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This project was made possible by the interests and efforts of many. Those who were involved with my dissertation (the first draft of this book) at Bowling Green State University deserve recognition for their guidance and support. They include my advisor, Ellen Berry, and committee members William Grant, Alberto Gonzalez, and Karen Gould. Arlene Spoores of Women’s Studies, Joan Conrad of American Culture Studies, and Carol Davis of Research Services also lent their support and attention to many facets of this project. Recognition also goes to Bowling Green’s Graduate College for the Dissertation Support grant and the American Culture Studies program for the non-service fellowship, both of which made research travel possible . I also extend my thanks to the staff and volunteers of the United States Air Force Museum Archives, the Eisenhower Center, the Texas Women’s University Archives, and the International Women’s Air and Space Museum for maintaining invaluable records on the Women Airforce Service Pilots and for capably and courteously making those records available. I also extend my sincere respect and gratitude to the many WASP veterans I have come to know. I cannot list them all, but one veteran, Marty Wyall, deserves special recognition for the tireless years she devoted to maintaining WASP history and documents . Thanks also to Tom Baumann, my documentary partner and friend, who provided good ideas and didn’t mind my asking questions that were of use only for this project during the shooting sessions for Women Who Flew. Dave Menard of the Research Division, United States Air Force Museum, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, deserves mention for his detailed proofreading and expert identification of airplanes and their markings. Ben Urish of Temple University offered an inspiring internet dialogue on cultural history and a thorough proofreading of the first draft. Cheryl Shaw of Kent State University offered her superb typing skills in deciphering three pads of handwritten notes. I want to thank my editors at New York University Press, beginning with associate editor Jennifer Hammer, who has believed in and supported this project since its inception; Despina Papazoglou Gimbel, managing ediAcknowledgments ix tor; and David Updike, the copyeditor. Finally, I express my dedicated gratitude to my family, without whom none of this would have been possible: my father, Ralph Merryman, whose stories about his experiences in the Army Air Forces China-Burma-India Theater during World War II helped inspire my interest in this topic; my mother, Rose Fulop Merryman, who shared stories about the perspective of women during the war years and who accompanied me during part of my research travels, thus providing me with memories of her I shall forever treasure; and my sister, Rebecca Merryman, who offered emotional support and encouragement. x | Acknowledgments ...

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