Florence J. Marston

Florence J. Marston, 96,\n of Clinton, MD, one of the first women in history employed to fly military aircraft under the direction of the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) during World War II, died peacefully on November 26, 2011.\nBorn in Buffalo, NY on August 9, 1915 to Joseph and Minnie Niemiec, she was among the first to qualify for flight scholarships in the Civil Aeronautics Authority pilot training program at Lockport, NY, receiving her private pilot certificate in 1939 after 45 hours of flight instruction.\nWhile working as an accident report analyst for the War Department during 1942-43, Florence was accepted for flight training with the 318th AAF Flying Training Detachment, Avenger Field, Sweetwater, TX as part of the newly formed Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). The WASP, headed by world famous aviatrix Jacqueline Cochran, was a pioneering organization of 1,074 civilian female pilots formed to free up male pilots for combat service and duties. Florence won her silver wings in October 1943, graduating with WASP Class 43-W-6.\nFlorence was assigned as a Lockheed C-60A Loadstar pilot at South Plains Army Air Field, Lubbock, TX, towing GG-4 gliders and performing day/night training, cross country flights, and engineering test hops. She transitioned to theB-26 Martin Marauder medium bomber – a notoriously difficult aircraft to fly nicknamed the “Widow maker” – and the consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bomber at Dodge City, KS during February-April 1944\nIn May 1944, Florence was assigned to Pueblo Army Base, CO as a B-26 first pilot, towing high altitude gunnery targets and a B-24 first pilot for test flights and administrative cross country flights. During this time, she also performed administrative flights and cross country movement of aircraft and personnel. As a WASP she logged a total of 875 hours of flying time in 10 different military aircraft.\nBy late 1944, the AAF had developed an excess of pilots and pilot candidates, and as a result, the WASP was disbanded in December. They were granted veteran status in 1977, awarded the WWII Victory Medal and the American Campaign Medal, and presented the Congressional Gold Medal in 2009.\nDuring 1944-46, Florence served with the USAAF Office of Flying Safety, Langley AFB, VA, then as administrative assistant, Air Priorities & Traffic (Operations), Military Advisory Group, Nanking, China, 1946-48, during which time she met her future husband, Col. Morrill “Bud” Marston, also a WWII pilot. Florence accompanied Bud on numerous Air Force assignments during a 28 year career. Bud died in 1996.\nFlorence is survived by her three sons, Morrill “Bud” Marston, Jr., Joseph A. Marston, and Jerome F. Marston, and one grandson, Jerome F. Marston, Jr. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Florence J. Marston please visit our Sympathy Store.