“Buddy Ride” at Avenger Field: A Glimpse into WASP Training, 1943

 

In this striking black-and-white photograph from 1943, two women in parachute-equipped jumpsuits climb into the cockpit of a military trainer aircraft. One is already halfway inside, adjusting her seat; the other steadies herself on the wing, gripping the open canopy. The aircraft bears the number 25, its design unmistakably that of a World War II-era trainer—likely the North American AT-6 Texan, a staple in pilot instruction across the U.S. Army Air Forces.

This image, part of a LIFE Magazine photo essay by Peter Stackpole, captures a moment from the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) program at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas. Between 1942 and 1944, over 1,000 women trained here to fly military aircraft, filling critical roles while male pilots were deployed overseas.

The Aircraft: AT-6 Texan

Known as the “pilot maker,” the AT-6 Texan was a single-engine advanced trainer used to prepare pilots for combat aircraft. It featured tandem seating, allowing for paired instruction—perfect for the WASP’s “buddy ride” system, where one trainee flew by instruments while the other monitored her progress.

Shorter pilots often had to stow extra cushions beneath them to reach the controls—a detail captured in Stackpole’s caption: “Short-legged girls stow extra cushions in basic trainer before starting instrument flight, called a ‘buddy ride’ because it’s always flown in pairs, with one girl checking the other.”

The WASP Trainees

The WASP program was the brainchild of aviation pioneer Jacqueline Cochran, who envisioned women stepping into non-combat flying roles to support the war effort. These civilian volunteers underwent rigorous military-style training, learning to fly everything from trainers to bombers.

Their duties included:

• Ferrying aircraft from factories to bases

• Towing targets for live anti-aircraft practice

• Testing repaired planes

• Transporting cargo and personnel

Despite their service, WASPs were not granted military status during the war. They received no benefits, and families of the 38 women who died in service had to fund their own funerals. It wasn’t until 1977 that Congress granted them veteran recognition, and in 2009, they were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.

The Emotional Weight of the Image

This photo is more than a historical snapshot—it’s a testament to adaptation, resilience, and sisterhood. The parachute packs, the zoot suits, the shared cockpit rituals all speak to a generation of women who defied expectations and carved out space in the sky.

Their legacy lives on in museums, memoirs, and archival projects. But it also lingers in images like this one, where two women prepare to take flight—not just into the air, but into history.