Once the United States committed its involvement in World War II and male pilots were being called to serve, the WASP program was created for domestic support. Zillner had read that interviews for women with pilot licenses were being held for the experimental program. Despite not having a license and, initially, only eight of the 35 required hours of flight time, she was accepted for training two weeks later via telegram from the
Department of the Army. Zillner began six months of classroom and flight training in September 1943 at
Avenger Field in
Sweetwater, Texas. After graduating in February 1944, she reported for duty with the
5th Ferrying Group at
Dallas Love Field. On December 20, 1944, General
Henry H. Arnold dissolved the WASP program and Zillner was honorably discharged. ==Personal life==