SARAH JANE SADIE ALLSHOUSE GLEESON
She conquered the skies and more
Sarah Jane (Allshouse) Gleeson was born May 21, 1923, the fifth of six children. At a young age, she developed an interest in aviation, fascinated with the prospect of flying. This interest continued until her graduation from Westinghouse High School and worked at the Westinghouse Air Brake in Wilmerding to pay for her flying lessons at the Allegheny County Airport. She achieved the required 35 hours logged to qualify for the Women Air force Service Pilot program. This training led her to Sweetwater, Texas for further training. These young women advanced from light aircraft to piloting every model in the Air Corps inventory at that time. WASP ferried planes, towed targets, flew tracking missions, and did smoke laying. They flew simulated bombing missions, did radio control, searched light strafing, gave instrument instruction, and flight-tested aircraft before the men got them to fly. Thirty-eight WASP died in service for their country. When she was deactivated she was not permitted to fly commercial planes. She then worked as an Air Traffic Communicator in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Two years later she moved back to Pittsburgh and was married in 1946. Sarah had four children, Glenn, Carl, Barbara and Scott. During the 1970s, Sarah worked as a pharmaceutical Sales Representative for McKesson Laboratories and later for Central Pharmaceuticals based in Seymour, Indiana. She worked at Central for 21 years and was the only female pharmaceutical Sales rep. for more than 10 years. She retired at the age of 70. In 2010, I went to Washington D.C. to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor to honor my mother. Sarah passed away on July 6, 2007 and was laid to rest in Grandview Cemetery in North Versailles with full Military Honors. Sarah, thank you for your service and for continuing to inspire young people all over the world with your courage, your integrity, your patriotism and your honor.
Love You, Mom!
Barbara, Carl, Scott and Roberta
WASP - 44-9