Women Who Fly
Portraits of female pilots
- By Rebecca Maksel
- AirSpaceMag.com, December 19, 2008
Carolyn Russo
Patrice Clarke-Washington, Captain
Seated on her flight bag at the United Parcel Service operation base, Louisville, Kentucky, 1995.
“I wanted to fly airplanes because I wanted to travel and see the world. That’s the only focus I’ve ever had, and that’s still the way it is for me. I remember my first day at Embry-Riddle [Aeronautical University]. I was basically in a state of shock. I was pulling into the campus in a taxi. Of course, school hadn’t started yet, so there’s not a whole lot going on, and it’s wintertime and it’s gray out. I remember sitting in the back of this taxi, thinking, ‘What am I doing here?’ But anyway, I got enrolled in school and did what I had to do….
I started as a flight engineer on the DC-8, upgraded to first officer, now captain on the DC-8. For us, as pilots, captain is the top of the line. So I’m a captain, I’m flying a big airplane, one of the bigger airplanes. I have the option of flying to many international destinations, which is what I wanted. I expect another twenty-seven years in the industry, but, yes, I’ve reached my goal, and UPS did it for me.”
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Comments (5)
It was a great thing the WASPS did during WWII. I was a teenager when Germany and Japan surrendered and remember the great things they did!
Today, not in my Air Force career, women are flying again. This time in combat. Women C-130E crews are flying in Iraq and all the world. When I was flying C-130s I often told my wife "If you want to know where I am just read the headlines in the newspaper." These dedicated ladies are world travelers, just as we were in the 1960s and 1970s, often flying the same C-130 aircraft we flew.
Little has been said about their dedication and valor.
Their stories should be told in depth for posterity.
Posted by Lt.Col. Robert W. Ruffin Ret. on January 1,2009 | 01:49 PM
The women never got the respect for what they done during WW-2. I flew with the RAF when I was 13 years old front gunner in a Wellington Bomber on Atlantic Patrol. I was in the Air Training Corps. We had completed all our training including gunnery and were allowed to fly relatively safe missions when we were out of school in the Summer. Just immagine the thrill at 13 of being behind a pair or .05 twin Browning machine guns in a rotating turret.
We never did see a u-boat, but they were out there.
Years later when I had come to America in my mid 20's I learned to fly and wound up with a Commercial Multi Engine certificate # 1416814.
My greatest pleasure was flying my Luscombe 8A alone at night.
Posted by Robert A. Harbinson on February 19,2009 | 10:25 PM
I want say I am very glad we had women like you flying.Great job. I am 72 years old and retired air force and was in the maintenance area of aircraft.
Posted by charles cummings on December 16,2009 | 10:52 AM
Miss Wanda Brodowich was Winnipeg's first woman pilot,
and the first woman in Canada to get a commercial pilot's licence.
Posted by Edward T.Dolski on March 25,2010 | 01:47 PM
I found this small, old, aviation poster in a folder w/ a bunch of graphics from 1900-1933. There are two women pilots in it and i'd love to find out more about them and what this poster is commemorating. Can you guide me to where i might research it more?
here's pictures of it:
http://flic.kr/s/aHsjzSNzgZ
Posted by Pete Veilleux on July 4,2012 | 02:52 PM