This WASP Couldn’t Wait to Fly
To honor our females veterans.
Mary Anna (‘Marty’) Martin Wyall – WASP
One benefit of interviewing World War II veterans is the opportunity to develop friendships. My husband and I consider Marty Wyall a friend. Below is a shortened version of her story from my book, WWII Legacies: Stories of Northeast IN Veterans. You can hear Marty speak about her World War II experiences here. She’s still a spunky gal!
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Mary Anna (‘Marty’) Martin Wyall of Fort Wayne learned about the WASP program from a magazine ad while studying bacteriology at DePauw University in 1942. The idea of flying intrigued her. “There was a war on and I wanted to help my country,” she said.
Her family was not keen on the idea. “Mother thought it was morally wrong for me to join the WASP,” she said. “She came from the Victorian era. I told her she would have to accept it…
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Posted on January 28, 2017, in First-hand Accounts, Home Front, Uncategorized, WWII and tagged aviation, family history, History, Military, WASPS, WW2, WWII. Bookmark the permalink. 64 Comments.
She still has that smile.
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Happy to hear THAT!!
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We have so many veterans to be proud of; men, women … even dogs! It should be humbling to think about it and no, they should never be forgotten; whenever and wherever they served.
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Very true, Darren. I wish more people felt that way. With these endless wars we have now, too many have become blase about it all.
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We have forgotten these brave women
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Not if I can help it.
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What a wonderful story! You have me in tears.
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I don’t want you crying, but it is a great story, eh?!
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We owe them forever
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So true.
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Another bit of history I learned here! This is a great story, GP. I am glad Carter was finally able to give them proper status as veterans of WWII.
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So true Lavinia.
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Jackie Cochran was one of the first women flyers I read about–lucky for me because that led to other books about our brilliant women aviators. Bravo to Mary Anna for doing what she did.
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Thank you for coming by and commenting. These women deserve for us to remember them.
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What an incredible example for young women!
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Isn’t it though!! I feel in love with this story! Thank you for reading it, Elizabeth.
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What a brilliant post, thanks for sharing.
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I’m very glad you found it interesting.
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What a great lady.We must respect her and the other also .I tried to click hereabove to hear her voice but the link doesn’twork.
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I’m sorry about that. Maybe because it is a re-blog? I’m not certain, but reading the story is much appreciated, MaryLou!!
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I’ll have to work on the link. Sorry!
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Fantastic post. Women often get overlooked. What a pretty girl but, omigosh, GP, she looks like she’s barely in her teens. She’s so very young.
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That’s what is so horrifying to me about war, we lose our best of the young all too often. Thank goodness this one made it home.
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We’re definitely on the same page!
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Marvelous choice to share, GP. Hugs.
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Thank you. I couldn’t resist. Kayleen did such a great job on this tribute.
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we all admire Amy Johnston in my City of Hull….r.i.p x
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we have Amy Johnston we all admire her in Hull sadly died in the war please check out her story R.I.P ,X
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I did and left the link here for others to read. Thanks for the info.
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We have in our City Of Hull Amy Johnston very brave and admired lady please check out her story sadly died in the war like so many, a Hull girl r.i.p x
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My City of Hull has Amy Johnson who we all admire for everything she did and died for…
please check out her story very brave R.I.P
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Thank you for the heads-up. I’m leaving this link so others may also read her story.
http://hullhistorycentre.org.uk/discover/hull_history_centre/our_collections/hullpeople/amyjohnson.aspx
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YAY for the ladies! Brave, strong, determined, smart, capable and so much more!
Thank you to Marty and all of our military ladies past, present and future!
HUGS!!! 🙂
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Fantastic comment for these veterans!!
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Amazing women!
A friend of mine, who was like an Aunt to me, and she flew cargo planes from the HI Islands during WWII. She spent her whole life flying as a taxi plane in So California and I admired her very much. So I can truthfully say I understand Marty’s story and that I truly admire her too.
Thank you for this share GP. ~~dru~~
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You are very welcome. Kayleen told this story very well in tribute and the women do need more recognition. I thank you for sharing the story of your ‘aunt’, that gives us one more veteran we’ve heard about and must remember!
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Exellent!
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Kayleen will be very happy, I know I am.
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Salute to you GP for forwarding this great story of service. (I can actually say I learned something today!)
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We should all make sure we learn something every day, Bruce, and I’m happy I did that for you today!! Thanks for stopping in.
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Thanks GP! You have a loyal following of readers!
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It is a great bunch of people. They talk among themselves too [not just to me – I can become repetitive and boring], add stories of friends and relatives and even add links to improve the posts. I couldn’t ask for a better group!!
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I’m glad the contributions were finally recognized. Thanks GP.
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It took them long enough, eh?
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I would say so. 🙂
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What a pic !! What a gal !!!
Makes me feel like going to war !!
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haha, she is very pretty. Thanks for dropping in!
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So, so much admiration and respect for all who serve in our armed forces and to see women standing along side men to keep this country great. God Bless America.
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Thank you for taking the time to read this article and for your wonderful comment!!
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Thanks be to you for sharing.
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I love how strong some women are. They are great models for today’s kids.
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They have been role models for many and should continue to be. Thank you for such a great comment, Jacqui!
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One heck of a story! it reminds me that although culture at the time may have drawn certain “DIVIDING” lines between race and gender, when it came to WINNING the WAR, the real heroes of that time Understood the country could not afford DIVISION…we were all in it together and we were either gonna finish together or die trying. Thanks for sharing!!
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I understand and thank you for coming by today.
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Wonderful! Great to hear about the WASPs. It’s a subject area I know too little about. Thanks for sharing Marty with us, GP.
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My pleasure, Cindy. And Ms. Reusser did a great job on it here.
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A grand lady, who did great service. Women pilots were used in many countries during WW2, mostly for ferrying aircraft around. In the UK , we had these redoubtable ladies.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/goodlife/living/mary-ellis-was-a-spitfire-pilot-in-ww2-at-98-she-still-flies/
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3194754/The-female-Guns-World-War-II-Inside-RAF-s-woman-ferry-squadron-rubbed-shoulders-men-flew-Spitfires.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Transport_Auxiliary
Best wishes, Pete.
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Thank you for reading it, Pete, and most certainly for bringing us the links!!
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My pleasure, GP. Those ladies deserve to be remembered by all their countries.
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Thanks for the link. I’ll read it as well.
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I’ll read these links as well. Thanks for your support of my story and her efforts.
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My pleasure. They should never be forgotten, wherever they served.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I love that photo! And I admire the woman!
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I completely agree! Thanks for reading this.
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