GUEST: I brought some World War II memorabilia from the WASPs, the Women's Air Service Patrol. This is Jackie Cochran. She headed up the WASPs in World War II, and my mother was her secretary. And my mother asked Jackie Cochran if she could have a set of the wings, and Jackie said yes. And so that's what you see over here is her wings. And she had it engraved to my mom on the back.
APPRAISER: And tell me about your photographs.
GUEST: The photographs were autographed by Jackie Cochran to my mom. This one was, "For Miss McSweeney, with all good wishes, Jacqueline Cochran." And then this one, over here to the right, I think is funny. "To Miss McSweeney, "This is just the way I feel sometimes. Jackie Cochran." And then my mom put a little notation underneath that, "Most times." (laughs)
APPRAISER: So did your mom tell you anything about why she made that notation?
GUEST: It didn't matter what time of day it was, if Jackie called, you, you came. She was a demanding woman, but she was also... It seemed like she was really a nice person, as well.
APPRAISER: Well, she was also a force of nature. She was somebody who was a very, very accomplished aviator before the war.
GUEST: Mm-hmm.
APPRAISER: She won a number of the air trophies. She worked with Amelia Earhart. She had connections before the war even started. And we see the WASPs as something that occurred during World War II, but the genesis of that started in 1939, when Jackie wrote to Eleanor Roosevelt and said, "You know, I think there should be a role for women."
GUEST: Oh, nice.
APPRAISER: Within the... At that time it was the Army Air Corps. And that kind of got passed up the chain. And in 1941, prior to our involvement in the war, she was even corresponding with officers in the Army Air Corps talking about, "Women could ferry aircraft, "there are jobs that they could take over and let the men go and do something else." So, when she comes back to the United States, as that first class comes through-- they're training with Jackie in command...
GUEST: Ah.
APPRAISER: She wanted wings for these ladies. And she simply paid for them out of pocket.
GUEST: I do remember reading that now, yes.
APPRAISER: So, even though your mom was not a pilot, these were Jackie's to give out.
GUEST: Right.
APPRAISER: And, clearly, she decided that's what she, that's what she needed to do. And she has engraved this on the reverse, specifically to your mother.
GUEST: Yes.
APPRAISER: Which is awesome.
GUEST: Yeah, I think so.
APPRAISER: Clearly, you understand the historical value.
GUEST: Yes.
APPRAISER: Because you understand how it relates to women's position within flying. And now we've got... Some of the best pilots in the Air Force are female, which is awesome.
GUEST: Mm-hmm.
APPRAISER: So, they've, they've come a long way. But she is really the driving force that got that all started. Have you given any thought to, beyond the historical value, what the monetary value might be?
GUEST: Not whatsoever. I have no idea.
APPRAISER: A retail value on the market today for this set would be, conservatively, between $6,000 and $8,000.
GUEST: Are you kidding me? (laughing) Oh, my gosh! That's great. Well, thank you very much. I really appreciate it. It's crazy.
