Women Military Aviators

Women Military Aviators, Inc. was formed by two groups of women pilots separated by 39 years of history. In March 1978, a small group of Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) formed and incorporated the Women’s Military Pilots Association (WMPA), Inc. with the idea of creating an organization to include the new women military pilots just beginning to enter active duty and flight school. WASP Sara Hayden received word that the active duty rated women were starting an organization and wrote a letter to Captain Barb Brume on Nov. 3, 1981. After much communication and personal visits, in October 1982, 86 active duty women pilots and navigators and 126 WASP became the first charter members of WMPA. An election was held and on Dec. 7, 1982 and the first active duty elected officers were Capt. Barbara Brumme, President, Captain Karen Daneu, Vice President, Captain Julie Tizard, Secretary, and 1Lt. Margie (Clark) Varuska, Treasurer. Board Members were WASP Lois Auchterlonie, WAFS Adela Scharr and WASP Sara Hayden. This was the beginning of an organization of women aviators created in 1982 from two groups, the WASP and new women military pilots and navigators from the 1970’s, which has now lasted 33 years. On November 15, 1988 the name was officially changed to the Women Military Aviators, Inc. to specifically include female aircrew.