MS SC647

Recognizes Betty Archibald Fernandes of Moon Lake, Mississippi, a Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) member, on her receipt of the Congressional Gold Medal awarded July 1, 2009.

Documents that WASP were civilian female pilots who flew military aircraft during World War II, with 1,078 earning their wings from over 25,000 applicants and delivering 12,650 aircraft of 78 different types between September 1942 and December 1944.

Notes that Fernandes trained at Houston Municipal Airport in January 1943 as part of the 319th Army Air Force Women's Flying Training Detachment and flew over 30 types of aircraft, including the Bell Kingcobra fighter plane to Alaska for delivery to Soviet forces.

States that 38 WASP lost their lives during the war (11 in training, 27 on active duty) and were not initially afforded military honors due to their civilian status.

Directs that a Bronze Medal replica be presented to Fernandes at a ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda, with the Gold Medal to be donated to the Smithsonian Institution.