Over the years, I designed posters for WASP events, anniversaries and special occasions across the country. They were designed for specific events, and printed by the Texas State Technical College Print Shop in Waco.
The first poster was simply intended to tell the story of Wings Across America and the WASP. It eventually became something more—a gathering place for the signatures of many of the women we interviewed.
Later, I began designing posters around the occasions themselves, often including photographs of the WASP who would actually be there. I loved watching them find their pictures—and then add their signatures.
Some commemorated anniversaries and memorial openings. Some welcomed the WASP to special events. Others became magazine covers. Each was simply another way to tell their story visually—and, hopefully, create something worth remembering.
It still makes me smile to see those special autographs.
Click a poster to see it larger. Click its number to read the story behind it. Click number again to close the pop up.
Magazine Covers
2. WASP WWII Graduation One of my favorite photographs of the WASP: Class 43-W-5 marching at graduation, with the American flag flying above them.
I added the AT-6 flyover and the huge WASP wings.
1. The First Poster
My first poster design, created to share the story of Wings Across America and the WASP. It traveled with us as we began our interviews, and the WASP signed it as we moved across the country. We had several copies—and collected a lot of precious signatures.
4. Maxine Flournoy Third Coast Squadron A special poster for WASP Maxine Flournoy, whom we interviewed in her home in Alice, Texas. On this occasion, the CAF Third Coast Squadron was renamed the “Maxine Flournoy Third Coast Squadron.” Maxine was a former president of the WASP organization and a great supporter of the CAF.
5. Planes Flown by the WASP — 2008 A compilation designed to include as many of the aircraft flown by WASP as I could squeeze onto one poster—along with photographs of the women who flew them. It later became part of our FlyGirls Exhibit and was eventually printed in color as a 60-inch-wide canvas. Across the bottom are the Army Air Forces commands where WASP were stationed.
3. CAF AirSho — Midland, Texas, 2003 Created for the CAF AirSho in Midland. The poster featured WASP who had signed up to attend the event—and the women who came were delighted to find themselves and add their signatures
6. The WASP Have Landed in Waco
The first poster for the FlyGirls Exhibit. Featured are Jo Wheelis, Marion Hodgson and Deanie Parrish—all three of whom were there for opening day at the Mayborn Museum. What a treat.
7. Texas Aviation Hall of Fame — 2004
Created for the induction of the Women Airforce Service Pilots of Texas into the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame at the Lone Star Flight Museum. The poster features the surviving Texas WASP, along with photographs from their training.
8. Before the Afghan
Before the WASP afghan, there was this poster—a collection of symbols meaningful to the WASP: aircraft, quotes, WASP wings, an AT-6 and words from Gen. Hap Arnold. Many of these same elements would later find their way into the afghan design. Honestly, this poster was the reason I wanted to create an afghan.
9. Air Force Memorial Dedication
Created for the dedication of the Air Force Memorial and featuring WASP who attended the ceremony. Our small traveling exhibit was set up inside a tent in the Pentagon parking lot. The posters were signed by the WASP and made available for donations to Wings Across America. Loved asking the WASP to autograph this poster,. And, like all the posters I designed, I gave each WASP a copy.
11 Planes, Places and WASP
Aircraft flown by WASP at 120 Army air bases across the country, surrounded by photographs of the women themselves, their training aircraft, bombers, pursuit planes and cargo aircraft.
10 Deanie Parrish Poster
Designed for a special event at the San Marcos Airshow, where Deanie was being honored. I was thrilled to create a poster just for the occasion.
13. CAF AirSho
Another poster created for the CAF’s annual AirSho in Midland, featuring WASP who had signed up to attend. Most were able to come, making this another cherished poster.
12 For Sister Teresa
I designed this poster as a thank you to WASP Anita Paul, aka Sister Teresa. Knowing it wasn’t exactly the kind of wall art appropriate for a convent, I made it for her to give to her family, so they could remember and honor her service as a WASP.
14. Flying the Radio Range
An AT-6 flying above the railroad tracks below, using the outline of mom’s drawing of a radio range for navigation. The design also includes a quote from Gen. Hap Arnold.
14. Salute to the WASP
After the Gold Medal Ceremony, the Dadaelian magazine editor asked me to design a cover to honor the WASP. I couldn’t think of a better photo than this one, the actual ceremony with WASP Deanie Parrish at the podium surrounded by the sparkling faces of over 100 WASP in the audience.
15 “The New Girls in Town”.
My design for the cover of the Daedalian Magazine “The Flyer”. This celebrates the official welcome to the WASP joining the elite organization of mililtary pilots. The WASP were the first women pilots to join the Daedalians. Honored to be asked and wanted to make sure every WASP felt special—so I included all the names of those who had joined.
