About 1,100 women served in the Women Airforce Service Pilots program in World War II . Hide Caption A bill that would have made the program part of the military failed in Congress in 1944 . It was n't until 1977 that President Jimmy Carter signed legislation -- passed with the help of Arizona Sen. Barry Goldwater -- awarding the WASP military status and making participants eligible for veterans ' benefits . Members of the program were awarded Congressional Gold Medal in 2010 .
About 1,100 women served in the Women Airforce Service Pilots program in World War II . Hide Caption A bill that would have made the program part of the military failed in Congress in 1944 . Members of the program were awarded Congressional Gold Medal in 2010 .