OSHKOSH – Women in the Navy and Army weren’t allowed to train as pilots until the early 1970s. Even then, they were limited because of laws and policies that prevented them from flying in combat.
Now, decades later, times have changed and women are now serving and thriving as pilots in the military. Six of the women serving and working on the UH-60M Black Hawk military helicopter spoke at a panel titled “The First Women Military Whirlybirds,” hosted by retired U.S. Air Force colonel, writer and civilian pilot Eileen A. Bjorkman and Lt. Col. Sarah Deal, the Marine Corps' first female aviator.
The panel was among the first-day offerings at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh July 22. The 71st annual aviation fly-in event continues through July 28 at Wittman Regional Airport.
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Why 'Whirlybirds'?
Nicknamed the "Whirlybirds," which connotes people working on helicopters, many of the first female military aviators were helicopter pilots.
Bjorkman and Deal started the panel with a short presentation explaining the history of women in the military and the challenges they faced.
After World War II, women were not allowed to fly a military aircraft or serve on combat ships. Limitations were lifted in the 1970s, and the Navy started training women to fly, beginning with Barbara Ellery.
Curated questions were asked by Deal and the crowd. Questions touched on specific situations like education, work-life balance and how the panelists got interested in flying and engineering. Everyone answered the questions, giving different answers, but one common theme that emerged was the support they received.
“I cannot be flying today and continuing to move on to the structure by the organization," Jennifer Veldboom said. Veldboom added she is fortunate to be able to have support from the organization and have great maternity leave plans.
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Bjorkman explained that was not exactly her experience, but she is happy she could pave a path for people serving.
“Most of the women in my generation were not able to [fly combat because] they were too old by the time the law changed in order for them to fly,” Bjorkman said.
Bjorkman credits Deal's generation during the 1990s for the greater push for change, which carved a path for women to be able to work in military aviation.
More about female military aviators can be found at https://womenmilitaryaviators.org/ , an organizations that focuses on preserving the past, promoting the present and protecting the future of women military aviation. Bjorkman has also released a book titled “ The Fly Girls Revolt .”
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh runs through July 28. For more information, go to https://www.eaa.org/airventure .
This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: Fly girls: EAA AirVenture Oshkosh day 1 panel explores path carved for women in military aviation
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