[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 139 (Wednesday, September 30, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S9979]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO VIRGINIA SCOTTY GOUGH

 Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, today I honor a group of women 
who have made a lasting contribution to American history. They are the 
Women Airforce Service Pilots, or WASP.
  Who are the WASP?
  They were the first women trained in American military aircraft. They 
were trailblazers and true patriots. They are women like Virginia 
Scotty Gough. They came from all walks of life. They were students, 
secretaries, nurses, daughters, wives. One was a nun. They shared the 
same goal: to contribute to the American war effort.
  Between 1942 and 1944, the 1,102 WASP trained in Texas, then went on 
to fly noncombat military missions so that all their male counterparts 
could be deployed to combat. These women piloted every kind of military 
aircraft, and logged 60 million miles flying missions across the United 
States. Thirty-eight of them died in the line of duty.
  These intrepid women served their country with courage and valor. But 
for too long, their country did not serve them. They were never awarded 
full military status and were ineligible for officer status. They faced 
strong cultural and gender bias and received unequal pay. Following the 
war, they were told to pay their own way home. It was not until 1977--
more than 30 years later--that the WASP were granted veterans' status.
  Thirteen of these brave women hail from Maryland. Four are still 
alive today: Virginia Scotty Gough, Florence Marston, Elaine Harmon, 
and Nancy Magruder. I am proud to honor them today.
  Virginia Bradley Gough, known as Scotty, grew up in California. She 
learned to fly at age 16 and has avidly pursed that dream for many 
years. In 1943, when she learned about the WASP program, she was eager 
to join. But her young age prevented her from immediately enrolling in 
the training. As is so indicative of the WASP, she didn't waste the 
year. Instead, she earned money to continue flying by making parachute 
jumps to attract people to the airport.
  After completing her WASP training as part of the class of 44-7, 
Scotty was stationed in the engineering department at Williams Army Air 
Base in Chandler, AZ. There she served as an engineering test pilot, 
testing aircraft after major engine overhauls and other major repairs. 
She served as a check pilot to the aircraft, ensuring repairs and fixes 
were safe before an aircraft was released to combat. It was dangerous 
work, requiring a devoted and precise pilot.
  After the WASP were unceremoniously disbanded in December 1944, 
Scotty Gough returned to Los Angeles and flew Luscombe aircraft from 
the factory to west coast distributors, making the most of her well-
honed piloting skills.
  Many years later, Scotty Gough and another WASP established the WASP 
exhibit at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. I am proud that Virginia 
``Scotty'' Gough now calls Maryland home.
  Like the other WASP, Scotty Gough was a trailblazer and true patriot. 
She paved the way for the armed services to lift the ban on women 
attending military flight training in the 1970s, and eventually led to 
women being fully integrated as pilots in the U.S. military. We owe her 
our ``thank you''--not in words, but in deeds. Her story should have 
never been a forgotten chapter in American history. It will no longer 
be.
  I was proud to fight for legislation to award the WASP the most 
distinguished honor Congress can give: the Congressional Gold Medal. I 
am proud the bill passed quickly and has now been signed into law. The 
process of designing, casting, and presenting these medals has begun. I 
look forward to the day, very soon, when I can present Scotty Gough and 
all the other WASP this medal they have earned and so long 
deserved.

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