Dr. Sarah Myers, a 2009 graduate of Missouri State University’s MA in history program, recently published her first book, “Earning Their Wings: The WASPs of World War II and the Fight for Veteran Recognition” through the University of North Carolina (UNC) Press.

“Earning Their Wings” examines the history of the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) program during and after World War II.

A UNC press release states the book reflects on the “long-term consequences for the women who participated and subsequent generations of servicewomen and activists.”

Myers currently teaches courses in U.S. women’s and gender history, public history, oral history, human rights, veterans studies, aviation, and war and society at Messiah University.

She earned her PhD in history from Texas Tech University in 2014.

Discovering the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots

Myers first encountered the story of the WASP veterans while doing other research as an undergraduate.

“I was intrigued by their story and the fact that they were the only women’s unit during World War II that did not receive veterans’ status or military benefits until decades later,” Myers said. “Women were shut out of military aviation for three decades.”

“I found the entire situation infuriating and I needed to know more,” she added.

Myers reached out to some WASP members through a website and grew committed to telling their stories after she heard back from them.

“I was hooked,” Myers said.

Chance encounter leads to interviews

Myers first found it difficult to even find a WASP to interview.

“While I was at Missouri State working on my master’s thesis, I could not find a connection with any, despite a lot of trying,” Myers said. “Then, I was on a flight in the summer after graduating with my MA, and I met a WASP’s grandson who happened to be sitting beside me. We didn’t even talk until we were both getting off the flight, and that’s when I learned that his grandma was WASP Marty Wyall!”

“He put us in contact, and then the rest is literally history because Marty introduced me to all of her WASP friends and the connections built from there.”

From archives to reunions

Myers expanded her research by accessing archives and libraries across the country as well as records from the U.S. government, the Army and Air Force.

During her summer and winter breaks while in graduate school, Myers conducted interviews with the WASP at airshows, reunions and was even welcomed into some of their homes.

“I find history so intriguing. I love digging into primary sources and thinking about why people in the past made the choices that they did.”

Myers especially enjoyed visiting with the WASP group during their reunions in Sweetwater, Texas, where they trained during the war.

“They reminisced about their wartime years, and you could tell they were transported back to those days,” Myers said. “I loved learning more about the experience of World War II era flight and the ways that women viewed the air as a space of freedom, beauty and liberation.”

Drawn to MSU’s academic rigor, professional growth opportunities

Myers applied to the history graduate program at MSU because she was excited about the range of historical topics and experts the department offered.

“There were a lot of subject areas covered which I found intriguing, including gender/women’s history, labor history and military history,” Myers explained.

In addition to writing her thesis under the direction of emeritus professor Dr. Bill Piston, Myers enjoyed courses taught by current history professors Dr. Eric Nelson and Dr. Steve McIntyre and by emeritus professor Dr. Holly Baggett.

Myers cited opportunities for professional growth and financial assistance as additional reasons she chose Missouri State.

While holding a part-time job in the philosophy department, Myers also worked as a graduate assistant for the history department teaching discussion sections.

“[Teaching] was an opportunity not provided to master’s level students at other graduate schools,” Myers said. “As it turned out, I loved to teach, so it ended up being a good fit all around for me.”

Thesis project brings story to life

“Earning Their Wings” is the culmination of years of research that grew from a thesis project directed by Piston.

“He always asked me such engaging questions that helped me think analytically about the story of the WASP and what it tells us,” Myers recalled.

“I appreciated that the master’s program at MSU gave me teaching experience and was academically rigorous,” Myers continued, “particularly with regards to the process of writing my master’s thesis and taking exams that mimic the dissertation and comprehensive exam of doctoral programs.”

“Without a doubt, these experiences prepared me for work as a doctoral student and teaching higher ed,” Myers said.

“I am forever grateful for the experiences that I had, as well as the interactions with the outstanding faculty in the History Department.”

Holding years of hard work in her hands

Myers was “ecstatic” when she learned UNC had accepted her book for publication.

“The feeling of holding the first copy of my book was incredibly surreal. It’s so crazy to experience a dream come true,” she said.

“So much blood, sweat and tears goes into writing and editing and publishing,” she added. “Once you hold your book, though, I can testify that it all feels worth it.”

Deeper insights into the history of women’s military aviation

Myers hopes readers of her book gain a better understanding of the experience of flight during the war, as well as the forerunning role WASP pilots played in women’s military aviation.

“How veterans are defined and recognized by the public is always in a state of flux,” Myers said. “Sadly, the WASP story reveals that female veterans are still largely invisible in the public memory of war and even in the institutional memory of the U.S. military writ large, where women still battle gendered assumptions about them.”

“Historical empathy is my favorite lens to examine the past because I love thinking about how other people felt and experienced life.”

Myers is already planning her next book, which will continue telling the story of American women in aviation.

“I plan to explore the history of American women pilots and their experiences with modern military flight, starting in the 1970s with their reintroduction into military aviation through the early 2010s,” she said.

Advice for students: networking key to success

To gain experience, establish contacts and improve career networking, Myers suggests that students make the effort to obtain internships and present their work at conferences. In addition, they should consider attending the reunions of civilian organizations and military units.

Myers can cite her own efforts to publish at UNC press as an example.

“UNC [had] always been my dream press because they publish so many of my favorite academic books,” Myers said. “I’d been in conversations with editors at UNC since I was a graduate student because I wanted to try to do everything possible to prepare for publication with them.”

“Networking is what helped me get so many professional development opportunities that made me a better historian and reminded me why I love this field so much,” Myers added.

But more than anything, Myers urged students to never give up, especially when they face obstacles such as exams, conducting research or facing rejection.

“Keep people in your life who remind you that you’re an amazing human when you need that encouragement,” she said.

Explore opportunities in History

All photos provided by Sarah Myers.