American Forces Press Service reports that President Obama signed a bill last week to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Air Force Service Pilots of World War II, the first women in American history to fly military aircraft.

From 1942 to 1943, more than 1,000 women flew in the unit, and 38 of them made the ultimate sacrifice in performing its mission. The Women Air Force Service Pilots, known collectively as WASPs, participated in instructor piloting, towing targets for air-to-air gunnery practice, ground-to-air anti-aircraft practice and transporting personnel and cargo, among other tasks. In total, the women flew more than 60 million miles on American missions. But until recently, the women had not been recognized for their contributions.

U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida said the legislation recognizes the women’s sacrifice. “This Congress…considers them all heroes because these trailblazers and true patriots served our country without question and with no expectations of recognition or praise,” she said. “This bill honors mothers, grandmothers, teachers, office workers, nurses, business women, photographers, [and] dancers. One was even a nun,” she added. “But before that, they were pilots for the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II.”... Read more here