Date: Fri, 21 Jun 1996
Subject: QUERY: Gulf War Pilots
From: Irene Stuber

I received the following from a reader of my Women of Achievement and Herstory. I have some of the information about women helicopter, etc., pilots in the Gulf war but it isn't complete (or near complete).

Would someone on this list have a rundown that I can include in Women of Achievement?

Thanks so much - and thank you for a most interesting list. I am constantly amazed.

Irene Stuber
Compiler and author of Women of Achievement and Herstory

Sent to Irene Stuber:
I need some information. People at work are saying that there were NO WOMEN PILOTS in Dessert Storm. Can you imagine!!!!I know there was a woman helicopter pilot who was shot down, and there was a big fuss regarding her being tortured. Do you have her name and or any other women who may have flow as jet pilots in the Gulf War?

     I don't recall the name of the woman who was captured. She was a
     flight surgeon, M.D., Air Force I believe and her rank was a Major.
     Another woman helicopter pilot was interviewed by one of the major
     news stations, on women in war. Several days later while flying a
     mission she was killed in action. I want to say her name was Cocran,
     and a Captain or Major. I do not believe there were women jet pilots
     not in combat rolls, that act was not implemented until 1991, or 1992.
     The war ended 1990, I believe.

Dorothy H. Mackey

EDITOR'S NOTE

Marie T. Rossi is the helicopter pilot who was interviewed before her fatal accident. The doctor POW was Rhonda Cornum who collaborated with Peter Copeland on She Went to War: The Rhonda Cornum Story (Novato, CA: Presidio Press, 1992). American women were not allowed to fly combat missions in the Gulf War, but that did not mean they could not fly "non-combatant" air craft and be shot at. WMA members, please chime in! LGDeP

Date: Fri, 21 Jun 1996
From: EvalynG@AOL.COM

Dear Irene Stuber,

I cannot be of assistance in providing you with information about women pilots for you Women of Achievement" project. I would love an article or even information about military nurse pilots.

Evalyn J. Gossett, RN, MSN
Publisher JMNR:Journal of Military Nursing and Research

Date: Mon, 24 Jun 1996
From: Dorothy H. Mackey

Hi,

While in service, I met a officer who had a female friend who briefed the Joints Chief of Staff, Colin Powell. The issue was women in war. It seems that while legally women were not allowed to be flying combat missions they were in fact flying combat missions. "Combat" is not just shoot downs but within the "war zone". I was told that after the women filed their flight charts, and then did their mission debriefs that the senior officials directed that the flight records be changed to reflect non-combat missions were flown. I find this unfortunate for several reasons. First, not only did the women who flew these missions significantly contribute to the overall success of the war, but they were not allowed their rightful place in history. Additionally, receipt of hazard pay, and acknowledgment. I would love to verify these facts but military members are often so in fear of career reprisal that they would often decide to stay silent.

Date: Tue, 25 Jun 1996
From: Ilene Feinman

The Dr. POW -- Rhonda Cornum, is also discussed, and quite well, in the Spring 1996 issue of Minerva Quarterly. Her experience as a pilot and as a prisoner of war and the (mis)representation thereof back in the states is well documented and would illuminate your discussion of why noone seems to know about her.... Also the war ended in Spring 1991. The debates in the congress over the women as flyers began at the end of the war. First in the House where Pat Schroeder attempted, for the third or fourth time, to submit a bill allowing women to fly combat jets and this time, withthe help of Beverly Byron, the emergent TAilhook scandals, the dramatic appearance (noticed because of the numbers, the political timing, etc) of women in the line of fire in the Gulf War, and the intensive lobbying of women pilots all caused the bill to be passed. It was passed first by the House (unopposed) and then by the Senate 69 to 30. The senate politics bogged the bill down in the Presidential Commission on Women in the ARmed Forces which was stacked with presidentially appointed persons opposed to women in combat, and a minority who were variously for women in combat. After this commission muddled around with the "evidence" they unevenly recommended that women not be in combat, i.e. that the legislation just passed by congress be reversed. This rec. went to outgoing Pres. Bush. ON Clinton's watch the new Secretary of Defense Les Aspin said in his press conference announcing the implementation of the bill to allow women flyers: "We know from experience that women can fly our high performance fighter craft. We know from experience that they can perform well at sea. And we knowfrom Operation Desert Storm that women can stand up to the most demanding environments. So we are acting on what we know."

well, there is some information on women combat flyers....

respectfully,
Ilene feinman

Date: Tue, 25 Jun 1996
From:Dorothy H. Mackey

     Info: In the late 1980's the Danish put women in fighter jets with
     combat readiness, not just trainers.

        May I make a suggestion? I more then recognize the importance of
     women aviators, but let's not forget or minimize the service women in
     other fields. I feel that women's efforts in support of each other is
     significant to mention. Noting other fields and the women in them
     would provide support to women pilots and the competence of other
     women in various fields. Support service women would demonstrate our
     unity, ability to succeed without a "macho" attitude increasing team
     spirit and help to dispel the publics view that "only a rare group of
     women are competent in the service".
        While this is not my project, I must share with you that as a woman
     in service I was equally uncomfortable with the male "preema donna"
     attitude of male pilots, this attitude often caused a derogatory
     feeling among troops, and broke down team spirit. I have seen this
     same internal division in the National Organization for Women when
     electing officers. It is unfortunate to hear women state that they
     would do things differently if they were in charge but when given the
     opportunity they too have fallen into the same old rut by dividing
     their own house, and the strength of the numbers in it.
        There was a special some years ago, maybe A&E?. The Israeli's have
     women tank commanders who have shown through their nurturing skills
     that the impact is dramatically increased the competency of the tank
     crews. The men stated they would much rather have a women commander
     because the women bring understanding, patience and do more to build
     team spirit then a male commander. In another light, women in all
     facets of the military are important to the success of the mission,
     and when war occurs women were given war time jobs. As a commander, my
     war mission was the operation of the chemical decontamination shelter
     on a flight line of an F-4 and F-16 base. Sorry I was rambling. But I
     felt it important to share there is a greater audience out there if
     you broaden your focus. Just a thought.

Dorothy H. Mackey

Date: Tue, 25 Jun 1996
From: W. L. Salvatore

" I must share with you that as a woman in service I was equally uncomfortable with the male "preema donna" attitude of male pilots," "male 'prima donna'" -- a pregnant phrase indeed. responsible workers just get the job done; that's the first priority, not preening about one's ability.

I wonder what one male thinks if another male calls the first a prima donna? what "primo uomo" means in opera terms -- perhaps "leading man"? what Italian papers translate the position of the USA president's spouse as? (surely "prima donna" is the antithesis of what many occupants have thought they should act like in that position.) would the male who would the most assiduously avoid any action which could lead to his being labeled a prima donna be the spouse of a head of state or head of government?

ramblingly,
W. L. Salvatore

Date: Thu, 27 Jun 1996
From: Dorothy H. Mackey

I can not say for fact I was uncomfortable with this label, frankly most of the pilots I knew were aware of their label and simply rolled around in it. I was more bothered by the fact that so many others rarely if never received praise for being an important part of the mission. I often believed that if US pilots (not all) were to have to learn how to fix their own planes like the Germany's did that maybe they would have a greater appreciation of others work. However, the training and the military attitude feeds this attitude as if it is a black widow, able to eat its own. I was always amazed at how calious and cruel US male pilots were to each other. I couldn't imagine being on the same side together, I just hope the female pilots do not give up the positive attributes of being themselves to fit in. Historically it has been seen that many males in power will never except women in the military role.

Dorothy H. Mackey

Date: Tue, 9 Jul 1996
From: Connie Reeves

Rhonda Cornum is the Army officer that was taken prisoner by the Iraqis. She was a flight surgeon and wrote a book afterwards called She Went to War. She does bill herself as a pilot but she wasn't one. She received the introduction to flying that all flight surgeons receive at Fort Rucker, Alabama, but that does not make her a pilot or an Army aviator. There is a big distinction.

An Army Major was piloting a helicopter during the ground war of Desert Storm and was killed. I believe her helicopter hit a steel tower. She had been interviewed prior to her death and the interview had been on national TV the day before she died. I'm sure her name will come to me as soon as I send this message.

Air Force female pilots flew transport planes into the combat theater and refueled other plans enroute to it.

Connie Reeves

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