Societies underwent unexpected changes as a result of World War II. Behind the cockpits of military aircraft, a fierce battle for recognition was taking place while the battlefields raged across continents. Hundreds of women donned aviation uniforms and flew military aircraft with skill, grit and quiet resolve during a period when social roles were strict and strongly gendered. They faced the same risks, trained similarly to men and made a substantial contribution to the war effort. However, for many years, their contributions went mostly unacknowledged.
This is the tale of the women who flew in defiance of social norms, official opposition, historical neglect and the enemy.
Women’s Ascent in Military Aviation Worldwide
Women served in the air forces of more than 30 countries during World War II, but only three countries, the US, the USSR and the UK, officially allowed women to serve in military aviation.
Prejudice was subordinated to necessity in the Soviet Union. Soviet military leaders looked to women, who had already received aviation training from civilian flying clubs, in response to the severe lack of pilots. As a result, three all-female air regiments were established and commanded by renowned aviator Marina Raskova. During the night, the 588th Night Bomber Regiment flew antiquated biplanes over German positions. Because of the horrifying swooshing noise their planes made when they launched stealth attacks, the enemy dubbed them the “Night Witches”. The regiment dropped more than 3,000 tonnes of bombs and flew more than 23,000 sorties, according to Soviet records. The highest military honour in the nation, the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, was bestowed upon many of the women.
Despite being prohibited from flying in combat in the United States, women played a vital role in the Army Air Forces’ civilian Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASP) program. Approximately 1,074 women received training to test damaged aircraft, tow targets for live ammunition training and ferry aircraft. Together, these pilots flew more than 60 million miles in all kinds of military aircraft. Notable among them was Jacqueline Cochran, the first woman to break the sound barrier after the war and a trailblazing aviator who later became the director of WASP. The women were not granted military status until 1977, and the program was terminated in 1944.
Women were recruited by the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) in the United Kingdom to transport aircraft between frontline bases and factories. Despite their initial reluctance, the British government finally realised how urgently they needed qualified pilots. Women like Pauline Gower, the head of the ATA’s women’s section, demonstrated their ability to fly the Spitfire and Lancaster bombers, two of the most sophisticated aircraft available at the time. They operated more than 415,000 ferry flights, frequently without radar or radios.
Obstacles Faced by Women Pilots
Despite their accomplishments, women pilots experienced limited recognition, unequal compensation and institutionalised discrimination. WASP pilots in the United States were not eligible for military benefits, and their families were responsible for paying for their funerals if a pilot passed away while serving, as 38 of them did. They were not even permitted to be buried in military cemeteries or wear military insignia in many nations.
The psychological toll was just as great. Every day, these women had to demonstrate that they were not a liability. They had to perform better than their male counterparts in order to be respected because they were always being watched.
Despite having a more integrated role, female pilots in the Soviet Union had to contend with substandard living conditions and antiquated equipment in addition to the same combat risks as men. The majority of them were demobilised after the war, returned to civilian life without pensions or honours and had their units disbanded without fanfare.
Recognition That Came Too Late
For decades, official histories left out their contributions. The WASP program was secret in the US for more than 30 years. They didn’t all get the Congressional Gold Medal until 2009. The British government finally recognised the women of the ATA in 2008, when Prime Minister Gordon Brown made a formal apology for the pay gap between men and women.
The Night Witches are still a source of national pride in Russia today, but many of the pilots who survived lived in obscurity for decades. It wasn’t until the 21st century that filmmakers, historians and writers started to talk about how brave they were.
The Legacy of Indian Women
Women didn’t fly military planes in India during World War II, but the effects of these global pioneers have lasted through the years. Their legacy laid the groundwork for future generations and encouraged women in many countries, including India, to work in military aviation. In 2016, the Indian Air Force (IAF) took in its first group of female fighter pilots. This decision was based on a history shaped by the work of these WWII pilots.
Women like Flight Lieutenants Avani Chaturvedi, Bhawana Kanth and Mohana Singh now fly combat missions in Indian skies. This would have seemed impossible during the colonial era. Their flights are not just missions; they are the next step in a path that women who refused to be grounded have already taken.
A History That Must Not Fade
The women who flew military planes during World War II were more than just pilots; they were trailblazers who didn’t let the rules of their time hold them back. They flew without expecting to be recognised, and many times they weren’t. They didn’t get medals as a reward; instead, they knew they had done their duty, often in a quieter and more dangerous way than most people remembered.
History should give them the important roles they played in World War II, not just as footnotes. Their legacy should not only inspire us but also make us think about how we recognise, remember and value contributions.
