Esther McGowin Blake (1897–1979) was the first woman in the United States Air Force. She enlisted on the first minute of the first hour of the first day regular U.S. Air Force duty was authorized for women on July 8, 1948.[1]
Blake's active military career began in 1944 when she, a widow, joined her sons in uniform for the United States Army Air Forces. She closed her desk as a civilian employee at Miami Air Depot and joined the Women's Army Corps when she was notified her oldest son, a B-17 Flying Fortress pilot, had been shot down over Belgium and was reported missing.
Her younger son was quoted as saying that her reason for joining was the hope of helping free a soldier from clerical work to fight, thus speeding the end of the war. During the months and years that followed, Blake saw both of her sons return home from combat with only minor wounds and many decorations.
She remained active with the Air Force until 1954 when she separated due to disability. After separation, she worked as a civil service employee at the Veterans Regional Headquarters in Montgomery, Alabama until her death in 1979.
esther, mcgowin, blake, 1897, 1979, first, woman, united, states, force, enlisted, first, minute, first, hour, first, regular, force, duty, authorized, women, july, 1948, staff, sergeantnickname, first, woman, force, born1897died1979, aged, allegianceunited, s. Esther McGowin Blake 1897 1979 was the first woman in the United States Air Force She enlisted on the first minute of the first hour of the first day regular U S Air Force duty was authorized for women on July 8 1948 1 Staff SergeantEsther McGowin BlakeNickname s First Woman in the Air Force Born1897Died1979 aged 81 82 AllegianceUnited StatesService wbr branchUnited States Army Air Forces United States Air Force Women s Army CorpsYears of service1944 1954 10 years RankStaff SergeantMilitary career EditBlake s active military career began in 1944 when she a widow joined her sons in uniform for the United States Army Air Forces She closed her desk as a civilian employee at Miami Air Depot and joined the Women s Army Corps when she was notified her oldest son a B 17 Flying Fortress pilot had been shot down over Belgium and was reported missing Her younger son was quoted as saying that her reason for joining was the hope of helping free a soldier from clerical work to fight thus speeding the end of the war During the months and years that followed Blake saw both of her sons return home from combat with only minor wounds and many decorations She remained active with the Air Force until 1954 when she separated due to disability After separation she worked as a civil service employee at the Veterans Regional Headquarters in Montgomery Alabama until her death in 1979 See also Edit Biography portalWomen in the Air Force WAF Women in the United States Air ForceReferences Edit Women of the U S Air Force Aiming High By Heather E Schwartz p 14 Air Force Pamphlet 36 2241 Volume 1 SSgt Esther M Blake Air Force Enlisted Heritage Research Institute AFEHRI United States Air Force Retrieved 25 June 2012 This biographical article related to the United States Air Force is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Esther McGowin Blake amp oldid 1048297088, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
