Love commanded this unit and later all ferrying operations in the newly formed Women Airforce Service Pilots.

Born in Houghton, Michigan on February 14, 1914, as the daughter of a wealthy physician, Harkness developed an intense interest in aviation at an early age.

[1] At Vassar, she earned extra money taking students for rides in an aircraft she rented from a nearby airport.

[5] In early 1942, her husband Robert Love was called to active duty in the Munitions Building, Washington, D. C. as the deputy chief of staff of the Ferrying Command.

Within a few months, she had recruited 30 experienced female pilots to join the newly created Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS); 28 graduated from training.

In September 1942, the women pilots began flying from New Castle Army Air Field, Wilmington, Delaware, under the auspices of the 2nd Ferrying Group.

The WAFS' number had greatly increased because of the addition of graduates of the Women's Flying Training Detachment (WFTD) at Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas, an organization championed and headed by Jacqueline Cochran.

[7] On August 5, 1943, the WAFS merged with the WFTD and became a single entity: the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP).

Under her command, female pilots flew almost every type military aircraft then in the Army Air Forces' inventory, and their record of achievement proved remarkable.

"[9] After the war, Love had three daughters, but she continued as an aviation industry leader, as well as a champion for recognition as military veterans for the women who had served as WASPs.