Alta Corbett Thomas Explained

Alta "Teta" Corbett Thomas (May 26, 1918 – August 28, 2017) was an American pilot for the Women Airforce Service Pilots, class 43-W-4.^[1] She was the fourth child of five.^[2]

Thomas attended Smith College and graduated with a Bachelors of Arts in History. Thomas also acquired her private and commercial pilot license at Swan Island Airport in Portland, Oregon.^[3]

War service

During World War II, Thomas began her war career at the War Department in the Air Branch at Washington D.C. Later Thomas would be accepted into the Women Airforce Service Pilots in 1943. Having been accepted into the WASPs, Corbett would tow targets primarily at Camp Davis Anticraft School in North Carolina, and later do the same at Camp Stewart in Georgia. Her main objective at these training camps was to fly above anti aircraft guns that would fire at the targets she towed behind the plane she piloted. Corbett also participated in night flying missions to train searchlight aircrews in detecting and tracking other aircraft.

Post-war

After the WASPs disbanded, Thomas found a job in Gustavus, Alaska, where she was a communicator with the Civil Aeronautics Administration after unsuccessfully acquiring a job as a commercial pilot.^[4]

Awards

At 92 years of age, Thomas received her Congressional Gold Medal in person on July 1, 2009 from former president Barack Obama.^[5]

Notes and References

1. "WASP Information Form for Alta Corbett Thomas”, 1944, The Women's Collection, Texas Woman's University, Denton, Texas.
2. Web site: Alta "Teta" Corbett Thomas of Sequim, Washington 1918 - 2017 Obituary . Drennanford.com.
3. Web site: Denfeld . Duane Colt . March 11, 2013 . Women Airforce Service Pilots from Washington . historylink.org.
4. “WASP Newsletter from Alta Corbett Thomas”, December 1982, The Women's Collection, Texas Woman's University, Denton, Texas.
5. Peninsula Daily News, February 14, 2010, via The Women's Collection, Texas Woman's University, Denton, Texas.