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Mildred "Micky" Axton, 43-W-7 |
'She was born January 8, 1919 in Coffeyville, Kansas. At age
11 she took her first airplane ride with one of the famous
Inman Brothers of
Inman Flying Circus Fame. She was "hooked". She learned to
fly at Coffeyville Junior College in the Civil Pilot Training
Program in 1940. In 1940-41, she was invited to teach in
Coffeyville Junior College science department.
Happily married to Wayne Axton and a new mother, when her
country needed her in 1943, Micky made an enormous sacrifice.
She said goodbye to her husband and one-year old daughter and
joined the WASP program in class of 43-7. After completing the
Army Air Force flight training and earning her WASP wings, she
was stationed at Pecos Army Air Base, Pecos, Texas.
After deactivation, she was employed by Boeing Airplane
Company in engineering flight test as a flight test crew
member. From 1958 to 1960 she taught biology, general science,
aeronautics and debate at Wichita, Kansas, East High School. |
In 1968, she joined the Confederate Air Force and began her mission to inspire others with her WASP story. In 1988, she was featured in CAF Dispatch magazine. In 1990, she was featured in Corpus Christi Caller Times and invited to be guest speaker for graduation of Navy pilots. In 1991, she was speaker with Capt. Cathy Sadler USAF for the "grand opening" of the Kansas Aviation Museum.
She flew the only remaining airborne B-29, flying "FIFI" to a
Wichita Kansas airshow and a Boeing Aircraft open house. She
had a TV interview with General Paul Tibbets of Enola Gay
(B-29). In 1992, she was invited to return to Corpus Christi
for graduation of Navy and Marine pilots, and was presented
with gold Navy pilot wings.
She has been featured speaker and honored guest for many
organizations, including Boeing, Air Force Association, CAF,
Daedalians, DAR, Minnesota Women's Veterans, NintyNines and so
many, many more.
Micky has been inducted into the International Forest of
Friendship and received numerous awards, including
"Distinguished Service Medal" by the International Confederate
Air Force, "Aviation Historian of the Year," and "Distinguished
Alumni" by the American Association of Community Colleges.
The Jayhawk Wing of the Confederate Air Force named their
beautifully restored PT-23 after Micky. "Miss Micky" is
painted on the nose of the plane.
Micky Axton took her overwhelming desire to serve her family, her community and her country through the avenue of flight, combined it with her love of her community college and history, and for the future of women aviators tomorrow.'
Respectfully submitted by Nancy Parrish
Based on Wings Across America's digital interview with Micky Axton and information in WASP Betty Turner's "Out of the Blue and Into History", pp 235 & 236.