Shirley Slade Teer
Class 43-W-5
April 4, 1921 – April 26, 2000

 
Planes flown: B-26, B-29
Assigned bases:
Love Field (Dallas, Tex.)
Dodge City Army Air Base (Kan.)
Harlingen Army Air Field (Tex.)

 

Shirley Slade was one of about 1,100 chosen for a group of all female pilots, called the Women Airforce Service Pilots — WASP for short. She was trained to fly the B-26 and B-39.

The July 19, 1943 issue of LIFE magazine included a story titled “Girl Pilots,” covering the WASPs’ program for training new female pilots, which was conducted at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas. Miss Slade, a trainee in WASP Class 43-5, was one of the trainees featured in the story, and her image graced the cover of that issue as well.

The photo shows Slade on the wing of a plane and looked off into an uncertain future. Slade—clad in her flight suit with pigtails guarding against Texas wind—was posing for the July 19, 1943 issue of Life magazine, and the composition between the aircraft and its operator was a juxtaposition spelled out in the cover headline: “Air Force Pilot.”

WASP trainee pilot Shirley Slade on the cover of the 19 Jul 1943 issue of Life Magazine

During her time in service Shirley was stationed at three different bases (Love Field, Dallas, Texas; Dodge City AAF, Kansas and Harlingen AAF, Texas) and primarily flew Bell P-39 Airacobras and Martin B-26 Marauders. Both the P-39 and B-26 were notoriously difficult aircraft to fly.

Shirley Slade passed away on April 26, 2000, as “Shirley Slade Teer”, at 79 years old. She wasn’t alive to be a part of the 2010 ceremony at which the remaining 200 WASP women were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal bestowed upon them by Congress.

Sources:

 

 

 

Share:

More Posts

Russell Clarence Nalle, Jr.

Russell Clarence Nalle, Jr. August 30, 1921 February 7, 2025 Class: 44-H-TE Graduation date: 9/8/1944 Rank at time of graduation: Flt. Officer Unit: 477th Bombardment Group Service # T66150 From: Detroit MI Born in 1921,

Read More »

Frances Dias Gustavson

Frances Dias Gustavson December 28, 1916 – February 7, 1994 Class 43-W-2 Planes flown: PT-19, BT-13, UC-78 Assigned bases: Love Field (Dallas, Tex.) Frances Diaswas one of two Latina WASP Frances Johanna Dias Gustavson was an

Read More »

Nathan O. Thomas

Nathan O. Thomas 1926 – December 22, 2024 He served stateside during World War II, and supported pilots, mechanics, and other ground personnel as an information and education specialist. Mr. Thomas was drafted in 1945

Read More »

Nathaniel Walter Goins, Jr.

Nathaniel Walter Goins, Jr. February 1918-1970 – March 30, 1970 Class: 45-H-TE Graduation date: 11/20/1945 Rank at time of graduation: 1st Lt. Service # 0582758 From: St. Paul MN Nathaniel Walter Goins, Jr. was the

Read More »

Send Us A Message