One Of 38 Women Killed In Service During WWII

Mary Elizabeth Trebing reported for Women Airforce Service Pilot (WASP) training at Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas on February 21, 1943 and graduated on August 7, 1943.  Three months later she was killed when the PT-19 she was ferrying from Dallas went down near Blanchard, OK.  She was just 23 years old.

Trebling's Congressional Gold Medal

67 years later, she was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in a ceremony at the Spirit of Flight Center air museum, located at the Erie Municipal airport just north of Denver, CO. It is now on display in the museum collection.

Three surviving WASPs attended the ceremony, along with family members, friends, two local Mayors, and many other dignitaries and supporters of the museum. "I was in the class right after Mary" said Lucille Wise, WASP class 43-W-7. "And we heard lots and lots of stories about her and how she was missed. Everyone said she was a really good pilot."

Lucille Wise joined WWII WASPs Kathryn Gunderson (class 43-W-5) and Betty Jo Reed (class 44-W-7) at the ceremony for Mary Elizabeth, and afterwards they all made a beeline to a North American T-6 Texan that had flown in for the event. "We flew the T-6 and every other type of plane the military had," said Betty Jo Reed. Pointing at the cockpit she went on to say "If only I could still climb up there, I am sure I could still fly it."

(L-R) WASPs Kathryn Gunderson, Lucille Wise, Betty Jo Reed

Gordon Page, President of the Spirit of Flight Center said "It's amazing to have three of the 200 WASPs that went to Washington D.C. in March, 2010 to accept the Congressional Gold Medal here to honor Mary Elizabeth. We are honored to have them in attendance and I am sure Mary Elizabeth is looking down and smiling on this event."

WWII B-17 veteran George Meshko of Denver, CO was at the event with his wife Nancy who he married during the war. "These women really did it all when it came to flying in the World War II," he said after the ceremony.

FMI: www.spiritofflight.com