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:

The U.S. Air Force's Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) Class 77-08, comprising 10 women including Kathy LaSauce, made history in 1976 as the first group of women accepted into the service's pilot training program.
These pioneering women entered a male-dominated environment, facing significant barriers such as limited career options, lack of appropriate uniforms, and resistance from some within the Air Force during their rigorous training.
Despite these challenges, all ten women successfully earned their pilot wings in 1977, setting numerous "firsts" in Air Force aviation, including the first female C-141 commander and T-38 instructor.
Their success opened crucial doors for future generations, expanding opportunities for women in military aviation and contributing to the gradual increase in female pilots and interest in aviation careers within 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.