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Foreword by

 Trish Beckman

Commander, U.S. Navy (Retired)

 
Text Box: “In reading Flying for Her Country I was humbly reminded of the debt of gratitude I owe to these courageous women pilots. They did not intentionally take to the skies with the purpose of pioneering new trails; they did it purely out of a sense of patriotism and duty. Luckily, for thousands like me, their skillful flying, powerful loyalty to country and their unmatched grace both in the sky and on the ground, successfully cleared the path for generations of women military aviators who continue to follow in their footsteps. In telling the story of these World War II heroes, Amy Goodpaster Strebe skillfully reminds us that women love their country too, and some of us choose to show it by wearing our nation’s uniform.” – Nicole M. E. Malachowski, F-15E Combat Pilot and F-16C/D Thunderbird Pilot “Amy Goodpaster Strebe’s book is excellent … meticulously researched, well-written, and convincingly argued and documented. One of the book’s great strengths is a comprehensive bibliography that makes it particularly valuable as a reference for students and professionals alike … One hopes that she will now turn her considerable talent to exploring further the subject of women in aerospace.” — Richard P. Hallion, former U.S. Air Force Historian and 2007-2008 Verville Fellow at the National Air and Space Museum, Air & Space review, Feb/March 2008 “I really enjoyed the book. It tells the true story of how women were involved in aviation during the war.” – General Chuck Yeager “One group of World War II participants that has been sorely overlooked is female military pilots. Amy Goodpaster Strebe has penned a fine history of women military pilots … Until now the role played by women in the air forces of the U.S. and the Soviet Union has gone largely unrecognized. Flying for Her Country goes a long way in correcting this oversight. Highly recommended.” – WWII History “Flying for Her Country is a great read! As one of the first Coast Guard female pilots, I have always been enthralled by the amazing achievements of the women who blazed the contrails of flying military aircraft during World War II. These are extraordinary tales of extraordinary women. We are proud to stand on their shoulders.” – Vice Admiral Vivien S. Crea, former Vice Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard “As a pilot myself, the daughter of a Navy fighter pilot, and the mother of a current Air Force pilot who happens to be female, I very much enjoyed Flying for Her Country. Ms. Strebe’s work is an engaging and important contribution to the history of aviation and women’s unfinished struggle to achieve some measure of equality in the field. Many women also yearn to know what it is to have ‘slipped the surly bonds of earth … put out my hand, and touched the face of God.’” – The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop and Primate of The Episcopal Church “Before reading Flying for Her Country I never imagined that the Russian women military pilots of WWII had the same values (honor, integrity, courage, commitment, faith, patriotism, service and sacrifice) as America’s WWII women pilots. This fascinating book portrays a significant chapter in history that is not found in most history books. It is educational, motivational and inspirational as it chronicles the history of how these young women military pilots proved that, no matter the challenge, no matter your nationality, and no matter how difficult the mission, you can do anything, if it’s the right thing to do and you put your mind to it.” – Deanie Bishop Parrish, WASP (Class 44-W-4) “Strebe has done an outstanding job researching and writing about the invaluable contributions made by women pilots in the Second World War. As pioneers in military aviation, the WASP proved to the world that they were indeed capable of flying both fighter and bomber aircraft. In the case of the Soviet women aviators who saw combat along the Eastern Front, their indomitable spirit and heroism in battle have made them legendary. A book depicting the combined achievements of these intrepid military airwomen is long over due. I highly recommend it.” – Dr. Peggy Chabrian President and Founder, Women in Aviation, International “Strebe’s book offers a beautifully written, well-researched account of a little known but fascinating aspect of World War II. Her story of these women aviators in the U.S. and USSR is both dramatic and moving. Their courage is truly remarkable. Equally amazing is the way they were treated by their respective governments because of their gender. Strebe’s book is not to be missed by anyone interested in women’s history and military history.” – Mary Pickering, Ph.D. Professor of History, San Jose State University “It is an accepted part of today’s military that women pilots today fly helicopter gunships into combat, as well as virtually all the other planes in the American air fleet. To read Amy Goodpaster Strebe’s book Flying for Her Country brings the reader back to those bad old days when women were known as “gals,” their temperament and qualifications to vote were hotly debated, and college was considered a waste of prime child-bearing years. Ms. Strebe shoots those myths right out of the sky with Flying for Her Country as she recounts the stories of the American and Soviet women aviators in World War II. The American WASP grew to a program with one thousand pilots who flew 78 different aircraft some 60 million miles. Founded by famed aviatrix Jacqueline Cochran, her pilots flew every American fighter and bomber ranging in size from the tiny scout planes to the massive B-29’s. The Soviet women pilots were no less competent, and in fact were formed into their own fighter wing. Strebe describes how Marina Raskova, the first famous Russian pilot, commanded a unit flying combat missions against the Germans. Flying for Her Country gives the reader an excellent view of how difficult it was for women to be allowed to fight for their country. Despite the dangers of flying (with the WASP losing 38 killed), the WASP were not officially members of the American military –  the WASP regularly chipped in to pay the freight charges incurred in shipping a body of one of their killed members home. Strebe recounts the problems and prejudices these patriotic and professional women encountered through the tenure of their service. In all, this is a book that will be read with great interest by both pilots as well as those looking to understand how American society has changed in the last 60 years.” – Reviewed by Andrew Lubin, Ph.D. for Military Writers Society of America “Given the long history of frosty relations between the governments of the United States and Russia during the past century, a new book by Amy Goodpaster Strebe presents fresh insight into an area with more similarities than differences: insightful accounts of women military pilots in World War II encountering gender obstacles to equality and respect that parallel each other … Flying for Her Country is of necessity a heavily documented book with much research apparent. Heavy documentation is often difficult to organize into a fluid, organized style, but Strebe’s account is beautifully readable … her book adds the new dimension of comparison/contrast between two countries half a world away from each other.” – Reviewed by Gretchen Reed for the International Women’s Air & Space Museum

Praise for Flying for Her Country:

The American and Soviet Women Military Pilots of World War II

Moscow, Russia, December 2007. The author is pictured here with Hero of the Soviet Union Nadezhda Popova, a “Night Witch” who flew in the 46th Guards Night Bomber Aviation Regiment in WWII. Kneeling in a red scarf and wearing a black leather coat is Galina Brok-Beltsova, a navigator in the 125th Guards Dive Bomber Aviation Regiment during World War II.

Amy Goodpaster Strebe pictured here with WASP Jan Wood, Nell “Mickey” Bright, Pearl Judd, Jan Goodrum, Dot Swain Lewis and  Betty Brown at the Women in Aviation, International (WAI) Conference in San Diego, March 2008.

The author at the Palm Springs Air Museum on Dec. 5, 2009.