A Pioneer Among Women Pilots

Marie Mountain Clark holds a special place in the history of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) as one of the first female pilots inducted into the elite Caterpillar Club – a fraternity of pilots who have saved their lives by parachuting from disabled aircraft. Hailing from West Liberty, Iowa, Marie's journey into the skies began while studying music at Drake University in 1939. Unbeknownst to her, participating in the Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP) would lead her to teach navigation and meteorology in military training courses at Dowling College, setting the stage for her future with the WASP.

A Close Call and the Caterpillar Club

Before joining WASP in August 1943, Marie Mountain had already logged an impressive 76 hours of flight time, but it was an accident during a spin demonstration in a Fairchild PT-19 that marked a pivotal moment in her career. As her seat belt became unfastened, Marie was ejected from the cockpit, only surviving thanks to her parachute – a harrowing experience that granted her membership in the Caterpillar Club. Stories like Marie's highlight the danger and tenacity of early female pilots.

Serving in the Skies

After graduating from WASP training in February 1944, Marie devoted herself to serving as a pilot with the US Army Air Force at the Las Vegas Air Force Base. Accumulating around 1,000 hours in military aircraft, she flew a variety of planes, from training aircraft like the PT-19 and AT-6 to fighter aircraft such as the P-39 and P-63.

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