This is an article I wrote for my Coventry High School Capstone Project about women in the Air Force.

Women have endured many struggles throughout history. Everyone knows about the movement for Women’s Rights and how this is still an ongoing battle, but does anyone think about what this means for women in the military; or more specifically, for women in the Air Force? Without the women pioneers who took on jobs that were available to them only because men were expected to be on the front lines, despite being constantly told that they would never have a place in the military, women have made an immense difference. This journey for women to be integrated into the USAF started officially in World War II when it was finally accepted that women were needed because men couldn’t be everywhere at once. Women began their work for all existing branches at the time: Army Air Corps, Navy, Coast Guard, Marines. They started with clerical and administrative duties, branching out to medical personnel, ferry pilots, aviation mechanics, topographers, and even chemists. Many women even managed to become nurses providing their assistance on stateside and oversea airbases and aiding in the air evacuation of the wounded. Even so, some women dared to dream bigger.

The Women Air force Service Pilots (WASP) program was launched in 1943 when the United States was facing a shortage of male fighter pilots. All women wishing to be recruited as civilian pilots had to meet a host of difficult requirements, all more difficult than a man would have to meet. For instance, women wanting to become military pilots had to have at least 500 hours of flying. Women were paid much less than men; only $250 a month which went to their own lodging, food, and uniforms. The women lucky enough even to be accepted had to face harsh social stigma because of their sex and they did not hold military rank; all were flight officers. Although these women were allowed to serve their country, and in fact many did, they were still considered civilians. If a woman died while serving her country, the military would not pay her funeral, would not help pay to transport remains, and she would not be honored with having a flag-draped coffin. It was acceptable for women to relieve men from duty; however, it was unacceptable to be awarded a man’s position permanently. Due to this, the WASP program’s termination was  just two years later, despite its success and having originally been expected to become part of the military. Women went through so much to become a part of the military, and to this date are still prohibited from serving in some positions. This is about to change in the upcoming years as rescinding this rule will finally put an end to the gender and social barriers previously held by the military.

Sources: 

WWII Servicewomen." Army Air Corps.us. Web.

News, HUMA KHAN via World. "First Female Air Force Pilots Get Gold Honor: 'I Never Thought It Would Happen'" ABC News. ABC News Network, 10 Mar. 2010. Web. 11 Oct. 2013.

Stamberg, Susan. "Female WWII Pilots: The Original Fly Girls." NPR. NPR, 09 Mar. 2010. Web. 02 Apr. 2013.

Boyne, Walter J. "Women In the Air Force." Beyond the Wild Blue: a History of the U.S. Air Force, 1947-1997. New York: St. Martin's, 1997. Print.

AeroFiles. "Women in the Air Force." You Just Landed at AeroFiles! AeroFiles. Web. 16 Dec. 2011. 

McCullough, Amy. "Women in Combat." Air Force Magazine Aug. 2013: 30-36. Print.