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Women Military AviatorsAugust 2020

preserving the past, promoting the present, protecting the future

Fellow Aviators,

It is with a heavy heart and endless admiration that we dedicate this month’s newsletter to Maj Gen Carrol Timmons, former Adjutant General to Delaware and strong supporter of WMA. General Timmons made a difference. The "energizer bunny" of women in military aviation, she was a constant presence at WAI Conferences, pulling aside aviators she’d never met to answer questions and guide them in their careers. She was a mentor to all she crossed paths with — a role model to all, she succeeded in reaching back and pulling up the next several generations of women aviators. She is loved and she will be missed.

Blue Skies and Fair Winds, Maj Gen Timmons! Charlie Poirson

From the PresidentCharlan “Charlie” Poirson(WMA President)

Gone West ~ Maj Gen Carol Timmons, Adjutant General, Delaware National Guard.

• Commissioned in 1980 from Army OCS • Earned Army pilot wings in 1981• Earned Air Force pilot wings in 1985• Veteran of Operations Desert Shield, Desert

Storm, Southern Watch, Joint Guard, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and Inherent Resolve.

• Rated as a Command Pilot, logged over 5,200 flight hours with more than 400 combat hours.

• Aircraft flown: C-130H, C-141, and UH-1.

Maj Gen Timmons' life defined by historic moments

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Images from the Past

Back row (L->R) Rebecca (Becky) flying the T-Beener (USN), Laura Jane Hutchinson (USN), Pat Denkler (USN), Colleen Nevius (USN), Karen Thornton (USN)Front Row: Deborah Branson (Frump) (USN), Colleen Cain (USCG) Wendy Carpenter (USN)

Back row (L->R): Hannah Geisen (USN), Michelle Cosenza (USCG), Kimberly Wood (USCG), Amanda Poore (USMC), Abigail Thornton Wallis (USCG)Front Row: Casey Olson (USN), Sarah Anderson (USCG) Rebekah Haba (USCG)

We were all in VT’s together in Milton, flying the T-28 or T-34C. Abigail Wallis, the daughter of Karen Thornton, staged the reenactment. ~ Colleen Nevius CAPT/USN (Ret)

Greetings! I must lead off with an apology for getting this newsletter out so late. No particular reason except that I found distractions that were more appealing than sitting at a computer on beautiful sunny days. Thanks to all who sent me birthday wishes on the FB page. I feel special sharing the same birthday month with the US Coast Guard. 230 years, “Alway Ready”, ready to fly the toughest missions, to save a life. I remember listening to the Coast Guard nominations for the Naval Helicopter Association’s Pilot and Aircrew awards, sitting in awe as the speaker narrated the stories of low visibility, gusting gale force winds, high sea states and high cliffs nearby that could only be seen on radar. They always won. There are so many inspiring stories, just like the one that earned WMA member Patti McFetridge, the Distinguished Flying Cross. Look for the blue links to articles on great achievements by other USCG women aviators. You’ll also find some new features that I hope you’ll enjoy. Welcome to our new members. We are happy to have you aboard and encourage you to get involved. Best wishes to all for a safe Labor Day holiday. ~ Sophia (sgconerly@yahoo.com)

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First CG female Rescue Swimmer,Awarded an Air Medal in 1989 for rescuing a downed ANG F-4 pilot,

HH-65 helicopter pilotLCDR Kelly Mogk Larson

ENS Janna LambineFirst female CG aviator & first CG female helicopter

pilotLT Colleen Cain (1953-1982)

Third CG female aviatorStory of Colleen Cain,

Remembering LT Colleen Cain, 30 years later

LT Ronaqua Russell first black female aviator in CG to receive the Air

Medal.Making History in

the Sky

In the Coast Guard, all “fixers” are also “fliers”.  All aviation rated personnel are required to qualify for an aircrew position after graduation from their respective “A-School” (apprentice level training). 

VADM Vivien CreaSecond CG female aviator

The Long Blue Line: Vivien Crea

Photo credit: PA2 Jennifer Johnson

LCDR Jeanine McIntosh-Menze Coast Guard’s first black female aviator

Photo credit: Coast Guard Mechanics

HAPPY 230th BIRTHDAY U.S. COAST GUARD

Semper Paratus Always Ready

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DFC Citation:

The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Ensign Patricia A. McFetridge for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on the morning of 22 September 1990 while serving as Co-Pilot of Coast Guard helicopter HH-3F CGNR 1467. The aircrew was dispatched to search for the fishing vessel JANICE N which was reported to have caught fire. Ensign McFetridge flew at an altitude of 100 feet through heavy rain, 75-knot wind gusts, severe turbulence, 30-foot seas, and visibility less than one-quarter mile. After an exhaustive two and one-half hour search, until fuel ran low, with visibility reduced to one-eighth mile, the aircrew sighted a raft with three persons onboard. As the survivors were hoisted, Ensign McFetridge carefully monitored the seas, and her quick reaction on several occasions kept the aircraft from striking the water. Demonstrating great composure under pressure, during the hoists, Ensign McFetridge provided communications between the Pilot and crew when the intercom system was disabled by the driving rain. Relieving the exhausted Aircraft Commander, she skillfully flew the aircraft, while making arrangements for medical assistance for the survivors. Ensign McFetridge’s actions, aeronautical skill, and valor were instrumental in the rescue of three victims. Her courage, judgment and devotion to duty are most heartily commended and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard.

LTJG McFetridge with fellow aviator LT Guth. U.S. Coast Guard photo.

Blazing the TrailUSCG Aviation History, The First Women

WAI Pioneer Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Coast Guard's Officer Women Aviators

Coast Guard's Enlisted Women Aviators

USCG Women in Command (This 2014 article highlights Coast Guard Women commanding aviation units at the time)

CAPT Patty McFetridgeDistinguished Flying Cross recipient Honor, Respect, Devotion to Duty

Musical Tribute to USCG

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• March 4, 1977, Janna Lambine became the first woman designated as a Coast Guard aviator.

• April 29, 1977, Vivien Crea became the second woman designated as a Coast Guard aviator.

• June 8, 1979, Colleen Cain was the third woman designated as a Coast Guard aviator.

• 1979, Sandra Ward West graduated from C-130 Flight Engineer School at Little Rock AFB, becoming the first woman to both attend and graduate from that school.  She was the first female C-130 Flight Engineer.

• 1981, Lieutenant Colleen Cain, the first female Coast Guard pilot to fly an HH-52. Became the first female Coast Guard aviator to qualify as an HH-52 Co-pilot, First pilot and Aircraft Commander.

• 1982, Lieutenant Colleen Cain became the first woman killed in the line of duty when the HH-52 she was flying as co-pilot crashed during a SAR mission.

• 1983, AD3 Carolyn DeLeo became the first woman to be awarded the Air Medal.

• June 3, 1985, the first Coast Guard aircraft ever flown by two female pilots conducted a SAR mission off the west coast of Florida.  The flight crew consisted of LTJG Vickie Karnes and LTJG Cathy Bierne, and they flew a HU-25A from Air Station Miami.

• 1986, Kelly Mogk (Larson) became the first female Coast Guardsman to graduate from Navy Rescue Swimmer School and was the Coast Guard's first female rescue swimmer.

• 1988, LT Samone Vassar became the first woman appointed as Coast Guard Flight Officer (NFO).

• 1990, ENS Patricia A. McFetridge becomes the first female Coast Guard aviator to receive the Distinguished Flying Cross.

• 1991, Marilyn Melendez Dykman became the first Hispanic-American female Coast Guard aviator.

• December 2003, Coast Guard helicopter pilot LCDR Sidonie Bosin was recognized by the First Flight Centennial Commission's 100 Heroes Committee (formed for the commemoration of the Wright Brothers first powered flight) as being one of the "top 100 aviators of all time."  She was also the first female aviation officer in charge of aircrews deployed to the Coast Guard cutter Polar Sea in the Antarctic, including one of an all-female flight crew. 

• June 24, 2005, LTJG Jeanine McIntish-Menze became the first black female Coast Guard aviator.

• April 9, 2010, LTJG La'Shanda Holmes became the first black female helicopter pilot in the Coast Guard.

• February 21, 2019, LT Ronaqua Russell, a native of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, became the first black female aviator in the Coast Guard to receive the Air Medal.

https://www.history.uscg.mil/Browse-by-Topic/Notable-People/Women/Women-in-Coast-Guard-Historical-Chronology/

Women in Coast Guard Aviation

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Soon after women entered the United States military service academies in 1976, the WASP contacted the Air Force Academy, wishing to sponsor an award for the top female aviator. Since no such award existed they chose instead to sponsor the Most Valuable Women’s Basketball Player Award and have sponsored this award continuously for forty years. Beginning with the inaugural award in 1980, WASP attended every Cadet Awards Ceremony held during USAFA’s Graduation Week, from 1980 through 2013. At least one, usually two, WASP would appear in uniform to take part in the ceremony and present the award recipient with the traditional “Eagle and Fledglings” statue, engraved with the words “Presented by The Women Air Force Service Pilots of WWII”. The WASP were very popular at these events and would spend time with the recipient, her family, coaching staff and other award presenters, educating everyone present on the history of the WASP and their personal stories. In 2013, presenter Marty Wyall told me that the WASP would no longer be able to physically present the award and asked me to join her at the ceremony to learn the ropes. She hoped that the WMA Historical Committee would be able to continue presenting the WASP-sponsored award and we have happily assumed the honor since 2014, continuing the tradition of educating the cadets and those attending on WASP history and their achievements. Unfortunately, due to the COVID situation, this year’s ceremony was cancelled but the outstanding cadets still received their awards, just not in person. We have been in contact with the WASP award recipient, Cadet Kaelin Immel, Class of 2021, who was very appreciative of the honor. Kaelin hails from Beaverton, OR and hopes to become an AF Intelligence Officer. Some her accomplishments from this past season are:⁃ Scored 473 single-season points, setting a new Air Force Division I record ⁃ Became the 16th all-time Falcon to score 1,000 points⁃ 1,321 career-points, second-most in the Division I era, and sixth-most of all-time⁃ Tabbed Mountain West All-Conference, becoming the first Falcon to receive the honors since

2013 Kaelin is an impressive young woman, athlete and officer candidate, and we look forward to following her and the USAFA Women’s Basketball team. https://goairforcefalcons.com/sports/womens-basketball ~ Margie Varuska, WMA Historical Committee Chair

Photo credit: Air Force Athletics

US Air Force Academy Cadet Receives WASP Award

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BRAVO ZULU

Congratulations Gen Jacqueline Van Ovost on your promotion and new post as Commander, Air Mobility Command. Gen Van Ovost takes the reins• Command Pilot• 4200 flight hours• Aircraft flown: C-32A, C-12C, C-17A,

C-23A, C-141B/A, KC-135R, F-15B, F-16B, T-1A, T-37B and T-38A

Photo credit: Senior Airman Miranda Simpson/Air Force

Congratulations LTJG Carly Rowell (pictured with her husband, 1stLt Jacob Rowell, and pet, Delilah) on receiving her Navy Wings of Gold! She will be flying the CMV-22B Osprey in San Diego. Carly is also a new WMA member.

WMA member, Historical Committee Chair, and retired Air Force Lt Col, Margie Varuska flew her last flight with Southwest Airlines and officially retired Aug 31st.

Margie began her aviation career in the Air Force and flew the C-141, T-41, and C-12.

Congratulations and happy retirement!

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WMA series:  Transitioning

CDR Julie Shank, USN (Ret), has written this series of articles on transitioning to the civilian world. Julie graduated from USNA in 1991, and was winged July 23, 1993. She flew the SH-3H Sea King and after one deployment, transitioned to the SH-60F/HH-60H. While not the first woman in the HS (Helicopter Anti-submarine) Community (previously banned for women), she was one of the first 3 or 4, but was the first female Department Head in the community, and (she thinks) in a Carrier Air Wing. She was a trailblazing woman in the combat mission communities of Naval aviation. Julie shares her experiences and lessons learned from transitioning to the civilian world. She retired in 2015 and is currently a doctoral student in Education, with a specialization on Higher Education and a secondary concentration in Educational Psychology, at George Mason University.

Changes for Air Force Women Aviators: Air Force Eyes Lifting

The Briefing Space/Ready Room This segment will feature professional articles on current and future issues that may affect women

military aviators. All are encouraged to contribute as issues come to light.

“Everyone has oceans to fly, if they have the heart to do it. Is it reckless? Maybe. But what do dreams know of boundaries?” ~ Amelia Earhart

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I was Janna Lambine’s BOQ roommate at Whiting Field, in the winter of 1976-1977. She was already in the helo pipeline. One day she came back to the room and said very humbly, “I landed on a ship today for training.” I said, “What?!” We Navy women aviators were not allowed anywhere near a ship. My buddies found out and someone made a makeshift trophy with a picture of the USS Lexington on it, and we partied at the O’Club to celebrate. A great excuse to quaff some beers! She got her wings in March of 1977, the first woman Coastie to do so, and went on to fly the HH-3S Pelican. In the photo are (L-R) Ensigns Lucy Young, Sue Mason, Gayla Ambrose (later dropped out), Andrea Rice, and Janna. I estimate it was taken in Feb 1977. I interviewed Janna in June and she told me that the landings were dual, on the Lexington, and were part of the normal syllabus. When they first got out to the ship, the ship said, she’s a woman, she can’t land here, and the instructor said, but she’s Coast Guard, and then they said OK! ~ Capt Lucy Young, USNR (Ret)

Sea Stories

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Recommended Books and MoviesThis feature is a list of recommended books and movies that feature women aviators or are written by women aviators. The reviews are from members, and future reviews are welcome. So sit down, and enjoy some quiet time with a good book or a bowl of popcorn and a good movie.

Band of Sisters: American Women at War in Iraq, by Kirsten Holmstedt. Journalist Kirsten Holmstedt profiles over a dozen servicewomen from all branches of the Armed Forces, thoughtfully telling their Iraq war stories of missions ranging from public affairs, to emergency medical response to the deck of a carrier, to the cockpit of an attack helicopter. Holmstedt crafts compelling narratives from research, interviews with the featured veterans, and third-party observations from families, commanders, and comrades-in-arms. The writing is solid, not spectacular, but the stories are well chosen to provide an enlightening compendium of women’s war experiences. The included photos of the women are fabulous! The author’s careful curation allows her to depict a broad range of combat; we see the featured soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines attacking and killing the enemy, being injured, shot down, launching aircraft, mourning, redeploying (and occasionally, being silly or screwing up). ~ Kimberly K. Dougherty, LTC, USAF (Ret.)

WASP: Fighting to Fly, by Julia Going, a high school junior in Wisconsin. This short film about the WASP won first place at the 2020 National History Day, at the state level.  The contest theme was "Breaking Barriers”. This 10 minute film tells the story of the WASP, their struggles, their accomplishments, and their fight to fly and be recognized as veterans. It’s a great documentary. ~ Sophia Conerly, CDR, USN (Ret)

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This Month in History

Upcoming Observances

Aug 24-25 1932: Amelia Earhart sets a Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) Women’s World Record for Distance in a Straight Line Without Landing.

Aug 5, 1943: The WASP was officially established.

Aug 24, 1961: Jacqueline “Jackie” Cochran sets a Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) world speed record for women, flying an average speed of 844.2 miles per hour in a T-38A Talon.

Aug 7, 1972: Chief of Naval Operations Adm Elmo Zumwalt Jr. issues Z-gram 116, which enables Equal Rights and Opportunities for Women in the US Navy.

Aug 1979: NASA’s first class of female astronauts complete their training program.

Aug 9, 1980: Jacqueline Cochran, Director or WASP, passes away at the age of 74.

Aug 16, 1996: 1stLt Jeanne Buchanan is winged as the Marine Corps’ first woman Naval Flight Officer.

Aug 4, 2017: USAF Tech. Sgt. Courtney completes Undergraduate Remotely Piloted Aircraft Training coming the Ari Forces’ first female enlisted pilot.

Sources: thisdayinaviation.com, history.navy.mil, USAF first female enlisted pilot

Sept 11: Patriot Day Sept 15-Oct 15: Hispanic Heritage Month Sept 18th: USAF 73rd Birthday Sept 25: Arsenal of Democracy Flyover (https://ww2flyover.org/flyover-formations/)