NM Museum of Space History’s Launch Pad Lecture: “Wings of Courage: The Untold Story of WASP and the Superfortress in New Mexico”
New Mexico Museum of Space History Launch Pad Lecture
Lecture Topic: “Wings of Courage: The Untold Story of WASP and the Superfortress in New Mexico”
Guest Speaker: Jacquelyne Nichols, NM Chapter of Women in Aviation
Location: New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium
Date: Friday, July 3, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
(Alamogordo, NM) – The New Mexico Museum of Space History invites the public to a powerful Launch Pad Lecture, “Wings of Courage: The Untold Story of WASP and the Superfortress in New Mexico,” on Friday, July 3, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM in the New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium.
Guest speaker Jacquelyne Nichols, a veteran U.S. Marine Corps aviator and American Airlines A320 First Officer, will spotlight the extraordinary bravery of the World War II Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). Nichols will share how these pioneering women flew everything from primary trainers to heavy bombers and helped change the course of aviation history.
The lecture will feature the gripping story of Dora Dougherty and Dorothea Moorman, two WASP pilots who tamed the troubled B-29 Superfortress at Alamogordo Army Air Field. By confidently demonstrating the aircraft’s safety, they helped restore trust in the bomber, silenced skeptics, and contributed to a pivotal shift in the war effort.
Nichols brings a wealth of real-world aviation and leadership experience to the presentation. She served 11 years on active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps, flying helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, completing a combat deployment in Afghanistan where she earned a Strike Flight Air Medal, and serving in Japan and Qatar before transitioning to the Marine Corps Reserves as an instructor pilot and Marine Liaison Officer. She continues to serve in the Reserves while attending Command and Staff College.
Now an American Airlines A320 First Officer with a master’s degree in Public Leadership, Nichols lives near her husband’s family ranch in La Luz, New Mexico, where she looks after a herd of horses, goats, and mini donkeys. She previously served as president of the New Mexico Chapter of Women in Aviation International and now acts as the Otero County Coordinator for the chapter. Nichols also serves on the Board of Directors for the International Space Hall of Fame Foundation and is a member of 100 Women Who Care Alamogordo, reflecting her strong commitment to community and aviation outreach.
The Museum of Space History’s Launch Pad Lecture Series is held on the first Friday of each month in the New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium at the New Mexico Museum of Space History, 3198 State Route 2001, Alamogordo, NM. The program is free to attend, and museum staff, along with special guest speakers, present topics spanning from space history to the future of space exploration. These Launch Pad Lectures are brought to you with the support of the International Space Hall of Fame.