The International Women's Air and Space Museum in Cleveland, Ohio

They were 1,102 Americans who flew 60 million miles in 77 different kinds of aircraft in World War II. America could not have won the war without their efforts, and 38 of them were killed in action. Although they never flew a combat mission, they taught the men who would give their lives while flying, towed targets, and ferried planes. They were the women of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), and President Obama awarded them the Congressional Gold Medal. The WASP's are among those honored at the International Women's Air and Space Museum in Cleveland, Ohio, near the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The museum has a permanent exhibit on the women who served in the WASP. There is a tribute to all 38 women who were killed, a uniform, and an aircraft engine.

The WASP's are not the only women honored at the International Women's Air and Space Museum. The Cleveland museum also honors women astronauts from the United States, cosmonauts from Russia, and other women air and space pioneers. Honored are such women as Valentina Tereshkova, the Russian, who was the first woman to orbit the earth, Sally Ride, the first American female astronaut, the first 13 female American astronaut trainees from 1961, and current astronauts such as Ellen S. Baker, Mary L. Cleave, Tracy W. Caldwell, Nancy J. Currie, and others. Sally Ride's flight is documented at the International Women's Air and Space Museum.

From the Cleveland museum once can learn that women have always had an involvement in the history of flight. The Chief Air Minister for Ballooning for Napoleon was a woman, Madame Blanchard, appointed in 1804. A woman, Connie Wolf, lent her balloon to those making the movie, Around the World in 80 Days. Katherine Wright, although never a pilot herself, was instrumental in man being able to fly, as she provided crucial support to her two brothers, the first people to fly in an airplane. There are special exhibits of both Connie Wolf and Katherine Wright.

There are also exhibits honoring the women, who in the 1920's and 1930's walked on the wings of planes, barnstormed (performed tricks with their planes, such as spins and loop-the-loop, or sold flights to interested buyers), and raced their way into aviation history. There are exhibits honoring them and the flight suit and nurse's uniform of Amelia Earhart. The tail of the plane belonging to Ruth Nichols, a contemporary and friend of Amelia Earhart is also displayed.

Also honored are women who broke the sound barrier while flying in an airplane. Two such women were Jacqueline Cochran of the United States and Jacqueline Auriol of France.

One event for the International Women's Air and Space Museum allowed the public, both donors to the museum and non-donors a chance to fly in a 1929 restored Ford Tri-Motor. Another event is the exhibit from April 24, 2010 to January 2, 2011 that honors 100 Ohio women in air and space, including artifacts, photographs and biographies. The museum also sponsors education programs to teach children about careers in aviation.

The museum is selling decks of cards honoring WASP's for $10 a deck at its gift store, online, and by phone. It is also promoting the history of women in aviation on youtube.com.

"Women's Herstory they don't teach you about in school," rscina of North Olmstead, Ohio said of the museum on tripadvisor.com. "A very enlightening experience." The reviewer also said the museum is a "must see."

"History is not boring," Museum Executive Director, Toni Mullee, said on the website, coolcleveland.com. "I think that's a perception that people have with history museums in general. We try to really bring that home with our exhibits and programs to prove that's absolutely not true."

"Ever since I was in high school, I had just one determination-to fly. I don't know why either," the late Nancy Hopkins, aviator and once president of the museum said on wikipedi.org. She said she did not get much encouragement from men either, but after landing in crosswinds across the Potomac, the press noticed her.

The museum is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is free.

Citations:

Fly Girls, no author listed, ohiotraveler.com

Women in Aviation and Space, no author listed, iwasm.org

"A must see," rscina, tripadvisor.com

Ameilia Earhart Would have been proud, no author listed, coolcleveland.com

Nancy Hopkins, no authorlisted, en.wikipedia.org,