Firsts matter to Americans - Lindbergh crossed the Atlantic - Yeager broke the sound barrier - Armstrong walked on the moon.
On October 22, 1942 a group of six ordinary / extraordinary women flew six tiny L4 Cubs from the Piper Aircraft factory in Lockhaven, Pennsylvania to Long Island, New York. On that day six WAFS, Betty Gillies - Cornelia Fort - Pat Rhonie - Helen Mary Clark - Del Scharr - and Teresa James broke an aviation glass ceiling. They were the first women to officially fly United States military aircraft.
Flying a little Cub from Pennsylvania to New York may not seem like a big feat compared to Lindbergh's or Yeager's, but in all honesty - it truly was - considering those fellas had no glass ceiling to break ... only an ocean to cross and a barrier to breach.
Great photo. Looks cold!
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