Eloise Huffhines Bailey was born near Richardson, Texas, to a family of pilots. Eloise was just a country girl from Texas who was born to fly.

When she had enough hours, she applied for and was accepted into the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) training program at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas on 1 November 1943. While there, she learned to fly the U.S. Army Air Forces military aircraft.

After successfully finishing seven months of training at Avenger Field, she graduated on 23 May 1944 with Pilot Class 44-W-4, received her silver wings, and her official orders from the Army Air Forces to report to Maxwell Field in Montgomery, Alabama; which was a B-24 repair depot. Eloise and her classmate (Millie Inks Davidson Dalrymple), drove to Maxwell, arriving on 6 June 1944 ("D-Day"). They were billeted in the Nurses' Quarters across from the Officer's Club.

While at Maxwell (which her friend Millie, called; "a paradise compared to Avenger"), Eloise was able to check-out in a number of aircraft, including the B-24, which she flew as an engineering co-pilot. Her primary flying assignment was on slow-timing missions to "break-in" rebuilt or new engines on B-24 aircraft. She was also able to qualify as first pilot on the UC-78, AT-11, and C-45.

Eloise Bailey