The path from allowing women to fly military aircraft in the United States to allowing them to fly in an actual combat zone was a long one indeed. Simply convincing the military that women were capable of flying their aircraft took some time. Even after accepting and training women to become pilots the military still would not allow for one to fly in a combat zone for many, many years.
The desire for women to join the military and become aviator’s for the United States started during WWI. Women volunteered themselves, but no one paid any attention. Then, during WWII, and before the United States joined the war, a few American women went to England where they were able train with the Royal Air Force and fly such craft as the Spitfires, Typhoons, Hudsons, Mitchells, Blenheims, Oxfords, Walruses and Sea Otters.
Once the U.S. joined the war the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) program was created. The product of combining three similar organizations, WASP was designed to move women into the cockpits which would then make room for the men pilots to serve in the war. Women were now able to fly military aircraft for the United States. With over 25,000 female applicants WASP only accepted a little over 1,800 where only 1,074 actually made it through the training.
WASP pilots were reportedly able to fly any and all aircraft the military had to offer. And in 1944 WASP member Ann Baumgartner is said to have flown what was at that time an aircraft that had not yet been flown in combat. WASP was disbanded in December 1944.
In 1953 a former member of WASP, Jacqueline Cochran, not only broke the sound barrier but she also succeeded in setting new records in speed and altitude. A prominent voice for women in military aviation Cochran was also one of those previously mentioned who was able to train and fly aircraft in England.
Over 20 years would pass before the Navy finally decided to get on board and allow females into their aviation program. In 1974 six women completed training and graduated to become the first aviators for the Navy. That same year the Army fell in line and began accepting female pilots to train and pilot their helicopters. In 1976 the Air Force stepped up and began accepting women for training as well.
Although major steps had been taken it would not be until 1993, when Secretary of Defense Les Aspin opened the door to allow women the right to fly in a combat zone, that the long road for women as aviators in the military finally came to a proper end.
More Recent Female Firsts
Major Marie T. Rossi died at the age of 32 and was the first female aviator to lose her life in a combat zone when the helicopter she was flying crashed during Desert Storm.
Lieutenant Colonel Martha McSally was the first woman in the history of the military to fly an actual combat mission. Piloting an A-10 Warthog across Iraq she logged in over 100 hours of flight time.
And on March 30, 2011 two female pilots were supported and sustained in every aspect by a team made up of entirely women to fly a combat mission. This marks the first time in United States military history that this has ever been done.
Afterthought
It should be noted that originally there were some physical concerns that the female body would not be able to handle the rigors of military aviation in regards to experiencing g-forces. However, new evidence now shows that the female body deals with the g-force better than the male body.
For more information please visit these sites:
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/aviator
www.pilotsandplanesmilitary.com/2011/04/first-female-two-ship-formation-above-afghanistan
www.usmilitary.about.com/od/womeninthemilitary
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/women_airforce_services_pilots