Early Women Aviators
The American women who flew military planes during World War II were following
in the footsteps of earlier generations of female aviators on both sides of the
Atlantic who had proved that women are just as physically and mentally capable
of piloting planes as men. From the very first days of aviation, women claimed
their place among the pioneers who risked their lives flying flimsy, wooden
aircraft in open cockpits. They frequently had to fight against discrimination
and prejudice to stake out a place among the leading aviators of their day and
to earn the recognition they deserved. Following are short biographies of just
three of those women.
