Dorothy Olsen

Dorothy Eleanor Olsen (née Kocher, July 10, 1916 – July 23, 2019) was an American aircraft pilot and member of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) in World War II.

As a WASP, she was a civilian pilot, working for the military. Her assignment was ferrying new aircraft of many different types, from the factories where they were built to airbases. This freed up male pilots for combat.

She died in 2019, at the age of 103.

Early life
She was born in Woodburn, Oregon, on July 10, 1916. Her initial introduction to flying was when she took a biplane ride at a state fair, which inspired her to take flying lessons.

Olsen earned her private pilot's license as a civilian in the 1930s, taking her checkride in a 40-hp Taylorcraft. Three years later, she was flying twin-engine P-38 s, with a total of 3100 hp.

Prior to joining the WASPs, Olsen flew with the Woodburn Flying Club, the Civil Air Patrol in Portland and The Dales and worked as a dance instructor in Portland. She was reportedly one of only three women in the Portland area to have a private pilot's license.

Woman Airforce Service Pilot (WASP)
Olsen joined the WASP s in 1943 when the program was created. A petite woman, 5 ft tall Olsen embarked on a weight-gaining regimen to make the 100 lb required minimum. There were more than 25,000 applicants, of which 1879 were accepted and 1074 graduated. She was a member of class 43-4, graduating on August 7, 1943. After graduation, her assignment was to the 6th Ferry Group in Long Beach, California. She flew 61 missions, and was one of only twelve women certified for night flight. WASPs were not, at the time, considered military personnel; she is listed in the Sixth Ferrying Group personnel book with the title of "Civilian Pilot". WASPs were retroactively granted veteran status as part of the GI Bill Improvement Act Of 1977.

According to Olsen, she flew more than 20 different aircraft models, both Army and Navy types. Her favorite type was the P-51. A friend, Debbie Jennings, said she disliked flying bombers because in fighters, "she was by herself and could do whatever she wanted". According to her son, "She felt bombers were like driving buses" and her daughter noted that Olsen felt the P-38 was "an old woman's plane".

After the war, she was said to fly commercially for Western Skyways. The extent of her post-war flying is unclear, with some sources stating she never flew commercially, and not at all after having children. Olsen is reported to have never flown privately after the war; she is quoted as saying, "Why would I want to fly a Cessna when I've flown a P-51?"

Honors and awards
In 2010, Olsen (along with all other WASPs) was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to commemorate her service.

In 2015, she was honored with a flyover of Seattle's Boeing Field by vintage aircraft for her 99th birthday.

In 2016, Olsen celebrated her 100th birthday at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Also in attendance were fellow WASPs Alta Thomas, Betty Dybbro, and Mary Jean Sturdevant.

Personal life
During her WASP pilot training, her fiancé died from spinal meningitis. After the war, she married Harold W. Olsen, and moved to University Place, Washington. The couple had a daughter, Julie (Stranburg), and a son, Kim. Olsen ran antique shops after raising their children.

Nerve damage from a dental procedure left her deaf for many years. At the age of 80, she received cochlear implants which restored her hearing.

Olsen died on July­ 23, 2019, at her home in University Place, Washington, aged 103, and was given military honors at her funeral. As of the time of her death, she was one of 38 WASPs still alive.