Journal Muscatine, Iowa
WAR 2 01944
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Air-Wac Officer Tells Value of C. A, P. Program
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Plans were formulated Saturday
to give |vomfen of Muscatine and I
vicinity greater opportunities to I
! realize their ambitions for - basic
I aeronautical training or to pre-
pare themselves for enlistment in
some branch of the Women's
Army Corps, when Lt. Jane L.
Smith of the Davenport WAC re-
| cruiting office conferred at Hotel
! Muscatine with George Newton,
chairman of the Muscatine county
WAC procurement board and staff
I officers of Civil Air Patrol. Lieut.
t Smith and Sgt. Roy Reynolds were
in Muscatine Friday and Saturday
to contact applicants and give
mental tests to prospective army
corps members.
The Air WACs are proving most popular with women at the present time, according to Lieut. Smith. Two hundred thirty-nine different jobs can be capably handled by women in this branch of the service. On enlistment, girls have the choice of working with the army ground forces, service forces, or the air corps. No WAC is sent overseas unless she desires to go.
"Women should have a chance to prepare themselves for their part in the expanding aviation program certain to come in the post war era," Lieut. Smith declared in commenting on the proposed organization of a woman's platoon in the Muscatine Civil Air Patrol squadron.
"Your organization is also charged with helping in the recruitment of WACs and your women's platoon will give future army corps girls military drill and training which will be very helpful.
"I am interested in yotir decision to train your men and women separately. Perhaps you may develop a spirit of competition which will increase the efficiency of both groups. I shall be glad to visit 3'our new platoon when organized and help in any way I can." I Lieut. Smith expects to return I to Muscatine in April to co-operate in arrangements for the mass flight which will be held at the Muscatine airport. Civil Air Patrol planes from Des Moines and other Iowa points will be used tc give free rides to men and women interested in army air corps [enlistments.
