Eileen Bjorkman
@aviationhistgal.bsky.social
I tell veterans' stories. Retired USAF. Freelance writer on aviation history topics and author of "The Fly Girls Revolt: The Story of the Women Who Kicked Open the Door to Fly in Combat." https://eileenbjorkman.com/ Please help me tell your stories!
Ann Baumgartner was a WASP during World War II. She was the only WASP to fly as an experimental test pilot and, on October 14, 1944, the first woman to pilot a jet aircraft, the X-59A.
March 5, 2025 at 4:09 AM
Ann Baumgartner was a WASP during World War II. She was the only WASP to fly as an experimental test pilot and, on October 14, 1944, the first woman to pilot a jet aircraft, the X-59A.
Today's shero is Capt Mary Klinker, a USAF nurse who was killed on April 4, 1975 in the crash of a C-5 after takeoff from Tan Son Nhut Air Base, South Vietnam. Capt Klinker and the C-5 were taking part in Operation Babylift, the evacuation of orphans during the fall of Saigon.
March 4, 2025 at 2:38 AM
Today's shero is Capt Mary Klinker, a USAF nurse who was killed on April 4, 1975 in the crash of a C-5 after takeoff from Tan Son Nhut Air Base, South Vietnam. Capt Klinker and the C-5 were taking part in Operation Babylift, the evacuation of orphans during the fall of Saigon.
Continuing the theme of the DoD-less Women's History Month, today's shero is my great-aunt PFC Florence Eighmy who proudly served in the Women's Army Corps during World War II. She operated a flight simulator to train Army Air Corps pilots.
March 3, 2025 at 3:39 AM
Continuing the theme of the DoD-less Women's History Month, today's shero is my great-aunt PFC Florence Eighmy who proudly served in the Women's Army Corps during World War II. She operated a flight simulator to train Army Air Corps pilots.
Since DoD is no longer celebrating Women’s History Month, us retired folks will do it for them.
Jeanne Holm was the USAF’s first female Brig Gen. She advocated strongly for opening more roles to women, including pilots & combat. She lived long enough to see women fly in combat.
Jeanne Holm was the USAF’s first female Brig Gen. She advocated strongly for opening more roles to women, including pilots & combat. She lived long enough to see women fly in combat.
March 1, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Since DoD is no longer celebrating Women’s History Month, us retired folks will do it for them.
Jeanne Holm was the USAF’s first female Brig Gen. She advocated strongly for opening more roles to women, including pilots & combat. She lived long enough to see women fly in combat.
Jeanne Holm was the USAF’s first female Brig Gen. She advocated strongly for opening more roles to women, including pilots & combat. She lived long enough to see women fly in combat.
On Feb. 18, 1943, the U.S. Army Nurse Corps' first class of flight nurses graduated at Bowman Field, Kentucky.
About 500 flight nurses served during World War II, providing medical evacuation to 1,000,000+ patients.
Seventeen flight nurses lost their lives during the war.
About 500 flight nurses served during World War II, providing medical evacuation to 1,000,000+ patients.
Seventeen flight nurses lost their lives during the war.
February 18, 2025 at 2:57 AM
On Feb. 18, 1943, the U.S. Army Nurse Corps' first class of flight nurses graduated at Bowman Field, Kentucky.
About 500 flight nurses served during World War II, providing medical evacuation to 1,000,000+ patients.
Seventeen flight nurses lost their lives during the war.
About 500 flight nurses served during World War II, providing medical evacuation to 1,000,000+ patients.
Seventeen flight nurses lost their lives during the war.
On Feb 19, 1988, the FAA permanently retired the registration number for the Lockheed Electra aircraft Amelia Earhart was flying when she disappeared in July 1937 during her around the world flight attempt. Her sister, Muriel Earhart Morrissey, requested the number be retired.
February 10, 2025 at 3:02 PM
On Feb 19, 1988, the FAA permanently retired the registration number for the Lockheed Electra aircraft Amelia Earhart was flying when she disappeared in July 1937 during her around the world flight attempt. Her sister, Muriel Earhart Morrissey, requested the number be retired.
On Feb 4, 1969, the surviving XB-70 was retired and flown to Wright-Patterson AFB, where it is now on display at the NMUSAF. More than 50 years later, the iconic Mach 3 bomber still looks futuristic and continues to inspire aircraft designers and enthusiasts around the world.
February 4, 2025 at 11:35 PM
On Feb 4, 1969, the surviving XB-70 was retired and flown to Wright-Patterson AFB, where it is now on display at the NMUSAF. More than 50 years later, the iconic Mach 3 bomber still looks futuristic and continues to inspire aircraft designers and enthusiasts around the world.
On Feb 2, 1970, during a training mission, an F-106 went into a flat spin. After the pilot ejected, the aircraft recovered on its own. It then made a belly landing in a field in Montana. The aircraft, dubbed the ‘Cornfield Bomber,' flew again and is now on display at the NMUSAF.
February 2, 2025 at 4:38 PM
On Feb 2, 1970, during a training mission, an F-106 went into a flat spin. After the pilot ejected, the aircraft recovered on its own. It then made a belly landing in a field in Montana. The aircraft, dubbed the ‘Cornfield Bomber,' flew again and is now on display at the NMUSAF.
The early 60s were a hotbed of record-setting by the US military. For example, on Jan 14, 1961, a B-58 crew from Carswell AFB, TX set a record of 1,284.73 mph over a 1,000-kilometer course.
Why? It was during the Cold War, and the records sent a message to the Soviet Union.
Why? It was during the Cold War, and the records sent a message to the Soviet Union.
January 23, 2025 at 10:59 PM
The early 60s were a hotbed of record-setting by the US military. For example, on Jan 14, 1961, a B-58 crew from Carswell AFB, TX set a record of 1,284.73 mph over a 1,000-kilometer course.
Why? It was during the Cold War, and the records sent a message to the Soviet Union.
Why? It was during the Cold War, and the records sent a message to the Soviet Union.
What do these three aircraft have in common? They all had their first flights a few days before Christmas! Nice holiday presents for the Navy and the Air Force. Maybe some holiday cheer or workers motivated by their upcoming break got them in the air? Wrong answers only!
December 31, 2024 at 3:55 AM
What do these three aircraft have in common? They all had their first flights a few days before Christmas! Nice holiday presents for the Navy and the Air Force. Maybe some holiday cheer or workers motivated by their upcoming break got them in the air? Wrong answers only!
The P-63 was mostly used in the Soviet Union under lend-lease. The aircraft were ferried to Nome, Alaska where Soviet pilots, many of them women, picked up the 2500+ airplanes and delivered them across the Bering Sea. Members of the WASP were also involved in ferrying in the US.
December 6, 2024 at 2:15 PM
The P-63 was mostly used in the Soviet Union under lend-lease. The aircraft were ferried to Nome, Alaska where Soviet pilots, many of them women, picked up the 2500+ airplanes and delivered them across the Bering Sea. Members of the WASP were also involved in ferrying in the US.
WWII search & rescue aircraft were amphibians. This OA-10 was designed to hunt submarines but its endurance was valuable as a rescue aircraft in both the European & Pacific theaters. One of the people rescued by an OA-10 was Russell Johnson, who later played the Professor on Gilligan's Island.
December 3, 2024 at 8:41 PM
WWII search & rescue aircraft were amphibians. This OA-10 was designed to hunt submarines but its endurance was valuable as a rescue aircraft in both the European & Pacific theaters. One of the people rescued by an OA-10 was Russell Johnson, who later played the Professor on Gilligan's Island.
On Nov 27, 1949, the C-124 Globemaster II had its first flight. The aircraft was the USAF's airlift workhorse during the 1950s/60s until replaced by the C-141. This photo is from a 1956 Mobile Baker deployment from Foster AFB TX to Germany. What aircraft is the Globemaster III?
November 27, 2024 at 5:28 AM
On Nov 27, 1949, the C-124 Globemaster II had its first flight. The aircraft was the USAF's airlift workhorse during the 1950s/60s until replaced by the C-141. This photo is from a 1956 Mobile Baker deployment from Foster AFB TX to Germany. What aircraft is the Globemaster III?
One of the things that struck me when I was traveling in Russia in 2014 was how they revered engineers. Some are buried alongside presidents & famous writers in Moscow's Novodevichy Cemetery, including aircraft designers Artem Mikoyan & Andrei Tupolev.
November 22, 2024 at 10:34 PM
One of the things that struck me when I was traveling in Russia in 2014 was how they revered engineers. Some are buried alongside presidents & famous writers in Moscow's Novodevichy Cemetery, including aircraft designers Artem Mikoyan & Andrei Tupolev.
There's a magical board at the Air Force Flight Test Museum that captures every first flight either made at Edwards AFB or took off from somewhere else & landed there after its first flight. In this video, I talk about the magic of Edwards Air Force Base.
ow.ly/pLsE50U876z
ow.ly/pLsE50U876z
November 18, 2024 at 8:38 PM
There's a magical board at the Air Force Flight Test Museum that captures every first flight either made at Edwards AFB or took off from somewhere else & landed there after its first flight. In this video, I talk about the magic of Edwards Air Force Base.
ow.ly/pLsE50U876z
ow.ly/pLsE50U876z
In 1989, we were entering the digital age in flight testing, but we weren't quite there yet. Here, I'm in a control room monitoring a live test using analog paper strip charts & a microphone held together with duct tape. I'd love to hear your memories of computers in the 1980s.
November 15, 2024 at 12:22 AM
In 1989, we were entering the digital age in flight testing, but we weren't quite there yet. Here, I'm in a control room monitoring a live test using analog paper strip charts & a microphone held together with duct tape. I'd love to hear your memories of computers in the 1980s.
Happy Veterans Day to all veterans! No matter where or when you served, or for how long, or at what ranks, or which service, active duty, guard, or reserve: Well done!
November 10, 2024 at 11:03 PM
Happy Veterans Day to all veterans! No matter where or when you served, or for how long, or at what ranks, or which service, active duty, guard, or reserve: Well done!
I'm so happy to own part of this B-17. I was lucky enough to do a B-17 second-in-command checkout in this airplane in 2014. The airplane was grounded in 2021 & is now displayed at the EAA museum in Oshkosh. I bought two panels from the aircraft at a silent auction last summer.
November 8, 2024 at 1:49 AM
I'm so happy to own part of this B-17. I was lucky enough to do a B-17 second-in-command checkout in this airplane in 2014. The airplane was grounded in 2021 & is now displayed at the EAA museum in Oshkosh. I bought two panels from the aircraft at a silent auction last summer.
#OTD in 1941 Jacqueline Cochran left Canada to ferry a Lockheed Hudson bomber to the RAF. She did the flight to raise awareness of the need for ferry pilots (male, of course) but the flight also helped lay the groundwork for what later became the Women Airforce Service Pilots.
June 18, 2024 at 2:10 AM
#OTD in 1941 Jacqueline Cochran left Canada to ferry a Lockheed Hudson bomber to the RAF. She did the flight to raise awareness of the need for ferry pilots (male, of course) but the flight also helped lay the groundwork for what later became the Women Airforce Service Pilots.
Today is Women Veterans Day, when we celebrate the signing of the Women's Armed Services Integration Act in 1948, which provided a permanent presence for women in the US military. A big salute to the 3,000,000+ women who have served and to all serving today!
June 12, 2024 at 4:41 PM
Today is Women Veterans Day, when we celebrate the signing of the Women's Armed Services Integration Act in 1948, which provided a permanent presence for women in the US military. A big salute to the 3,000,000+ women who have served and to all serving today!
The rivalries begin! Edited prediction from June 1929 Aeronautics mag: "Airpower is the point of the spear. An army has become merely a means of occupying [land] conquered by air power. A navy is an auxiliary, as [subs] will be directed by aircraft where to go and will be used as a means of supply."
June 8, 2024 at 8:33 PM
The rivalries begin! Edited prediction from June 1929 Aeronautics mag: "Airpower is the point of the spear. An army has become merely a means of occupying [land] conquered by air power. A navy is an auxiliary, as [subs] will be directed by aircraft where to go and will be used as a means of supply."
#OTD in 1966 one of the worst flight test mishaps occurred: An F-104 chase plane collided with an XB-70 during a photo shoot, destroying both aircraft & killing pilots Joe Walker & Maj Carl Cross. The surviving XB-70 is displayed at the National Museum of the USAF. (USAF Photos)
June 8, 2024 at 7:57 PM
#OTD in 1966 one of the worst flight test mishaps occurred: An F-104 chase plane collided with an XB-70 during a photo shoot, destroying both aircraft & killing pilots Joe Walker & Maj Carl Cross. The surviving XB-70 is displayed at the National Museum of the USAF. (USAF Photos)
#OTD in 1978, Maj Rusty Gideon was seriously injured after a low altitude ejection from an A-10A during developmental testing at Edwards AFB. Both engines flamed out after ingesting gun gasses. The mishap led to a major overhaul in USAF flight test safety planning processes.
June 8, 2024 at 7:56 PM
#OTD in 1978, Maj Rusty Gideon was seriously injured after a low altitude ejection from an A-10A during developmental testing at Edwards AFB. Both engines flamed out after ingesting gun gasses. The mishap led to a major overhaul in USAF flight test safety planning processes.
The other Amelia: Amelia Reid, who learned to fly in the 1940s & founded a flight school, Amelia Reid Aviation, in 1960 when NACA (now NASA) denied her a flexible work schedule after her son was born. She flew 55,000 hours & trained 4000+ pilots, including famous airshow pilot Sean Tucker.
June 4, 2024 at 7:35 PM
The other Amelia: Amelia Reid, who learned to fly in the 1940s & founded a flight school, Amelia Reid Aviation, in 1960 when NACA (now NASA) denied her a flexible work schedule after her son was born. She flew 55,000 hours & trained 4000+ pilots, including famous airshow pilot Sean Tucker.
With ads like this one in June 1929, it's amazing that any women managed to break into aviation in those days. A big salute to the women who persevered and eventually beat all the men to win the Bendix transcontinental race!
June 4, 2024 at 12:29 AM
With ads like this one in June 1929, it's amazing that any women managed to break into aviation in those days. A big salute to the women who persevered and eventually beat all the men to win the Bendix transcontinental race!