Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Ola “Millie“ Rexroat

Image of gray-haired Ola "Millie" Rexroat wearing a white and gray striped button up shirt and a white visor.

 Ola "Millie" Rexroat, 2007 

  • Branch of Service: United States Air Force- Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP)
  • Edgemont resident and Oglala Sioux tribal member Ola "Millie" Rexroat was one of only 1074 women to serve with the WASPs - Women Airforce Service Pilots - during World War Two.

Ola "Millie" Rexroat Obiturary 

Independent Submission

Ola "Millie" Rexroat - Why the WASPS

Topics: 

0:00 - Intro; WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots); get calls that a pilot was needed; no ranks - treated as officers 
9:10 - Sweetwater Texas - only training base for women in the country; accepted into the program; eight months of training
14:08 - Dress code
16:14 - Family reaction 
18:00 - What an average day looked like
19:58 - Why she joined the Women Airforce Service Pilots; process 

Ola "Millie" Rexroat - Training and Service

Topics: 

0:00 - Had to have prior experience flying; primary training, kinds of planes, and horsepower
6:40 - Learning how to drive, gets car
10:50 - Worst memory - pink slip (unsatisfactory performance) 
15:28 - Reactions from people in town to a woman pilot 
16:56 - Program ends 

Ola "Millie" Rexroat - After the War

Topics: 

0:00 - Airforce Reserves 
3:39 - Kirkland Airforce Base, Albuquerque, NM 
4:14 - Federal Aviation Agency Control Tower 
5:28 - Santa Fe Air Traffic Controller - retired 
7:16 - Last time she flew; staying in touch with others - don't get together anymore 
10:00 - Uniform - used men's coveralls (too big) 
13:00 - Proved to military and civilians that women could do it 

Image of Plaque Provided by Ola "Millie" Rexroat

This plaque detailing her life in the military was given to Ola "Millie" Rexroat in recognition of her service with the WASPs - Women Airforce Service Pilots - during World War Two. 

For more information about SDPB's educational resources and services, contact

[email protected]

Return to Homefront

Return to Learn Page

Register for the Newsletter

The HOMEFRONT SOUTH DAKOTA STORIES Project was Sponsored in Part By: