Nevada Aerospace Hall of Fame

Declaration of Enshrinement

November 8, 2014

Margaret Gee

During World War II, Margaret Gee took flying lessons with the hope of joining the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). With Nevada being the West Coast Line of Defense, the US prohibited private pilots from flying within 150 miles of the west coast, she traveled to Minden, Nevada for her lessons. Upon completion, WASP recruiters accepted her into the program and ordered her to report for seven months of training at Sweetwater, Texas as part of Class 44-W-9. Upon graduation, Gee received an assignment to the Las Vegas Army Airfield in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she dealt with male pilots who felt that women, especially one of Chinese ancestry, had no place in the service. Gee, while assigned to a training position, instructed male pilots in instrument flying, evaluated pilots renewing their instrument ratings, and copiloted B-17s during gunnery practice using live ammunition. Gee served in this capacity until the Army Air Corps disbanded the WASP program on December 20, 1944.

For her role as one of the first women in history to fly American military aircraft in defense of America’s freedom, Margaret Gee earned her place in the Nevada Aerospace Hall of Fame.

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TD BARNES, Executive Director

Nevada Aerospace Hall of Fame