Taking FLight: McCaffrey found adventure in the skies as part of unique group

Daily Press Writer

Throughout history, women have had to push traditional boundaries. As a pilot during World War II and a volunteer around the world, Peggy (Moynihan) McCaffrey, a Montrose native, certainly knows about stepping outside the confinements of a woman’s post.

McCaffrey was born in Montrose in 1922 to Charles Joseph (C.J.) and Marquerite Moynihan. She was the youngest of four children and had an outgoing spirit and adventurous side even at a young age.

At 9 she jumped on her first racehorse at the Montrose fairgrounds and won the race despite her father’s protest that she competed.

“That was the end of her career because her father was furious,” said McCaffrey’s daughter, Maggie.

A stroke impaired McCaffrey’s speech, so her husband and daughter spoke on her behalf.

McCaffrey’s need for adventure didn’t end with her race around the track. She would go on to explore the world from land and air.

After graduating from Montrose High School in 1940, she fell into the family’s tradition and attended Mills College, a “prestigious” all-women’s school in California.

But after two years she transferred to Colorado University, where she graduated in 1944.

In the meantime, World War II had begun. McCaffrey and a college girlfriend heard about a need for women pilots inside the continental U.S.

Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron, as it was first called when established in 1940, was started by two female pilots, Jackie Cochran and Nancy Harkness Love.

In August 1943, Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) was established, and McCaffrey was on her way to Kansas City for training.

More than 25,000 women applied, but the program required hours of experience and a pilot’s license, both of which McCaffrey spent hours in Colorado obtaining.

“To realize what flying meant to her ... it was an incredible opportunity,” Maggie said.

From Kansas City she went to train at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas, which at the time was the only women’s training facility.

McCaffrey served as a test pilot in Georgia and also ferried new aircrafts to embarkation points around the country.

The program was under contract to the U.S. Army but Congress refused to make it part of the regular military forces.

When men returned from the war and needed the pilot jobs, the program was disbanded in December 1944, according to History.com. It wasn’t until 1977 that WASPs were given military status and eligible for veteran’s benefits. During the program’s existence nearly 1,000 women served in the unit; 38 were killed in the line of duty.

When it was disbanded, McCaffrey joined the American Red Cross and traveled overseas to help clean up the rubble from the war.

“Her mother supported her a lot because she (Marguerite Moynihan) was restricted growing up,” said Maggie about her grandmother.

While in France awaiting orders, McCaffrey met John McCaffrey, a U.S. soldier in the 101st Airborne Division. They fell in love and instead of returning home from the war, John stayed in Germany with her.

“I was attracted to her because of her outgoing and fun-loving style,” John said. “She was obviously intelligent and we had a lot of fun together.”

They moved back to Montrose and married on July 22, 1946.

When they returned, Maggie said, her mother wanted to start a family.

She moved to California for a few years with her new husband. He finished school and she concentrated on raising their five children.

In the mid-60s, after her kids had grown, McCaffrey decided to return to school in Gunnison and got her teaching degree.

“She is a person driven by a lot of things,” John said. “She didn’t want to stay home. She felt she could make more of her life.”

After teaching for five years at the middle and junior high level, she decided to work with homebound students.

“That was a meaningful time in Peggy’s life,” John said. “She thought she could do something for these girls and she did. Peggy handled them like a mother and they really responded to her. She has great motherly instincts.”

The homebound program worked with pregnant girls, who were not allowed to attend public schools at that time. It also worked with kids with illnesses or ones who were bed-ridden because of an accident.

In 1984, the couple retired and went to Kwajlaein in the Marshall Islands. The island was home to a U.S. military base and John became the superintendent of the schools.

McCaffrey traveled to the nearby island of Ebye where she volunteered her services to Father Hacker, teaching island natives.

After five years, the couple again returned to Montrose.

They continued to travel, visiting friends they made all over the world, and enjoyed skiing in Telluride.

“She just couldn’t sit still,” John said.

McCaffrey stayed active in Catholic church groups and volunteered for many organizations such as the American Cancer Society and Heirlooms for Hospice.

She and John celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last July.

Contact Kati O’Hare via e-mail at katio@montrosepress.com