>>> I'm so excited to tell you about this one.

This is a panorama that we have of an all black, all woman squadron.

It is Squadron W of the 318th Army Air Force's base unit when they were located at Lockborne Army Airbase in Columbus, Ohio.

And this photo was taken in June of 1947.

These women were a part of the Women's Army Corps, or also known as WACs.

They would have been stationed at Lockborne Army Air Base when the Tuskegee Airmen were there.

So most people knew that the Tuskegee Airmen were stationed at Lockborne after World War II.

But a lot of people don't realize how many women units were actually here and helping with the Tuskegee Airmen and Lockborne as well.

So it's amazing to have this fantastic photo of all these amazing black women and their role that they played in the history of the armed forces.

The WACs are the Women Army Air Corps, and they were a part of the military when the military was still segregated.

These women held so many important positions at the base.

They were radio operators.

They packed parachutes.

They were medical and X-ray technicians.

They were hospital attendants.

And we believe we actually know who two of the women are in the in the photograph.

Over here on the left, we have first Lieutenant Aletta Crane.

And then on the right here seated, we also have Virginia Mae Higginbottom, who was also a first lieutenant as well.

These women were not eligible to be a part of the Women's Air Service pilots or the WASPs, but they were eligible to be part of the Women Air Corps.

And so that is how they were able to contribute to the military.

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Ohio Snapshots in Time is produced by WOSU Public Media in partnership with the staff of the Columbus Metropolitan Library.