Female pilot says she was snubbed for Nellis show

Thursday, April 17, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

Officials at Nellis Air Force Base have rejected the former World War II pilot's request to fly in the Air Force's 50th anniversary air show at Nellis next week, even though her male contemporaries are scheduled to fly vintage aircraft.

"I'm used to this," Jeschien said. "I'm not mad. But my feelings are hurt. They're doing history out there at Nellis ... and I flew."

Jeschien, 75, was a pilot in the the WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots) during World War II. Her job was to test repaired fly planes.

Other women in the WASP were responsible for ferrying planes for use in the war, testing repaired planes and towing targets through the sky while male ground troops practiced gunning skills.

By the time 1,074 WASPs were deactivated in December 1944, 38 women had died in the war effort.

Col. Mac Sayers, Nellis' air show coordinator, said he rejected Jeschien's request because she did not have a military airplane to fly in the show. Her plane, a Decathlon, was not sufficient, he said.

"If she were flying a warbird, it would be super to have her in," Sayers said. "But what she wants to do, doesn't fit in with the motif."

Sayers admits that Nellis officials are trying to bring in other non-military aircraft, such as the Wright Flyer, the world's first-powered airplane, to do a flyby in the show.

On Wednesday, base officials said that while no women are scheduled to fly vintage aircraft there may be female pilots among the dozens of participants from other bases around the country.

Sayers said honoring everyone's contribution to the nation's armed forces is not an easy task.

"We're talking about pilots here, but what about our support forces?" he said. "For every pilot, every hour he flies, there are many people responsible for letting that happen."

Jeschien, a Fresno, Calif., resident who still works as a Spanish teacher, said she is not shocked by Sayers' response.

She remembers the last time she observed such rejection by the military. It was 50 years ago when the WASP was disbanded in December 1944.

It was not until 33 years later, in 1977, that Congress recognized WASPs as veterans.

"They said thank you very much, now go home," she said of military officials' attitudes when the WASP was deactivated.

While in the WASP, Jeschien flew an AT-6, UC-78 and a BT-13, which will be on display during the air show at Nellis. Jeschien still flies her Decathlon at least once a week.

Nellis' air show will commemorate the Air Force's 50-year history. Foreign aerial demonstration teams as well as more than 150 vintage and modern aircraft will be on display during the two-day event April 25-26.

Not everyone in the Air Force has overlooked Jeschien's contribution to history.

Beale Air Force Base in California didn't hold Jeschien to the military aircraft requirement last September when base officials let her participate in their annual show.

She did a flyby in her Decathlon.

"Being in the WASP was not only important to the history of the Air Force, but these women were also important to the defense of the country," said Lt. Wilson Camelo, spokesman for Beale.

"We would have her again in our show. Seeing her is inspiring."

Others aren't stunned by Jeschien's most recent rejection.

"I'm not surprised," said Anne Golonka, president of the Southern Nevada chapter of the National Organization for Women. "We have made progress (in the military), but we are not as advanced as women like to think that we are.

"By refusing to let women participate ... it's disillusioning. Women's place in history is obliterated."

Today, there are 324 female pilots in the Air Force and 14,283 male pilots.