USAF all-female F15 team launches historic Afghanistan mission

[CougarKing]

All-female team launches historic F-15 mission over Afghanistan

A team of female Airmen made history at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan on March 30 when the F-15E Strike Eagles of "Dudette 07" blazed down the runway to provide close air support for coalition and Afghan ground forces.

The two-ship formation consisted of all females, two pilots and two weapons system officers, but more importantly, it marked the first combat mission flown from Bagram to be planned, maintained and flown entirely by females.

This mission represents the first combat sortie on record to involve only female Airmen, from the pilots and weapons officers to the mission planners and maintainers, said Lt. Col. Kenneth Tilley, the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing historian.

While planning of the mission required support from women at all levels such as Capt. Kristen Wehle, the F-15 liaison officer at the combined air operations center, those involved evoked memories of legendary Women's Army Corps pilots and others for inspiration.

"Women's history means a celebration of the equality we have today in the military," said Capt. Jennifer Morton, a 389th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron weapons officer.

In addition, the pilots never forget the contributions of the maintainers on the ground, maintainers like Airmen 1st Class Casiana Curry, who enlisted Sept. 11, 2009, and enables the continued support of the warfighters on the ground.

"The four women officers represents only a portion of the women who supported this mission making it the first all female from tasking to completion combat sortie to date," said Capt. Leigh Larkin, s 389th EFS weapons systems officer.


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[Gunner98]

Welcome to the 1990s, USAF!    Women in combat!

 

[Journeyman]

I can't wait for the turmoil when Stars & Stripes runs the article about 'them women folk' being allowed to vote.

 

[Michael OLeary]

Wow, they're almost like a modern country now.  Do you think they'll try something tough next, like the metric system?  ;D

 

[Strike]

I'm glad you all replied the way you did.  My thoughts when I read it were who cares, so what, and been there, done that (not me personally of course, but it has been done).

 

[medicineman]

Wonder if they had to wear burquas...

MM

 

[xo31@711ret]

Wow, they're almost like a modern country now.  Do you think they'll try something tough next, like the metric system?   


I remember they tried the metric system in the  mid 70's  Mike    >

 

[my72jeep]

You know this would have meant more if it wasn't publicize like a circus side show.

 

[Snaketnk]

"The Two Ship Formation" was all female... does that mean they have a segregated navy? Hahaha, classic U Ess of Eh.

 

[Bruce Monkhouse]

Yea, come on folks this is the 21 century, lets move on to actually important stories,.............. like 'Are they hot?" :-*

 

[Dissident]

Pretty enough:

http://usoonpatrol.org/frontlines/weekly/2011-03-27