Following President Donald Trump's nomination of a previous "Fox & Friends" presenter for the role of Defense Secretary, questions about women's roles within the U.S. armed forces have continually resurfaced in news stories.
During his Senate
confirmation hearings
in January,
Pete Hegseth was prodded
about
a podcast
In an appearance where he stated, "I'm simply asserting that women shouldn't be in combat positions." Later confirmed, Hegseth tried to retract his comments, claiming they had been misunderstood.
However, his statements and behaviors keep unsettling his critics. This was particularly evident in March when Hegseth issued an order.
review of standards
For combat roles, a change that has been criticised as deceptive and potentially used to prevent certain women from serving in war zones.
The increase in discussions around women in the military, a subject that hasn't garnered much attention recently, coincides with the release of “
Spitfires: The Brave American Women Who Soared Amidst Peril in WWII
This relevant and timely work comes from journalist and author Becky Aikman. The book brings to life the tale of the "Atta-Girls," an inspiring group of American women denied entry into the U.S. military due to their gender. Undeterred, these brave individuals journeyed across the Atlantic to assist British forces by transporting fighter planes, bombers, and various other aircraft directly to frontline squadrons manned by male pilots.
These boldly resolute woman aviators were the trailblazing predecessors to the females who would gradually dismantle obstacles within the U.S. military over the ensuing years. It took half a century for this progression to unfold.
the first woman
flew a combat mission in a fighter jet, and it was not until 2015 that, during President Barack Obama’s tenure,
All combat positions have been made available.
to women.)
And what ancestors they had.
We meet a daring female pilot determined not to be overshadowed by the male fighter pilots. She flew her aircraft at 300 miles per hour underneath Britain’s Severn Railway Bridge, skillfully navigating through the supports with only a narrow 70-foot clearance from the water below. Then there's the "Chicago Foghorn," known for her loud expletives, earning this high-volume moniker due to her use of strong language. Also featured is an incredibly attractive and charismatic woman from New Orleans who borrowed her fiancé’s car under false pretenses, disappeared without returning it, and instead sold the vehicle to fund her journey so she could take the flight test necessary to join war efforts.
“Aikman states plainly, ‘It’s clear that the marriage had ended.’”
The 25 selected female pilots destined for wartime service gathered under the leadership of Jackie Cochran, an extraordinary person known not only for founding a successful cosmetic enterprise but also for becoming globally recognized as the premier woman pilot following Amelia Earhart's passing. With speculation swirling about America potentially joining World War II, Cochran leveraged her connections to persuade President Franklin D. Roosevelt, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, along with the head of the Army Air Corps, allowing U.S. women—especially those bold aerobatic performers she personally brought aboard—to participate in aerial operations.
As stated by Aikman, despite their courage and skill, the United States militarywisely chose not toaccept female pilots.
Unfazed, Cochran shifted her focus in 1941 towards the British, who were under relentless assault from the Nazis and eagerly welcomed American women into their disorganized Air Transport Auxiliary—an organization dubbed "Anything to Anywhere," though it was also referred to as "Always Terrified Airwomen" and more charmingly as "Atta-Girls." (It’s important not to confuse these “Atta-Girls” with another fearless band of American aviators known as
WASPs
, which stands for Women Airforce Service Pilots, who transported aircraft and performed test flights in the U.S.—a hazardous job that claimed the lives of several women.
The Atta-Girls originated from various walks of life. Dorothy Furey, the New Orleans-born auto thief, transcended a deprived upbringing marked by "gothic dysfunctional" family dynamics to emerge as the inaugural U.S. female aviator sanctioned for service during World War II. In stark contrast stood Virginia Farr, whose lineage placed her among America’s elite societal circles; prior to the conflict, she garnered attention when an article detailed her instructing women pilots at a flying academy under headlines like “Blue Book Beauty Soars High, Imparts Flight Skills to Females.” The piece noted how this individual, fresh out of the refined ambiance typical of ladies' finishing schools, boldly ventured into what was traditionally perceived as the dominion of male mechanics and engines.
Some were fairly new to the scene, while others were seasoned professionals. When Helen Richey became one of the earliest women to go to Britain for her assignment, she had previously flown alongside Amelia Earhart as her co-pilot and had also established several speed and endurance records.
Despite their different origins and expertise, their wartime service provided them with an opportunity for transformation. Furey portrayed herself as part of high society, whereas her affluent peer Farr adopted a more modest, everyday persona.
The Atta-Girls exhibited extraordinary courage—not only did they navigate treacherous conditions in an area frequently targeted by attacks, but they were essentially gaining expertise mid-flight. As noted by Aikman, one of these women piloted 18 distinct aircraft varieties within a single month, encompassing various kinds like torpedo bombers, air-sea rescue seaplanes, and fighter jets such as the Typhoon and the Corsair utilized by U.S. Marine Corps. Collectively, they operated up to 147 different airplane models, becoming adept at handling machines fresh from production lines that seasoned male aviators hadn’t even encountered yet.
However, it is the Spitfire, which names the book itself, that captures the imagination—an apt characterization of these pioneering aviators.
Aikman notes that "Its elegant, streamlined shape enhanced a woman's figure." He also states, "The Spitfire remains one of Britain's refined and contemporary design accomplishments, akin to the Aston Martin sports car or the mini skirt."
In mainstream culture, the aircraft came to symbolize a "spirited woman," according to Aikman. The moniker stems from an endearing nickname used for the boss’s daughter at the manufacturing company responsible for building it.
The agile, one-person Spitfire featuring sleek, swept-back wings had a profound significance for the British people, whom they believed helped protect their nation during the Battle of Britain. However, this bond was particularly deep among female aviators, as noted by Aikman.
Aikman notes, "The Spitfire embodied the supreme notion of control that initially attracted them to aviation: the sensation of liberty — liberation from gravitational forces, emancipation from the constraints of sluggish and heavier aircraft, escape from the banality of terrestrial existence. To virtually all pilots, the Spitfire represented a semblance of this unbridled freedom."
her
It seemed as though it belonged to her.
Instead of avoiding combat, these pilots grew restless whenever they couldn't get nearer to the action, zipping through the skies directly from the manufacturing plants to areas fraught with danger posed by the Nazi’s deadly Luftwaffe. After an airstrike hit their base, one "Atta-Girl" remarked excitedly about the incident. They experienced numerous aerial victories but also faced the sorrow and devastation that war inflicts upon everyone; for some, this left lasting emotional scars.
The Atta-Girls pushed themselves intensely—some even crashed yet still demanded to get back into the cockpit. However, boy, do they come across as an incredibly lively group. If you were forced to stay in a combat area, being alongside Furey and the others would surely make things more bearable. As Aikman points out, "they maintained several romantic interests simultaneously." Sometimes they'd have wild nights with someone new just before taking off once more, perhaps for their last mission. Their personal lives mirrored how they piloted their Spitfires: full of exhilarating speed and precise command.
Years later, when reflecting on those times, Furey mentioned that she "consumed large amounts of champagne and danced nightly... since you weren't sure if you'd make it back."
The narratives of the Atta-Girls' romantic escapades and their lively social scenes make "Spitfires" more engaging and enjoyable. However, the book might have benefited from reducing some of the extensive accounts of these aviators' personal lives. It's clear they led exciting lifestyles; perhaps less detail would enhance the overall reading experience.
When the Air Transport Auxiliary was dissolved in 1945, a total of 1,246 pilots and flight engineers had served with them, among whom were 168 women—not only from the United States but also from various other nations. In their grand farewell ceremony, despite Lord Beaverbrook, who played a crucial role in establishing the organization as the minister of aircraft production, expressing his gratitude towards those men who participated; unfortunately, he did not acknowledge the contributions made by the women, according to Aikman's account.
“Aikman notes that ‘the period during which female aviators might be forgotten’ had already started."
Upon returning home, several of the Atta-Girls found out that their exceptional flight skills were not as valued in an industry largely run by men. However, going to a combat area wasn't about making a social statement for them. To quote Winnabelle Pierce, an Atta-Girl herself, "Women's liberation was foreign territory to us."
All they desired was to soar through the skies — and secure victory in the conflict.
Manuel Roig-Franzia serves as a staff writer for The Washington Post and previously held the position of bureau chief for the paper in both Miami and Mexico City.
Spitfires
The Brave American Women Who Challenged Peril in World War II
By Becky Aikman.
Bloomsbury. 368 pp. $31.99
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