Mildred Inks Davidson Dalrymple facts for kids

Mildred Inks Davidson Dalrymple (1920–2012) was an amazing American pilot during World War II. She was part of a special group called the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). Later, she became a public speaker, sharing her exciting flying stories with people. The WASP group, including Mildred, received the Congressional Gold Medal for their important service to the country.

Early Life and Flying Dreams

Mildred Inks, who everyone called "Millie," was born on February 14, 1920. She was a very tiny baby, weighing just over three pounds! Her parents, Roy Banford Inks and Myrtle Louise Moss, had to get creative to keep her warm. They put her in a shoebox with a lamp, like a homemade incubator.

Millie grew up and went to the Texas State College for Women. She studied journalism there. After college, she got a job editing for the Texas government.

In 1942, Millie married Bill Davidson, who was a bomber pilot. She became Millie Davidson. Sadly, Bill was killed during a military mission over the North Sea in World War II.

Joining the WASP Pilots

After losing her husband, Millie decided to learn how to fly. She took flying lessons in Austin, Texas. After only 11 days, she flew a plane by herself for the first time!

On November 5, 1943, Millie applied to join the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) program. She was accepted! She went to Avenger Field near Sweetwater, Texas, for seven months of tough flight training. Out of 1,830 women who applied, only 1,074 finished the program. These women became the first American women to fly military aircraft.

Millie graduated on May 23, 1944. She received her silver WASP wings. At the same ceremony, she also accepted the Air Medal for her husband, who had died serving his country.

What WASP Pilots Did

Like other WASP pilots, Millie flew non-combat missions in the United States. This was super important because it allowed male Air Force pilots to go overseas and fight in the war.

Millie flew many different types of military planes. She piloted large bombers like the B-17s and the B-24 "Liberator." She also flew transport planes like the C-45s and training planes like the BT-13s and AT-6s.

Her missions included transporting planes, checking weather conditions, towing targets for gunnery practice, ferrying aircraft, and making sure planes were ready for combat after repairs. Millie often flew the B-24 bomber for hours after repairs to make sure it was safe for combat.

Life After the War

When World War II ended, Millie returned to civilian life. She married Edwin Dalrymple, a friend from Llano, Texas, who had flown a Spitfire fighter during the war. She became Millie Dalrymple, and they had three children.

Later in her life, Millie became a very popular public speaker. She loved to share her amazing adventures as a pilot during the war.

Millie passed away peacefully on November 14, 2012, at 92 years old. She was buried in City Cemetery in Llano, Texas.

Receiving the Congressional Gold Medal

As a member of the WASP, Millie Dalrymple was honored with the Congressional Gold Medal for her service. This medal is the highest and most important award the U.S. Congress can give to a civilian.

The special ceremony took place on March 10, 2010, at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, D.C. A single gold medal was made for the WASP group, and it is now kept at the Smithsonian Institution. At the ceremony, every WASP pilot who attended, along with family members of pilots who had passed away, received a bronze copy of the medal.