed them and proved, quietly and decisively, that skill and resolve rise to meet history. As a WASP, she flew military aircraft under demanding and often uncertain conditions. She never sought recognition for what she did. For decades, her service went unacknowledged, as it did for all WASPs. When that recognition finally came in the way of the Congressional Gold Medal in 2010, she accepted it with grace, gratitude, and the steady humility that defined her life. She said the WASP’s was such a lasting thrill she would have flown for free!

Jerrie raised four daughters who loved her dearly, and then lived independently and on her own terms for the remainder of her life. Her sharp wit, clear mind, and love of motion, airplanes, automobiles, and the promise of what comes next remained with her throughout her life. To know her was to know courage without show, strength without hardness, and history carried lightly. She bore witness to a remarkable chapter of our nation’s story; her wings earned long ago.

High Flight, Mom.

05/23/2026

Come check out the classic car show, vintage planes, food vendors, and beautiful West Texas skies all in one place. There’s something special about old cars and old planes together this Memorial Day weekend. 🇺🇸✈️🚗

Perfect day to spend with family, friends, and a little piece of history.