When Women Earned Their Wings: the USAF's First Crop of Female Pilots

Forty-five years ago, the U.S. Air Force admitted 10 women into undergraduate pilot training, marking its first class of female aviators.

Kimberly Johnson

Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at 03:20 PM ET

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In 1975, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Gen. David C. Jones, announced the launch of a test program that would enable women to enter pilot training and staff a now all-volunteer force after the abolishment of the military draft following the Vietnam War. The first 10 women earned their silver wings Sept. 2, 1977. [Courtesy: U.S. Air Force]

Key Takeaways:

In 1976, the U.S. Air Force accepted its first class of 10 women, including Kathy LaSauce, into its undergraduate pilot training program (UPT Class 77-08), marking a pivotal moment for women in military aviation.
These pioneering women navigated systemic barriers and resistance within the male-dominated military, benefiting from legislative changes in the mid-1970s that gradually opened up opportunities previously unavailable to them.
All 10 women successfully completed the rigorous flight training, earning their wings and going on to achieve numerous "firsts" in their careers, thereby establishing a critical legacy and opening doors for future generations of female pilots in the Air Force.

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Editor’s Note: This article is part of a month-long series to mark Women’s History Month: March 1: Pioneers of Women’s Aviation | March 2: Carole Hopson | March 4: Martha King | March 8: Association for Women in Aviation Maintenance | March 11: The Air Race Classic | March 15: Sisters of the Skies | March 18: Women in Aviation Conference | March 22: Bonny Simi of Joby Aviation | March 29: The First Graduating Class of Air Force Female Pilots | March 31: Top Female Difference Makers in Aviation

When Kathy LaSauce graduated college in the early 1970s, she knew her career options were limited. She could be a school teacher, or perhaps a Pan-Am stewardess, a job that required applicants to be college educated and speak at least two languages.