Mary Budenbach
Mary Budenbach, a graduate of Smith College and known to all as “Polly,” joined the Navy’s cryptologic organization, OP-20-G, in 1943. Trained as a cryptanalyst, she worked against Japanese naval ciphers during World War II.
Category Archives: Military
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Lieutenant Commander Josephine Beatrice Bowman
In 1908, she joined the newly-established U.S. Navy Nurse Corps as one of its first twenty members. She was promoted to Chief Nurse in 1911. In 1919, she became the first Navy women to serve at sea.
Maggie Gee
Chinese American WII military pilot
Olga Custodio
The first Latina U.S. military pilot
Willa Brown
Brown earned her pilot license in 1938, her commercial license in 1939 and earned her Master Mechanic Certificate in 1935.
Frances Dias Gustavson
Frances Dias Gustavson applied for the WASPS in 1943. After completing her training at Houston Municipal Airport in Texas, she was assigned to the Love Field in Dallas, Texas. After the war, she competed in the All Women Transcontinental Air Race held by the Ninety-Nines in 1951.
Katherine Stinson
She went to Chicago in late 1912 and became popular aviator Max Lillie’s first female student. Within two months she earned the nation’s 148th pilot’s license, the fourth woman to do so.
Ola Mildred Rexroat
The only Native American WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots)
Jacqueline Cochran
The first woman to break the sound barrier and who, at the time of her death, held more speed, altitude and distance records than any other pilot, male or female
Ellen Church
On May 15, 1930, Ellen Church became the world’s first stewardess.