Use your guesses and ideas from the hotspot "Hazel and Virginia's Pilot Gear" to learn more about what flying planes was like during World War II. This image shows pilot Maggie Gee standing on the wing of a biplane.

The airplanes that Hazel and Maggie flew had open cockpits; there weren't any roofs! Because they were flying very high and very fast, it was very windy and cold.

Pilots usually wore goggles to protect their eyes from the wind, and leather jackets to help them stay warm. 

Pilots would have to communicate with other planes when flying. Often, they needed to fly in formation, or in a specific order or pattern. Their helmets had radio headsets to help pilots talk to each other. 

This photograph shows planes flying in a V-shaped formation. One of the planes is piloted by Hazel Ying Lee. 

See how Maggie is standing on the wing of the plane? Pilots got in and out of the plane cockpits by climbing on the wings. This is why they had to wear pants that were loose around the upper legs! 

If the pilots had any trouble with their planes when flying, they might have to eject. They would need to climb onto the plane's wing and jump off. (Don't worry, they had parachutes!) 

This photograph was probably taken at Avenger Field, in Texas. This was a training facility for the WASPs. 

Standards for Pilots and Planes!