Good FLYING Reads: Pinning on Wings of Gold

The first female U.S. Navy pilots form a fascinating subject for author Beverly Weintraub.

Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at 06:03 PM ET

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Barbara Ann Allen (right with Judith Ann Neuffer) was the first to receive her "Wings of Gold" on February 22, 1974. [Courtesy: U.S. Navy]

Key Takeaways:

Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt initiated policies in the early 1970s to improve Navy morale and address personnel shortages, which led to the groundbreaking decision to allow women to train as naval aviators.
The first class of six women, including Barbara Ann Allen who earned her "Wings of Gold" in 1974, became the pioneering U.S. Navy pilots.
Despite earning their wings, these early female aviators faced significant restrictions, particularly the combat exclusion law, which limited their roles and advancement for nearly two decades until its repeal in 1993.
Their persistence and the eventual removal of combat exclusion paved the way for future generations of women to serve in all aviation roles within the U.S. military.

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Though the U.S. armed services have drawn strength from the contributions of women since their respective beginnings, immediately after World War II, there were limited opportunities for women to serve in uniform—and none to fly as their brothers did.

Until Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt rose to the top of the U.S. Navy, there was little reason to bring into the ranks the social change unfolding around the country during the 1960s and ’70s—except Zumwalt had a crisis of morale to confront, and a personnel shortage. Re-enlistment was at a low point, as was the incentive to join up once the draft ended.