Flying for Her Country: The American and Soviet Women Military Pilots of World War II

by Amy Goodpaster Strebe

Overview

During the Second World War, women pilots were given the opportunity to fly military aircraft for the first time. In the United States, famed aviatrix Jacqueline Cochran formed the Women Airforce Service Pilots program, where over one thousand women flyers ferried aircraft from factories to airbases throughout the United States and Canada from 1942 to 1944. The WASP operated from 110 facilities and flew more than 60 million miles in 78 different types of aircraft, from the smallest trainers to the fastest fighters and the largest bombers. The WASP performed every duty inside the cockpit as their male counterparts, except combat, and 38 women pilots gave their lives in the service of their country. Notwithstanding their outward appearance as official members of the U.S. Army Air Forces, the WASP were considered civil servants during the war. Despite a highly publicized attempt to militarize in 1944, the women pilots would not be granted veteran status until 1977. In the Soviet Union, Marina Raskova, Russia's Amelia Earhart, famous for her historic Far East flight in 1938, formed the USSR's first all-female aviation regiments that flew combat missions along the Eastern Front.

A little over one thousand women flew a combined total of more than 30 thousand combat sorties, producing at least 30 Heroes of the Soviet Union. Included in their ranks were at least two fighter aces. More than 50 women pilots were killed in action. Sharing both patriotism and a mutual love of aviation, these pioneering women flyers faced similar obstacles while challenging assumptions of male supremacy in wartime culture. Despite experiencing discrimination from male aircrews during the war, these intrepid airwomen ultimately earned their respect. The pilots' exploits and their courageous story, told so convincingly here, continue to inspire future generations of women in aviation.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780275994341
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	08/30/2007
Series:	Praeger Security International
Pages:	144
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.38(d)

About the Author

Amy Goodpaster Strebe is a jourbanalist and historian. She is the author of Desert Dogs: The Marines of Operation Iraqi Freedom (2004). Strebe holds a master's degree in history from San Jose State University. She has written extensively on the U.S. armed forces and is one of the leading experts on the women military pilots of World War II.

Table of Contents

Foreword   Trish Beckman     ix
Acknowledgments     xv
Abbreviations     xvii
Introduction     1
America's First Women Military Pilots     4
Marina Raskova and Her Soviet Aviation Regiments     15
Patriotism and a Love of Flying     29
Gender Issues     37
The Ties That Bind     51
The WASP Are Disbanded     59
Demobilization of the Soviet Airwomen     70
Conclusion     75
Notes     85
Bibliography     97
Index     105

What People are Saying About This

Peggy Chabrian

"Amy Goodpaster Strebe has done an outstanding job researching and writing about the invaluable contributions made by women pilots in the Second World War. As pioneers in military aviation, the WASP proved to the world that they were indeed capable of flying both fighter and bomber aircraft. In the case of the Soviet women aviators who saw combat along the Eastern Front, their indomitable spirit and heroism in battle have made them legendary. A book depicting the combined achievements of these intrepid military airwomen is long overdue. I highly recommend it."--(Dr. Peggy Chabrian, President and Founder, Women in Aviation, International)

Mary Pickering

"Strebe's book offers a beautifully written, well-researched account of a little known but fascinating aspect of World War II. Her story of these women aviators in the U.S. and USSR is both dramatic and moving. Their courage is truly remarkable. Equally amazing is the way they were treated by their respective governments because of their gender. Strebe's book is not to be missed by anyone interested in women's history and military history."--(Dr. Mary Pickering, Professor of History, San Jose State University)

Chuck Yeager

"I really enjoyed the book. It tells the true story of how women were involved in aviation during the war."--(General Chuck Yeager, General Chuck Yeager Foundation)

Gen. Chuck Yeager

"I really enjoyed the book. It tells the true story of how women were involved in aviation during the war."

Dr. Peggy Chabrian

"Amy Goodpaster Strebe has done an outstanding job researching and writing about the invaluable contributions made by women pilots in the Second World War. As pioneers in military aviation, the WASP proved to the world that they were indeed capable of flying both fighter and bomber aircraft. In the case of the Soviet women aviators who saw combat along the Eastern Front, their indomitable spirit and heroism in battle have made them legendary. A book depicting the combined achievements of these intrepid military airwomen is long overdue. I highly recommend it."

Deanie Bishop Parrish

"Before reading Flying for Her Country, I never imagined that the Russian women military pilots of WWII had the same values (honor, integrity, courage, commitment, faith, patriotism, service and sacrifice) as America's WWII women pilots. This fascinating book portrays a significant chapter in history that is not found in most history books. It is educational, motivational and inspirational as it chronicles the history of how these young women military pilots proved that, no matter the challenge, no matter your nationality, and no matter how difficult the mission, you can do anything, if it's the right thing to do and you put your mind to it. Flying for Her Country corroborates what I have known since my early childhood, "With God's help, nothing is impossible."--(Deanie Bishop Parrish, WASP (44-4), Associate Director, Wings Across America)

Dr. Mary Pickering

"Strebe's book offers a beautifully written, well-researched account of a little known but fascinating aspect of World War II. Her story of these women aviators in the U.S. and USSR is both dramatic and moving. Their courage is truly remarkable. Equally amazing is the way they were treated by their respective governments because of their gender. Strebe's book is not to be missed by anyone interested in women's history and military history."

Editorial Reviews

The story of the American and Soviet women military pilots World War II is magnificently told in Amy Goodpaster Strebe's new book Flying For Her Country.” —www.overgrownpath.com

“[T]his is a book that will be read with great interest by both pilots as well as those looking to understand how American society has changed in the last 60 years.” —Midwest Book Review/Reviewer's Bookwatch

“Amy Goodpaster Strebe has penned a fine history of women military pilots….Until now, the role played by women in the air forces of the U.S. and the Soviet Union has gone largely unrecognized. Flying For Her Country goes a long way in correcting this oversight. Highly Recommended.” —WWII History

“Strebes book is excellent….Meticulously researched, well-written, and convincingly argued and documented….One of the book's great strengths is a comprehensive bibliography that makes it particularly valuable as a reference for students and professionals alike.” —Air & Space/Smithsonian

“During WWII, women pilots were given the opportunity to fly military aircraft for the first time. In the US, famed aviatrix Jacqueline Cochran formed the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) program, which sent over 1,000 women flyers to ferry aircraft from factories to airbases throughout the US and Canada. In the Soviet Union, Marina Raskova, famous for her historic Far East flight in 1938, formed the USSR's first all-female aviation regiments, which flew combat missions along the Eastern Front. Historian and jourbanalist Strebe, one of the leading experts on the women military pilots of WWII, tells their stories, and looks at the obstacles these women faced as they challenged assumptions of male supremacy in wartime culture. B&W historical photos are included.” —Reference & Research Book News

From the Publisher

“Flying for Her Country is a great read! As one of the first Coast Guard female pilots, I have always been enthralled by the amazing achievements of the women who blazed the contrails of flying military aircraft during World War II. These are extraordinary tales of extraordinary women. We are proud to stand on their shoulders.”—Vice Admiral Vivien S. Crea, U.S. Coast Guard

Vice Admiral Vivien S. Crea

“As a pilot myself, the daughter of a Navy fighter pilot, and the mother of a current Air Force pilot who happens to be female, I very much enjoyed Flying for Her Country. Ms. Strebe’s work is an engaging and important contribution to the history of aviation and women’s unfinished struggle to achieve some measure of equality in the field. Many women also yearn to know what it is to have ‘slipped the surly bonds of earth … put out my hand, and touched the face of God.’”—The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, presiding bishop and primate of The Episcopal Church

The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori

“One group of World War II participants that has been sorely overlooked is female military pilots. Amy Goodpaster Strebe has penned a fine history of women military pilots. Until now the role played by women in the air forces of the U.S. and the Soviet Union has gone largely unrecognized. Flying for Her Country goes a long way in correcting this oversight. Highly recommended.”—WWII History

WWII History

“In reading Flying for Her Country, I was humbly reminded of the debt of gratitude I owe to these courageous women pilots. They did not intentionally take to the skies with the purpose of pioneering new trails; they did it purely out of a sense of patriotism and duty. Luckily, for thousands like me, their skillful flying, powerful loyalty to country and their unmatched grace both in the sky and on the ground, successfully cleared the path for generations of women military aviators who continue to follow in their footsteps. In telling the story of these World War II heroes, Amy Goodpaster Strebe skillfully reminds us that women love their country too, and some of us choose to show it by wearing our nation’s uniform.”—Nicole M. E. Malachowski, F-15E Combat Pilot and F-16C/D Thunderbird Pilot

Nicole M. E. Malachowski

“I really enjoyed the book. It tells the true story of how women were involved in aviation during the war.”—General Chuck Yeager, General Chuck Yeager Foundation, chuckyeager.com

General Chuck Yeager

“Amy Goodpaster Strebe’s book is excellent . . . meticulously researched, well-written, and convincingly argued and documented.”—Air & Space

Air & Space