During World War II, over 6,000 men were assigned to Walla Walla’s Army airfield base. Walla Walla Air Field was unique, in that it was the recipient of the first squadron of African-American WACS (Women’s Army Corps) ever assigned to an air base. About 100 of them arrived in August 1943, composed of WACs from different bases. Who were these black WACs? And what was their role at the air base?

How were the WACs assigned to Walla Walla treated, and what was their interaction with the community like?

Several Union-Bulletin articles, two air base newsletters and a long-forgotten microfilm of Walla Walla Air Field history uncovered at the Whitman College Archives helped reconstruct the WACs’ experience here.

Presented by Susan Monahan.