1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:00,000 2 00:00:05,640 --> 00:00:07,751 Welcome to the National Museum of the 3 00:00:07,751 --> 00:00:09,862 United States Air Force near Dayton , 4 00:00:09,862 --> 00:00:11,807 Ohio . We are the keepers of their 5 00:00:11,807 --> 00:00:11,580 stories . 6 00:00:18,440 --> 00:00:22,380 Mm mhm . All airmen and guardians are 7 00:00:22,380 --> 00:00:24,547 vital to the success of the Department 8 00:00:24,547 --> 00:00:27,080 of the Air Force . Over the last 9 00:00:27,080 --> 00:00:28,969 several decades , many women have 10 00:00:28,969 --> 00:00:30,969 bravely broken through the societal 11 00:00:30,969 --> 00:00:33,140 barriers and gender stereotypes that 12 00:00:33,140 --> 00:00:35,210 had previously prevented women from 13 00:00:35,210 --> 00:00:37,377 serving in all capacities of the armed 14 00:00:37,377 --> 00:00:39,840 forces . Each decade , we have seen new 15 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:41,673 leaders step up to battle issues 16 00:00:41,673 --> 00:00:43,840 plaguing women's advancement in a male 17 00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:47,820 environments Explore 18 00:00:47,820 --> 00:00:49,931 women's history from the first female 19 00:00:49,931 --> 00:00:52,098 aviators who snipers and astronauts as 20 00:00:52,098 --> 00:00:54,042 you travel through the significant 21 00:00:54,042 --> 00:00:57,230 women's silhouette display . Continue 22 00:00:57,230 --> 00:00:59,341 exploring Women's United States . Air 23 00:00:59,341 --> 00:01:01,397 force contributions and advancements 24 00:01:01,397 --> 00:01:03,174 through exhibits in each of the 25 00:01:03,174 --> 00:01:05,174 galleries , highlighted by brightly 26 00:01:05,174 --> 00:01:08,520 colored columns and markers , follow 27 00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:10,687 the life of one of the United States's 28 00:01:10,687 --> 00:01:12,464 first notable female aviators , 29 00:01:12,464 --> 00:01:14,353 Jacqueline Cochran , through five 30 00:01:14,353 --> 00:01:16,353 galleries , her story starts in the 31 00:01:16,353 --> 00:01:18,576 early years gallery and travels through 32 00:01:18,576 --> 00:01:20,631 the World War Two Korea Cold War and 33 00:01:20,631 --> 00:01:22,409 space galleries learn about her 34 00:01:22,409 --> 00:01:24,631 difficult childhood and how she learned 35 00:01:24,631 --> 00:01:26,742 to fly in 1932 for the advancement of 36 00:01:26,742 --> 00:01:28,964 her cosmetic business , followed by her 37 00:01:28,964 --> 00:01:31,187 involvement in World War Two , when she 38 00:01:31,187 --> 00:01:33,298 used her aviation skills and military 39 00:01:33,298 --> 00:01:35,242 knowledge to develop the women Air 40 00:01:35,242 --> 00:01:37,464 Force Service pilots . Cochran remained 41 00:01:37,464 --> 00:01:39,520 involved in aviation her entire life 42 00:01:39,520 --> 00:01:41,680 for the advancement of women . After 43 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:44,000 the war , she earned the title Fastest 44 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:46,111 Woman when she became the first woman 45 00:01:46,111 --> 00:01:48,111 to break the sound barrier . Always 46 00:01:48,111 --> 00:01:50,389 interested in going faster and farther , 47 00:01:50,389 --> 00:01:52,444 she funded women's astronaut fitness 48 00:01:52,444 --> 00:01:55,570 tests in 19 sixties . Prior to the 49 00:01:55,570 --> 00:01:57,792 creation of the Women Air Force Service 50 00:01:57,792 --> 00:01:59,737 pilots , American women joined the 51 00:01:59,737 --> 00:02:01,960 British Air Transport Auxiliary . In 52 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:04,410 the air transport auxiliary women flew 53 00:02:04,410 --> 00:02:06,510 aircraft from factories to active 54 00:02:06,510 --> 00:02:08,510 service squadrons for the Royal Air 55 00:02:08,510 --> 00:02:11,230 Force . British women like Mary Wilkins 56 00:02:11,240 --> 00:02:13,530 Ellis served as examples of how the 57 00:02:13,540 --> 00:02:15,540 United States Army Air Forces could 58 00:02:15,540 --> 00:02:19,380 mobilize female pilots . In September 59 00:02:19,380 --> 00:02:22,120 1942 the United States Army Air Forces 60 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:24,009 established the women's Auxiliary 61 00:02:24,009 --> 00:02:25,898 ferrying squadron and the women's 62 00:02:25,898 --> 00:02:28,110 flying training detachment . The two 63 00:02:28,110 --> 00:02:30,221 units soon merged to become the Women 64 00:02:30,221 --> 00:02:32,990 Air Force Service pilots . The WASP , 65 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:35,220 serving as civilians , solved a pilot 66 00:02:35,220 --> 00:02:37,276 shortage and performed important non 67 00:02:37,276 --> 00:02:39,387 combat flying duties during World War 68 00:02:39,387 --> 00:02:42,930 Two in December 1944 . After delivering 69 00:02:42,930 --> 00:02:45,010 more than 12,000 aircraft military 70 00:02:45,010 --> 00:02:47,790 bases , the WASP were disbanded as the 71 00:02:47,790 --> 00:02:50,680 war began to slow without a need for 72 00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:52,910 female pilots , the women returned home 73 00:02:52,910 --> 00:02:54,910 without receiving military benefits 74 00:02:54,910 --> 00:02:57,440 until decades later , During World War 75 00:02:57,440 --> 00:02:59,218 two , American women joined the 76 00:02:59,218 --> 00:03:01,051 military in a temporary status . 77 00:03:01,051 --> 00:03:03,930 Beginning in July 1942 the first group 78 00:03:03,930 --> 00:03:05,763 of women began training with the 79 00:03:05,763 --> 00:03:08,030 Women's Army Corps . While most 80 00:03:08,030 --> 00:03:10,197 military women served as nurses and in 81 00:03:10,197 --> 00:03:12,450 administrative roles , the war also 82 00:03:12,450 --> 00:03:14,561 provided women opportunities to prove 83 00:03:14,561 --> 00:03:16,672 themselves capable in non traditional 84 00:03:16,672 --> 00:03:19,390 roles . Serving in the United States , 85 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:21,900 Europe and the Pacific Theater Whack 86 00:03:21,900 --> 00:03:24,122 members fulfilled weather observation , 87 00:03:24,122 --> 00:03:26,470 air traffic control and mechanic duties , 88 00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:28,647 allowing men to perform jobs closer to 89 00:03:28,647 --> 00:03:31,100 the front lines and proving women could 90 00:03:31,100 --> 00:03:33,570 overcome male preconceptions of their 91 00:03:33,570 --> 00:03:36,390 abilities . The United States Army Air 92 00:03:36,390 --> 00:03:38,660 Forces revolutionized military medical 93 00:03:38,660 --> 00:03:40,604 care during World War Two with air 94 00:03:40,604 --> 00:03:42,604 evacuation flights . These missions 95 00:03:42,604 --> 00:03:44,716 allowed medical professionals to move 96 00:03:44,716 --> 00:03:46,493 injured personnel quickly while 97 00:03:46,493 --> 00:03:49,240 providing care en route . Especially 98 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:51,351 trained Female nurses were vulnerable 99 00:03:51,351 --> 00:03:53,573 to enemy attack while traveling between 100 00:03:53,573 --> 00:03:55,600 front lines and hospitals . During 101 00:03:55,600 --> 00:03:58,020 World War 2/1 million patients were 102 00:03:58,020 --> 00:04:01,720 safely evacuated . 1948 103 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:03,609 President Harry Truman signed the 104 00:04:03,609 --> 00:04:05,887 Women's Armed Services Integration Act , 105 00:04:05,887 --> 00:04:07,942 permitting women to permanently join 106 00:04:07,942 --> 00:04:10,109 any branch of the military . However , 107 00:04:10,109 --> 00:04:12,220 the legislation limited women to only 108 00:04:12,220 --> 00:04:14,276 2% of the military . Two of the most 109 00:04:14,276 --> 00:04:16,690 recognizable women from this era were 110 00:04:16,700 --> 00:04:18,589 also the first to join the United 111 00:04:18,589 --> 00:04:20,670 States . Air Force Colonel Geraldine 112 00:04:20,670 --> 00:04:22,730 Pratt . May , a reservist , was the 113 00:04:22,730 --> 00:04:24,786 first woman in the Air Force program 114 00:04:24,786 --> 00:04:27,630 director . As the top Air Force woman . 115 00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:29,640 She advised Air Force leadership on 116 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:31,584 plans and policies for integrating 117 00:04:31,584 --> 00:04:33,807 women into the regular reserve forces . 118 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:36,120 Sergeant Esther Blake , having been 119 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:38,064 motivated to join the women's Army 120 00:04:38,064 --> 00:04:40,176 Corps after her son's went missing in 121 00:04:40,176 --> 00:04:42,287 action , remained in the military due 122 00:04:42,287 --> 00:04:45,050 to her strong sense of patriotism as 123 00:04:45,050 --> 00:04:47,180 the Air Force opened to women . She 124 00:04:47,180 --> 00:04:49,402 joined in the first minute of the first 125 00:04:49,402 --> 00:04:52,990 hour of the first day during the Korean 126 00:04:52,990 --> 00:04:55,510 War Captain Lillian Kinkel Aquille was 127 00:04:55,510 --> 00:04:57,399 one of 30 Air Force flight nurses 128 00:04:57,399 --> 00:04:59,399 serving in the Korean battle zone . 129 00:04:59,399 --> 00:05:01,621 Having joined the military during World 130 00:05:01,621 --> 00:05:04,290 War Two , she made 250 evacuation 131 00:05:04,290 --> 00:05:06,346 flights in England and France , plus 132 00:05:06,346 --> 00:05:08,512 several transatlantic flights carrying 133 00:05:08,512 --> 00:05:10,700 for wounded soldiers . She returned to 134 00:05:10,700 --> 00:05:12,811 active duty during the Korean War and 135 00:05:12,811 --> 00:05:15,930 flew another 175 evacuation missions , 136 00:05:15,940 --> 00:05:18,162 making her one of the most accomplished 137 00:05:18,162 --> 00:05:20,218 women in the United States Air Force 138 00:05:20,218 --> 00:05:22,384 and one of the most decorated women in 139 00:05:22,384 --> 00:05:24,162 American military history . Her 140 00:05:24,162 --> 00:05:26,060 experiences during the two wars 141 00:05:26,060 --> 00:05:28,650 inspired the 1953 Hollywood movie 142 00:05:28,660 --> 00:05:32,000 flight nurse Captain Mary Spivak is 143 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:34,222 another example of the exceptional work 144 00:05:34,222 --> 00:05:36,278 female flight nurses provided during 145 00:05:36,278 --> 00:05:38,330 the Korean War . After many Korean 146 00:05:38,330 --> 00:05:40,910 citizens lost everything , American 147 00:05:40,910 --> 00:05:42,966 airmen organized relief programs and 148 00:05:42,966 --> 00:05:44,770 eventually evacuated orphans as 149 00:05:44,770 --> 00:05:47,730 Communist forces moved closer . The 150 00:05:47,730 --> 00:05:49,560 evacuation to an island off the 151 00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:51,820 southern coast of Korea became known as 152 00:05:51,830 --> 00:05:54,570 Operation Kitty Car . During the 153 00:05:54,570 --> 00:05:57,210 movement , Captain Spivak helped low 154 00:05:57,210 --> 00:06:01,050 Children into the 16 C 54 sky masters 155 00:06:01,060 --> 00:06:03,420 used to relocate Children and also 156 00:06:03,420 --> 00:06:06,350 provided food and care while en route . 157 00:06:07,240 --> 00:06:09,351 Hundreds of Air Force women served at 158 00:06:09,351 --> 00:06:11,351 bases in South Vietnam and Thailand 159 00:06:11,351 --> 00:06:13,296 during the war in Southeast Asia , 160 00:06:13,296 --> 00:06:15,351 mostly performing traditional duties 161 00:06:15,351 --> 00:06:17,684 such as nursing and administrative work . 162 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:20,207 Air force flight nurses , many of them 163 00:06:20,207 --> 00:06:22,151 women , provided in flight care to 164 00:06:22,151 --> 00:06:24,040 wounded personnel being evacuated 165 00:06:24,440 --> 00:06:26,384 during the war . Several important 166 00:06:26,384 --> 00:06:28,300 changes in federal law opened new 167 00:06:28,300 --> 00:06:31,110 opportunities for women as South 168 00:06:31,110 --> 00:06:33,221 Vietnam collapsed under the weight of 169 00:06:33,221 --> 00:06:35,221 advancing communist forces . United 170 00:06:35,221 --> 00:06:37,166 States Air Force personnel were en 171 00:06:37,166 --> 00:06:39,720 route to evacuate orphans . On April 172 00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:42,580 4th , 1975 the first of several 173 00:06:42,590 --> 00:06:44,700 Operation Baby lift flights took off 174 00:06:44,710 --> 00:06:47,150 from Tan Son Air Base , South Vietnam . 175 00:06:47,540 --> 00:06:49,840 Within 15 minutes , however , the rear 176 00:06:49,840 --> 00:06:52,510 cargo doors blew open , Unable to 177 00:06:52,510 --> 00:06:54,860 return to base , the C five crashed , 178 00:06:54,870 --> 00:06:57,092 killing many crew members , orphans and 179 00:06:57,092 --> 00:07:00,220 escorts . In spite of being injured , 180 00:07:00,220 --> 00:07:02,164 the air and medical crew members , 181 00:07:02,164 --> 00:07:04,387 including First Lieutenant Regina Yun , 182 00:07:04,387 --> 00:07:06,442 carried Children from the wreckage . 183 00:07:06,442 --> 00:07:08,230 Alien saved Children even while 184 00:07:08,230 --> 00:07:09,897 suffering a broken foot and a 185 00:07:09,897 --> 00:07:11,897 compression fracture to her spine . 186 00:07:12,440 --> 00:07:14,718 During the 19 sixties and 19 seventies , 187 00:07:14,718 --> 00:07:16,884 service women pushed for major changes 188 00:07:16,884 --> 00:07:19,051 that lead to new opportunities . These 189 00:07:19,051 --> 00:07:21,051 policy adjustments were critical to 190 00:07:21,051 --> 00:07:23,162 women's full assimilation and ability 191 00:07:23,162 --> 00:07:25,600 to create military careers . New 192 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:27,822 policies and legislation eliminated the 193 00:07:27,822 --> 00:07:30,156 separate women in the Air Force program , 194 00:07:30,156 --> 00:07:32,770 opened new career fields , equalised 195 00:07:32,770 --> 00:07:35,810 promotion rights and remove limitations 196 00:07:35,810 --> 00:07:37,810 on the number of women permitted to 197 00:07:37,810 --> 00:07:39,950 serve . In addition , women could 198 00:07:39,950 --> 00:07:42,061 choose to have both a military career 199 00:07:42,061 --> 00:07:45,120 and a family . In 1971 the Struck 200 00:07:45,120 --> 00:07:47,120 versus secretary of Defense Supreme 201 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:49,290 Court case shed light on the imbalance 202 00:07:49,290 --> 00:07:51,346 and rights imposed on female service 203 00:07:51,346 --> 00:07:54,180 members . Captain Susan Struck appealed 204 00:07:54,180 --> 00:07:56,310 the involuntary discharge he received 205 00:07:56,310 --> 00:07:59,510 when she became pregnant . 1975 . All 206 00:07:59,510 --> 00:08:01,732 services instituted . The Department of 207 00:08:01,732 --> 00:08:03,788 Defense is policy that separation of 208 00:08:03,788 --> 00:08:05,732 women for pregnancy and parenthood 209 00:08:05,732 --> 00:08:09,380 would be voluntary . In 1977 the first 210 00:08:09,380 --> 00:08:11,213 group of 10 women graduated from 211 00:08:11,220 --> 00:08:13,442 undergraduate pilot training as part of 212 00:08:13,442 --> 00:08:15,664 the Air Force's test program for female 213 00:08:15,664 --> 00:08:17,553 pilots . The success of the first 214 00:08:17,553 --> 00:08:19,664 female pilot trainees was fundamental 215 00:08:19,664 --> 00:08:21,910 to the future of women on Air Force air 216 00:08:21,910 --> 00:08:25,140 crews with the proven success of female 217 00:08:25,140 --> 00:08:27,420 pilots . Additional air crew positions 218 00:08:27,430 --> 00:08:29,940 open to women , including Navigator , 219 00:08:29,950 --> 00:08:33,040 flight engineer and load master . While 220 00:08:33,040 --> 00:08:35,151 women were initially limited on which 221 00:08:35,151 --> 00:08:36,984 aircraft and missions they could 222 00:08:36,984 --> 00:08:39,151 support , Department of Defense policy 223 00:08:39,151 --> 00:08:41,151 evolved in the 19 nineties to allow 224 00:08:41,151 --> 00:08:43,318 women to pilot all aircraft in the Air 225 00:08:43,318 --> 00:08:46,620 Force and fly combat missions . Civil 226 00:08:46,620 --> 00:08:48,731 Engineering accepted its first female 227 00:08:48,731 --> 00:08:52,080 civil engineer in 1971 . Suzanne , aka 228 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:54,191 back Well , it's arrival at the civil 229 00:08:54,191 --> 00:08:56,358 engineering career field broke through 230 00:08:56,358 --> 00:08:58,358 a barrier so that other women had a 231 00:08:58,358 --> 00:09:00,302 path to follow and leave their own 232 00:09:00,302 --> 00:09:02,040 marks . Women's arrival into 233 00:09:02,050 --> 00:09:04,161 nontraditional career fields received 234 00:09:04,161 --> 00:09:06,383 much attention , including from top Air 235 00:09:06,383 --> 00:09:09,530 Force leadership . Theresa Carter used 236 00:09:09,530 --> 00:09:11,980 the path paved by way lit to excel in 237 00:09:11,980 --> 00:09:14,590 the same career field , earning the top 238 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:16,600 Air Force civil engineer position . 239 00:09:16,680 --> 00:09:18,513 Major General Carter proved that 240 00:09:18,513 --> 00:09:20,736 barriers blocking women in a profession 241 00:09:20,736 --> 00:09:22,902 previously closed off to them could be 242 00:09:22,902 --> 00:09:26,070 overcome . Based on the 1948 combat 243 00:09:26,070 --> 00:09:28,237 exclusion policy , women's role in the 244 00:09:28,237 --> 00:09:30,459 United States Air Force was limited for 245 00:09:30,459 --> 00:09:33,030 many years . Limitations included , not 246 00:09:33,030 --> 00:09:35,141 flying fighter aircraft or going into 247 00:09:35,141 --> 00:09:38,910 combat situations . 1993 the D . O . D . 248 00:09:38,910 --> 00:09:40,854 Lifted the aviation portion of the 249 00:09:40,854 --> 00:09:42,799 combat exclusion policy , allowing 250 00:09:42,799 --> 00:09:45,080 women to serve in almost any aviation 251 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:47,302 capacity . In the Air Force , however , 252 00:09:47,302 --> 00:09:49,524 restrictions remained on aviation units 253 00:09:49,524 --> 00:09:51,636 in direct support of ground units and 254 00:09:51,636 --> 00:09:54,090 special operations aviation units . As 255 00:09:54,090 --> 00:09:56,312 leadership slowly dismantled the combat 256 00:09:56,312 --> 00:09:58,090 exclusion policy , women gained 257 00:09:58,090 --> 00:09:59,979 opportunities to do what they had 258 00:09:59,979 --> 00:10:01,868 always dreamed of doing . Jeannie 259 00:10:01,868 --> 00:10:03,757 Leavitt became the first woman to 260 00:10:03,757 --> 00:10:05,812 graduate from fighter pilot school , 261 00:10:05,812 --> 00:10:07,757 creating a path for other women to 262 00:10:07,757 --> 00:10:09,701 follow in combat roles , including 263 00:10:09,701 --> 00:10:12,360 Martha McSally , Christine Mao , Shauna 264 00:10:12,360 --> 00:10:15,820 Kimbrel and Vanessa DuBose . With the 265 00:10:15,820 --> 00:10:17,598 change in policy , women gained 266 00:10:17,598 --> 00:10:19,598 opportunities and accepted the same 267 00:10:19,598 --> 00:10:21,320 risks men did while performing 268 00:10:21,320 --> 00:10:24,580 dangerous tasks as terrorist attacks 269 00:10:24,590 --> 00:10:26,701 the United States on September 11th , 270 00:10:26,701 --> 00:10:28,590 2000 and one , Lieutenant Heather 271 00:10:28,590 --> 00:10:30,757 Penney accepted the risk when she took 272 00:10:30,757 --> 00:10:33,100 to the air in an unarmed of 16 task to 273 00:10:33,100 --> 00:10:35,267 remove a hijacked commercial flight by 274 00:10:35,267 --> 00:10:38,840 any means necessary . In 2000 and five . 275 00:10:38,850 --> 00:10:41,050 Airman First Class Elizabeth Jacobson 276 00:10:41,140 --> 00:10:43,140 paid the ultimate price for freedom 277 00:10:43,140 --> 00:10:45,307 when she was killed in Iraq . Jacobson 278 00:10:45,307 --> 00:10:47,251 was the first female United States 279 00:10:47,251 --> 00:10:49,307 airmen killed in the line of duty in 280 00:10:49,307 --> 00:10:51,473 support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and 281 00:10:51,473 --> 00:10:53,473 the first Air Force Security Forces 282 00:10:53,473 --> 00:10:55,473 member killed in conflict since the 283 00:10:55,473 --> 00:10:59,130 Southeast Asia War in 1993 the D . O D 284 00:10:59,130 --> 00:11:01,352 revised the combat exclusion policy and 285 00:11:01,352 --> 00:11:03,241 expanded opportunities for female 286 00:11:03,241 --> 00:11:05,490 pilots . Women training as fighter 287 00:11:05,490 --> 00:11:07,710 pilots thus had the opportunity to try 288 00:11:07,710 --> 00:11:09,821 out for the elite Thunderbirds aerial 289 00:11:09,821 --> 00:11:13,780 demonstration team . In 2000 290 00:11:13,780 --> 00:11:15,891 and five , Captain Nicole Malachowski 291 00:11:15,891 --> 00:11:17,724 became the first woman to earn a 292 00:11:17,724 --> 00:11:19,947 position on the team with nine years of 293 00:11:19,947 --> 00:11:22,169 experience in the F 15 . She served for 294 00:11:22,169 --> 00:11:24,280 two seasons with the high performance 295 00:11:24,280 --> 00:11:26,447 jet team flying an F 16 in the diamond 296 00:11:26,447 --> 00:11:28,840 formation . The following year , 297 00:11:28,840 --> 00:11:30,729 Captain Samantha Weeks became the 298 00:11:30,729 --> 00:11:32,784 second female pilot to join the team 299 00:11:32,784 --> 00:11:34,896 and the first woman to earn a coveted 300 00:11:34,896 --> 00:11:37,360 solo performer position . President 301 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:39,500 Lyndon B . Johnson signed into law on 302 00:11:39,500 --> 00:11:42,430 November 8th 1967 new policies that 303 00:11:42,430 --> 00:11:44,319 allowed military women to achieve 304 00:11:44,319 --> 00:11:46,750 higher ranks in larger numbers . Since 305 00:11:46,750 --> 00:11:48,861 that time , many women have served in 306 00:11:48,861 --> 00:11:50,472 leadership roles , and their 307 00:11:50,472 --> 00:11:52,583 unprecedented success has widened the 308 00:11:52,583 --> 00:11:54,900 path for other women to succeed . Some 309 00:11:54,900 --> 00:11:57,011 of the earliest and most recognizable 310 00:11:57,011 --> 00:11:59,450 female leaders include major general GM 311 00:11:59,450 --> 00:12:01,860 Home and Chief Master Sergeant Grace 312 00:12:01,860 --> 00:12:04,660 Peterson . Yeah , General Home As 313 00:12:04,660 --> 00:12:06,604 director of women in the Air Force 314 00:12:06,604 --> 00:12:08,438 program , revised discriminatory 315 00:12:08,438 --> 00:12:10,910 policies , doubled waft strength , 316 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:12,540 increased job and assignment 317 00:12:12,540 --> 00:12:15,350 opportunities and modernized uniforms . 318 00:12:16,040 --> 00:12:18,040 Chief Peterson was one of the first 319 00:12:18,040 --> 00:12:20,207 chief master sergeant in the Air Force 320 00:12:20,207 --> 00:12:22,484 and excelled as a mentor to many women . 321 00:12:22,840 --> 00:12:25,550 Most recently in 2020 Chief master 322 00:12:25,550 --> 00:12:27,717 sergeant Joanne Bass was appointed the 323 00:12:27,717 --> 00:12:29,828 first female chief master sergeant of 324 00:12:29,828 --> 00:12:32,600 the United States Air Force . Yeah , in 325 00:12:32,600 --> 00:12:35,760 June 1978 women joined previously male 326 00:12:35,760 --> 00:12:37,950 only missile launch control centers as 327 00:12:37,950 --> 00:12:39,894 combat crew commanders and missile 328 00:12:39,894 --> 00:12:42,430 technicians . Initially , women's 329 00:12:42,430 --> 00:12:45,130 presence raised objections . However , 330 00:12:45,130 --> 00:12:47,186 concerns about space constraints and 331 00:12:47,186 --> 00:12:49,130 working in mixed gender crews were 332 00:12:49,130 --> 00:12:50,797 dealt with , and the types of 333 00:12:50,797 --> 00:12:52,797 intercontinental ballistic missiles 334 00:12:52,797 --> 00:12:54,741 they served on expanded to include 335 00:12:54,741 --> 00:12:57,130 Minuteman and peacekeeper Beatrice 336 00:12:57,130 --> 00:12:59,074 Finkelstein and Air Force research 337 00:12:59,074 --> 00:13:01,630 nutritionist and dietician experimented 338 00:13:01,630 --> 00:13:03,770 with a variety of unusual meat dishes 339 00:13:03,780 --> 00:13:06,113 and concentrated ice cream mixed blends . 340 00:13:06,113 --> 00:13:08,280 When developing some of the first food 341 00:13:08,280 --> 00:13:10,058 eaten in space , she focused on 342 00:13:10,058 --> 00:13:12,280 creating food that would have the right 343 00:13:12,280 --> 00:13:14,336 consistency , flavor and nutrition . 344 00:13:14,336 --> 00:13:16,447 While still performing well in a zero 345 00:13:16,447 --> 00:13:19,070 gravity environment , she created thin , 346 00:13:19,080 --> 00:13:21,410 high protein , semi liquid foods and 347 00:13:21,410 --> 00:13:23,200 collapsible tubes that allowed 348 00:13:23,200 --> 00:13:25,367 astronauts to operate for long periods 349 00:13:25,367 --> 00:13:28,940 of time in space . In January 1978 350 00:13:28,950 --> 00:13:31,006 NASA selected the first six women to 351 00:13:31,006 --> 00:13:33,117 train for the space shuttle program . 352 00:13:33,340 --> 00:13:35,840 This class also produced the position 353 00:13:35,850 --> 00:13:37,860 of mission specialists . In the 354 00:13:37,860 --> 00:13:40,082 following years , Astronautics continue 355 00:13:40,082 --> 00:13:43,990 to open up to women . In 1993 356 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:46,167 Air Force Major Susan Helms became the 357 00:13:46,167 --> 00:13:48,278 first United States military woman in 358 00:13:48,278 --> 00:13:51,040 space . She conducted experiments , was 359 00:13:51,040 --> 00:13:52,984 the first woman to work aboard the 360 00:13:52,984 --> 00:13:55,207 international space station and set the 361 00:13:55,207 --> 00:13:57,373 world record for the longest spacewalk 362 00:13:57,373 --> 00:14:00,850 of eight hours and 56 minutes . Eileen 363 00:14:00,850 --> 00:14:02,906 Collins reached two major milestones 364 00:14:02,906 --> 00:14:05,072 for women when she served as the first 365 00:14:05,072 --> 00:14:07,294 woman to pilot a space shuttle and as a 366 00:14:07,294 --> 00:14:09,406 mission commander . Collins wore this 367 00:14:09,406 --> 00:14:11,406 when she served as the first female 368 00:14:11,406 --> 00:14:13,670 space shuttle pilot in 1995 aboard 369 00:14:13,670 --> 00:14:16,650 Discovery with women . Having opened 370 00:14:16,650 --> 00:14:18,740 the pathway to space , Pamela Melroy 371 00:14:18,740 --> 00:14:20,796 became the second woman to command a 372 00:14:20,796 --> 00:14:22,907 space shuttle . During that mission , 373 00:14:22,907 --> 00:14:25,018 she made history as one of two female 374 00:14:25,018 --> 00:14:27,073 commanders in orbit at the same time 375 00:14:27,073 --> 00:14:29,240 when Peggy Whitson served as the first 376 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:31,184 female international space station 377 00:14:31,184 --> 00:14:32,184 commander . 378 00:14:33,140 --> 00:14:36,570 Mhm Mm 379 00:14:37,340 --> 00:14:40,340 yeah . Women have developed numerous 380 00:14:40,340 --> 00:14:42,460 gadgets and tools from everyday items 381 00:14:42,460 --> 00:14:44,460 to specialize military equipment . 382 00:14:44,940 --> 00:14:46,773 Drawing from their education and 383 00:14:46,773 --> 00:14:48,607 previous experience , women from 384 00:14:48,607 --> 00:14:50,718 various backgrounds developed cutting 385 00:14:50,718 --> 00:14:52,996 edge inventions , providing protection , 386 00:14:52,996 --> 00:14:55,162 comfort and nourishment to airmen over 387 00:14:55,162 --> 00:14:58,400 the decades . In the 19 sixties , Lee 388 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:00,690 Curry Rock , a mechanical engineer at 389 00:15:00,690 --> 00:15:02,579 Wright Patterson Air Force Base , 390 00:15:02,579 --> 00:15:04,746 designed a new zipper . The innovative 391 00:15:04,746 --> 00:15:06,968 pressure seal was used on full pressure 392 00:15:06,968 --> 00:15:09,070 space and diving suits , as well as 393 00:15:09,070 --> 00:15:11,181 engine covers and shipping containers 394 00:15:11,181 --> 00:15:13,459 for airtight and watertight enclosures . 395 00:15:13,459 --> 00:15:16,030 While allowing flexibility , Alice King 396 00:15:16,030 --> 00:15:17,808 Chatham was notable in creating 397 00:15:17,808 --> 00:15:19,586 numerous items of high altitude 398 00:15:19,586 --> 00:15:22,230 protective gear with an unexpected 399 00:15:22,230 --> 00:15:24,430 background and fine arts . Chatham's 400 00:15:24,430 --> 00:15:26,541 knowledge of anatomy was essential in 401 00:15:26,541 --> 00:15:28,486 designing restraints and tethering 402 00:15:28,486 --> 00:15:30,430 devices for humans and animal test 403 00:15:30,430 --> 00:15:32,319 subjects and custom fit masks and 404 00:15:32,319 --> 00:15:35,470 helmets for astronauts . On May 9th , 405 00:15:35,470 --> 00:15:38,300 1983 an all female aircrew performed 406 00:15:38,300 --> 00:15:40,810 the first U s a F transatlantic flight 407 00:15:40,820 --> 00:15:43,460 operated solely by women . The crew 408 00:15:43,460 --> 00:15:46,200 flew a C 1 41 B Starlifter from McGuire 409 00:15:46,200 --> 00:15:48,367 Air Force Base , New Jersey , to Rhein 410 00:15:48,367 --> 00:15:50,422 Main Air Base , Germany . During the 411 00:15:50,422 --> 00:15:52,256 round trip flight , the crew air 412 00:15:52,256 --> 00:15:54,311 evacuated seriously ill patients and 413 00:15:54,311 --> 00:15:56,533 transported other service personnel and 414 00:15:56,533 --> 00:15:58,533 family members from West Germany to 415 00:15:58,533 --> 00:16:00,367 Washington , D . C . The mission 416 00:16:00,367 --> 00:16:02,589 demonstrated the importance and growing 417 00:16:02,589 --> 00:16:04,256 presence of women in Airborne 418 00:16:04,256 --> 00:16:06,144 Operations , a traditionally male 419 00:16:06,144 --> 00:16:08,810 career field . Since women first joined 420 00:16:08,810 --> 00:16:10,866 the military , they have broken down 421 00:16:10,866 --> 00:16:13,050 many barriers and created pathways to 422 00:16:13,050 --> 00:16:14,994 success for themselves and for the 423 00:16:14,994 --> 00:16:17,780 women that would follow . Throughout 424 00:16:17,780 --> 00:16:19,836 the women in the Air Force exhibit , 425 00:16:19,836 --> 00:16:22,002 there are numerous stories of struggle 426 00:16:22,002 --> 00:16:24,058 and success that have led to today's 427 00:16:24,058 --> 00:16:26,224 military women to where she is today . 428 00:16:27,140 --> 00:16:29,196 Currently , all opportunities in the 429 00:16:29,196 --> 00:16:31,418 Department of the Air Force are open to 430 00:16:31,418 --> 00:16:33,140 women who are able to meet the 431 00:16:33,140 --> 00:16:34,862 requirements , whether they're 432 00:16:34,862 --> 00:16:36,807 interested in serving as a pilot , 433 00:16:36,807 --> 00:16:39,270 mechanic , missile , ear or nurse . All 434 00:16:39,270 --> 00:16:42,150 careers , all airmen and all guardians 435 00:16:42,160 --> 00:16:44,310 are vital to the continued success of 436 00:16:44,310 --> 00:16:48,260 the Department of the Air Force . Visit 437 00:16:48,260 --> 00:16:50,316 our website for more information and 438 00:16:50,316 --> 00:16:52,260 for photos of the women in the Air 439 00:16:52,260 --> 00:16:53,260 Force exhibit . 440 00:16:57,040 --> 00:16:58,040 Yeah , 441 00:17:02,140 --> 00:17:03,570 mhm . Mhm . 442 00:17:06,740 --> 00:17:07,740 Mm , 443 00:17:18,940 --> 00:17:19,340 yeah , 444 00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:27,640 yeah , 445 00:17:31,340 --> 00:17:35,330 Mhm , Yeah , 446 00:17:39,400 --> 00:17:41,540 yeah