Virtual Book Launch, Teresa James WAFS Pilot: Gear Up/Gear Down – a P-47 to Newark

Virtual Book Launch, Teresa James WAFS Pilot: Gear Up/Gear Down – a P-47 to Newark

The International Women’s Air & Space Museum (IWASM) will host the virtual book launch of Sarah Byrn Rickman’s new WAFS biography Teresa James WAFS Pilot: Gear Up/Gear Down – a P-47 to Newark. The October 20 virtual event will feature Rickman talking about her experience interviewing Teresa James in 1999 about her pilot experience in World War II.

Teresa James learned to fly at 19, when aviation was still a wondrous and dangerous venture. She had the grit, guts, and tenacity to develop exceptional flying skills and became a professional “barnstormer”—a stunt pilot. When the United States entered World War II, Teresa volunteered to fly military aircraft. She and 27 other members of the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS) stepped into newly created roles—daring, dangerous jobs flying newly designed, newly built airplanes in incredibly challenging conditions.

Sarah Byrn Rickman, a national authority on these women fliers, is the author of this, her 11^th book about the women who ferried warplanes for the military in World War II. Known first as WAFS and later as WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots), 134 skilled women pilots, like Teresa, qualified to move high-performance fighter aircraft to the docks to be shipped to the war zone.

Rickman is the recipient of 17 book awards including the prestigious Combs Gates Award from the National Aviation Hall of Fame, twice: in 2009, for her history WASP of the Ferry Command; and 2019 for her then two-book WASP biography series for young adults, BJ Erickson: WASP Pilot and Nancy Love: WASP Pilot. New releases, Betty Gillies: WAFS Pilot (2020) and now Teresa James: WAFS Pilot, have expanded the young adult series.

Registration is required prior to the virtual Zoom event. Registration is $10 per person. At the time of registration, IWASM is offering pre-orders of Rickman’s newest book. Participants will also have the opportunity to purchase special book bundles.

To register, visit www.iwasm.org or by calling 216-623-1111.  For more information, call the museum or email info@iwasm.org.