World War II was an epic conflict that touched the lives of nearly every citizen in every country involved. In the U.S., the war meant sacrifice and hardship for those on the homefront, as entire sectors of industry and commerce were transformed to aid the war effort. Women were “drafted” into the economy as never before to replace men in the labor force as they left for battlefields far from home. This was the famous rise of “Rosie the Riveter” that had such profound (if delayed) implications for the U.S. workforce. Women played a role in the military as well, taking the place of men deployed to the front. This video report from MSNBC notes that female pilots are only now being honored for their wartime service as Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) flying noncombat missions:
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy