Tex Meachem flies again

At a time more than 66 years ago, Tex Meachem thought her love of flying was just a great way to take her and her girlfriends from Gainesville, FL to Daytona Beach for weekends in the sun. That love of flying would ultimately lead her to join the distinguished WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots) in 1942 and eventually to sharing the Congressional Gold Medal. Mrs. Meachem served her country as one of approximately 1,100 lady pilots who flew military aircraft during WWII.

Mrs. Meachem, 92 and a nine-year resident of John Knox Village was at the Capitol Building in Washington, DC last month. She, along with approximately 175 of the estimated 300 surviving members of the WASP, and representatives of the deceased lady pilots, were collectively awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for their service. Mrs. Meachem and each WASP received a Bronze replica of the Gold Medal. The Gold Medal itself will be showcased in the Smithsonian.

The ceremony was also attended by Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Republican Leader John Boehner, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, and other Members of Congress on March 10, 2010.

The WASP were pioneers as the first female pilots employed to fly military aircrafts under the direction of the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. Flying all types of aircraft—fighter planes, bombers, transport, and training aircraft — these women pilots helped defend America’s freedom. Their service eventually became the catalyst for revolutionary reform in the integration of women pilots into the Armed Services.

Tex Meachem reminisced about those early days of flying, and how she joined the Women Airforce Service Pilots.

“I had learned to fly when working in Gainesville, Florida,” Mrs. Meachem said. “I was secretary to the Dean of the Business Administration College, at the University of Florida.”

“There were four of us girls living together and we enjoyed going to Daytona Beach for the weekend,” she said. “We worked until noon on Saturdays and then would take a bus to Daytona. But the ride took two and a half hours”

“One day my roommate said, ‘Tex, I have found they have not closed the Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP) to women. We can get our pilot’s license for free. And I also found a flying club where for just $25 per year we’d get half price rentals on the planes.’ Our whole idea was to fly to Daytona – that was THE beach -- to have fun rather than take the bus.”