First Pilot in Dispatch Family is Girl Reporter
Gleanna Roberts Hopes to Swap Typewriter for Silver Wings
It's a little black book - but it's not filled with telephone numbers. It says, quote, Log and Flight Record of Pilot Gleanna Roberts. It says a lot more too, in a peculiar kind of hieroglyphics that require a Rosetta stone for translation. But in legible figures it tells the world that Glea to date has 30 hours and 30 minutes of lying time to her credit.
And so the little bird-girl; flapped her wings and found them strong enough to fly from terra firma nest to the wide blue yonder. And like the songs, she wears a pair of wings, but they're gold, not silver, and even though it takes a microscope to find them they represent one of the most thrilling days of her life - Sept. 16, 1943, the day she soloed after 12 1/2 hours of instruction.
It keeps her broke, granted, but not too broke to buy a leather flying jacket, slacks and special shoes (for which a precious 18 coupons was surrendered). It also keeps her hopping (no pun intended) getting out to the airport every free minute, but she'll never give it up.
Dreams of Texas
It is now, sez she, in her blood and under her skin and her goal is Avenger field, Sweetwater, Tex., or Rice field, Houston, Tex. First she must have thirty five hours, then she'll apply and await a call for physical exam and interview. If she makes it she will be trained for about six months to ferry all types of trainers within the U.S. and also to have more than a speaking acquaintance with navigation, meteorology and whatnot. Upon graduation she will receive silver wings. Most of the graduates automatically become members of the ferry command, but some are chosen for special fields -- and Glea is dreaming!
Source: Moline Dispatch Jr., Moline, Illinois - October 15, 1943 (photo included)
WOMEN IN SERVICE
Miss Gleanna Roberts, daughter of Mr and Mrs. R.E. Roberts, route No. 3, has been accepted for the WASP (women's airforce service pilot) training and will report to Avenger field at Sweetwater, Texas April 18 for a 7 1/2 month training course.
A graduate of Sharon high school, Miss Roberts received a B.A. degree in journalism in 1941 from the University of Iowa, where she was affiliated with Theta Sigma Phi, honorary and professional fraternity for women. For the past two years, she has been employed as city reporter and movie reviewer for the Moline Daily dispatch in Moline, Ill., and it was at the Moline airport that she received her flying training. At present Miss Roberts is visiting in the home of her parents.
A brother, Staff Srgt. Wayne A. Roberts, is stationed with the ground crew of the army airforce somewhere in Italy.
Source: Iowa City Press Citizen, April 13, 1944 (photo included)
The photograph of Gleanna Roberts was taken at Avenger field, Texas, and is reproduced from the Dispatch, Jr., monthly newspaper published by the Dispatch and written by Dispatch employees for Dispatch men and women in the service. |
Memorial for Gleanna Roberts is Established at University of Iowa
Dispatch Reporter Killed in WASP Training in Texas
Iowa City -- A memorial to the late Gleanna Roberts, Moline Dispatch reporter and first quad-city girl to enlist in the WASP, women's army service pilots, who was killed while on a routine training flight near Lorraine, Tex., on June 20, has been established for the University of Iowa journalism graduates, according to an announcement made by President Virgil M. Hancher.
Mr. Hancher announced the acceptance of $75 with which the University of Iowa will purchase unusual books in the field of typography. Miss Roberts, who was graduated from the University of Iowa, 1941, is the first Iowa woman alumnus to lose her life in the present war.
"We are proud of the contribution which Gleanna made to her country and we shall be pleased to have in our library a fitting tribute to her memory," Mr. Hancher said.
Classmates and instructors at Avenger field, Sweetwater, Tex, where Miss Roberts was stationed, contributed the $75 for the memorial.
The Roberts memorial is considered a fitting tribute to the girl who lost her life in the service of her country as she was especially interested in typography.
A special foot plaque will be designed for the volumes.
Dispatch Jr.’s Tribute.The following paragraphs are quoted from the article about Gleanna in the Dispatch Jr., written by the Jr. editor, Mabel Weise:
“The blue of the sky had a magnetic attraction for the girl who came to the Dispatch three years ago from her farm home near Iowa City, after being graduated from the University of Iowa. A bright sunny day meant just one thing to Glea. ‘I can fly today,’ she’d say and as soon as the press rolled away she was to get into her slacks and thumb a ride to the Moline airport.
“Glea now sleeps on the hillside just a few yards from the little church, which is located in one those beautiful Iowa farmland spots, where softly rolling hills convey an atmosphere of peace and rest.”
Source: The Dispatch, Moline, Illinois - July 4, 1944 (photo included)
