May 2024

Introducing the next edition of the National WASP WWII Museum's exclusive newsletter, Avenger News!

Thank you for an incredible WASP Weekend Celebration experience!

Thank you to all our outstanding attendees, speakers, sponsors, photographers, volunteers, and organizers for making the WASP Homecoming Celebration and Airshow a phenomenal event.

Through insightful panels and engaging speakers, we shared knowledge, inspiration, and unforgettable moments together. Your passion, expertise, and enthusiasm truly made this weekend an unforgettable experience.

We so appreciate our speakers for sharing their wisdom and insight. We thank moderator Olga Custodio and WASP children Tom Lucas, Melissa Reed, and Marcy Crawford for their expertise on the WASP and for sharing their mother’s contributions at our WASP Celebration Brunch.

Over the weekend, we learned about the service, sacrifice, and persistence of the second generation of women in the military through our Women Military Aviators (WMA) panel, followed by a special conversation with Eileen Bjorkman, president of WMA. Afterward, Afton Brown moderated a panel of third generation Air Force aviators who shared the best advice they've ever been given. We celebrate these women as they each carry the torch forward 80 years after WASP service. Erin Miller, granddaughter of WASP Elaine Harmon, recounted her life’s journey and contributions to keeping the WASP history alive.

On Friday night, our special guest, Susan Kilrain, NASA Astronaut, ret., had us on the edge of our seats with serious moments of courage and skill punctuated throughout with humor. Susan’s wisdom and grace have kept her words reverberating in our minds for the past six days.

Despite frightening weather reports of rain and hail, the winds shifted, and the WASP Museum’s first airshowwent airborne. We appreciate our air boss, Kellie Hudson, who is a BOSS in every sense of the word, and our skilled pilots, who brought top-notch showmanship to Avenger Field. Thank you! We cannot overstate that our yearly events would be a no-go without our aviation director, Josh Hamaty, the CAF Marshalling Detachment, and Troy Fitting.

To our dedicated community of Sweetwater organizers, sponsors, and supporters, you’ve worked tirelessly to ensure every detail was perfect. Your hard work and dedication have not gone unnoticed, and we are grateful for everything you’ve done to bring this event to life.

Lastly, to all our visitors, thank you for being part of this weekend. Your participation and engagement elevated this event beyond our expectations. We hope you left feeling inspired, empowered, and ready to make a difference in your own communities. Together, we ensure the WASP legacy lives on.

Let’s continue to connect, learn, and grow together until we meet again.

#WASPHomecoming #WASPMuseum #ExploreAvenger

Speakers & Authors

Erin Miller, Granddaughter of WASP Elaine Harmon, attorney, and author based in Maryland.
Susan Kilrain, NASA Astronaut, ret. Speaker
Col Eileen Bjorkman, PhD, USAF (ret). Executive Director, Air Force Test Center, Edwards AFB, CA.
Katherine Sharp Landdeck, Texas Woman's University Professor, WASP Historian, Author

Women Military Aviators Panel

Col Marcelyn Atwood, USAF (Ret)
Col Kelly Hamilton, USAF (Ret)
CDR Trish Beckman USN (Ret)
Barbara Brumme, USAF veteran
LTC Diana Davis, USAF (Ret)
CAPT Lucy Young, USNR (Ret)
Col Peggy Phillips, USAF (Ret)

Air Force Aviators Panel

Afton Brown, FedEx Pilot, USAF Officer, Instructor Pilot, Aviation Mentor
Lt Col Sharon Preszler, USAF (ret), Southwest Airlines Capt (ret), Speaker, Certified Life Coach, Instructor at Grand Canyon University
Col Shelly Mendieta, USAF (ret), Speaker
Kellie Hudson, USAF Air Traffic Control (ret), Air Boss of Hudson Aviation
Col Eileen Bjorkman, PhD, USAF (ret). Executive Director, Air Force Test Center, Edwards AFB, CA.

Airshow Performers