About this episode

Carolyn Dasher discusses the real WASP pilots of WWII and her novel AMERICAN SKY, exploring themes of female friendship and resilience.

Who were the WASP pilots of World War II? Why were women trained as military aviators—and then dismissed at the end of the war? In this episode of the Fresh Fiction Podcast, debut author Carolyn Dasher discusses her novel AMERICAN SKY, inspired by the real Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). These women completed the same training as male Army Air Forces pilots, flew dangerous aircraft including B-29 Super Fortresses, conducted drone research, and towed live-fire targets for artillery practice. Despite their contributions, the WASP were decommissioned in 1944 and denied full military recognition for decades. Carolyn shares: • The real history of WASP pilots in WWII • The role of women in military aviation • How WWII and Vietnam shaped generations of women • Writing multi-generational historical fiction • Researching wartime aviation and military archives • The challenges of shifting POV in a debut novel • What happens after a woman’s purpose is taken away AMERICAN SKY explores female friendship, ambition, sacrifice, and mother-daughter relationships across three generations. If you love historical fiction, women’s military history, or stories about resilience and legacy, this…

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