Like many other women who served in the WASP, Gayle Bevis joined the Civilian Pilot Training Program first–but to further her education, not because she yearned to fly. However, one flight was all she needed to fall in love with flying: “And when the wheels left the ground, I was thereinafter hooked for the rest of my life.” She became a member of the fifth class of the WASP and worked out of Dallas, ferrying planes around the country. She married another pilot who was envious of the variety of planes she was assigned to fly. Her career was cut short when she got out of her plane to check on something and it ran over her and broke her ankle. Six weeks later, the WASP were deactivated.
We honor you, Gayle Reed.
