When men went to serve overseas during World War II, they left a shortage of workers in industry, business and even in the military. In 1941, famed pilot Nancy Love petitioned to form the Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron at the New Castle Army Air Base to fly non-combat missions. The WAFS officially joined with another women's flying squadron to form the Women Airforce Service Pilots or WASP. The WASP received six months of flight training to ferry planes from factories to ports and military training bases throughout the United States. In two years, members of the WASP delivered over 12,000 planes.

Margaret Ray Ringenberg of Fort Wayne, Indiana was stationed at the Wilmington, Delaware Second Ferrying Division at the New Castle Army Air Base. She recalled being recruited for service: "I started flying in 1940, and so I had my private license and it was through having -- getting my license that the government had my name and telephone number, and so I got a telegram saying my services was needed." Over 25,000 women applied, but only 1,078 received their wings.

The women received the same training as male cadets. Once at the New Castle Air Base, the women were housed in standard barracks and had a busy schedule. "There was no free time," Ringenberg noted. If they were not flying out to receive a new batch of planes, they went to training sessions. Ringenberg had the opportunity to be pilot or co-pilot in a wide variety of planes, including the PT-19, DC-3, C-24 and B-54. She recalled being sent out to test and deliver planes

From the factory, the WASPs often flew the planes to points of embarkation in Canada and the U.S. During the war, 38 WASPs lost their lives, but had to be flown home at the expense of their families. Although they trained and served in the same way as members of the military, none of the women qualified for military benefits because they were considered civil servants. By 1944, more male pilots returned home from war and the WASP was summarily disbanded. Not until 1979 did the U.S. Government officially recognize the contribution of the Women Airforce Service Pilots during World War II.