BJ Erickson: WASP Pilot

World War II brought to young women an unprecedented opportunity to fly military aircraft for their country and make an important contribution to the outcome of the war. In the summer of 1939, Congress approved the Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPT). The government offered to pay for flight instruction for students on selected college campuses. One student out of every ten could be a female. Many of the young women who later flew for the United States during WWII came from the more than 2,000 who learned to fly through CPT. One such young woman was Barbara Jane Erickson of Seattle, Washington.“Personal stories like the one told by Sarah Byrn Rickman in BJ Erickson: WASP Pilot offer us a window into the WASP, the inner workings within the Army Air Forces, and World War II. Sarah has done us all a service by writing this engaging book that brings flying to life and offers a valuable resource for historical research.”—Michelle D. Johnson, Lieutenant General, USAF Retired.Superintendent, U.S. Air Force Academy, 2013-2017.“What a wonderful book! Sarah Byrn Rickman tells this story of courage and determination with engaging simplicity and a passion that will inspire young readers to dare beyond their dreams. A well-written, deeply researched biography that belongs in every school library in the country.”—Susan Wittig Albert, author of A Wilder Rose, the story of the writing of the Little House books.“Sarah Rickman recounts the daring and dedication of BJ Erickson for young adult readers in another remarkably thorough story about women pilots of WWII.”—Kim Senft-Paras Director, Washington-Centerville Public Library.“BJ Erickson blazed a trail for the women of my generation. I know, I was part of the 1980 US Air Force Academy Class, the first to graduate women! BJ Erickson: WASP Pilot is an amazing story that will challenge today’s young women to blaze new trails as BJ did, no matter the obstacles.”— Margaret Peggy Dennis Carnahan, Lieutenant Colonel, USAF Retired.