Dudette 07, First All-Women U.S. Air Force Team, Makes History In Afghanistan

A team of female U.S. Air Force officers made history last week when they launched the very first combat mission over Afghanistan to be planned, maintained and flown entirely by women.

As the official U.S. Air Force site is reporting, the two-ship squadron -- called the Strike Eagles of "Dudette 07" -- provided air support for coalition and Afghan ground forces in the Kunar Valley just west of the Pakistan border. It also represents the very first combat sortie on record to involve only female Airmen from the pilots and weapons officers to the mission planners and maintainers.

"I have flown with female pilots before, but this was the first time I have flown in an all female flight," Maj. Christine Mau, a 455th AEW executive officer, is quoted as saying. "This wasn't a possibility when I started flying 11-years ago."

"The women throughout time have paved the way for us today and they made it possible for us to be equal as well as respected as individuals," added Staff Sergeant Tamara Rhone, a 455th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief. "Females are a rare breed on the flight line. It is my hope that more females step up and join the maintenance career field."

The mission was launched to coincide with Women's History Month, the Daily Mail reports.

Watch official video of the mission here:

Comments

[rustypoet]

09:44 AM on 04/09/2011

AWESOME, LADIES!

[ProFormaArtista]

10:15 PM on 04/08/2011

There is no reason to think that women can't kill as much as men.

[lhanderson86]

07:26 PM on 04/08/2011

Yay! Good for them. As I understand it, the Air Force is quite misogynistic, despite the fact that women make better fighter pilots because their bodies can withstand higher G forces.

[drillsgtmark]

09:58 AM on 04/08/2011

Good for them, it is about time they are treated equally!

[javajava]

09:19 AM on 04/08/2011

I sure there are many generations of very proud female avaitors, and a few male, saying "But don't get in a furball" I heard that somewhere...

[swiss6]

03:44 AM on 04/09/2011

Small chance of that, given that there hasn’t been any opposing air force for the duration of the conflict…

[holyghostie]

09:42 PM on 04/07/2011

These ladies are American Heros unlike Palin and Bachmann.

[duxguts]

12:56 AM on 04/09/2011

Phillis Diller....you forgot Phillis.

[ZMike]

09:37 PM on 04/07/2011

This sounds like a documentary/movie adaptation in the making. Stay awesome, Dudettes.

[HighDesertBob]

07:18 PM on 04/07/2011

Here's another First Combat flight all female flight crew in Sept 2005.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1492525/posts

[jkb5371]

07:49 AM on 04/08/2011

"planned, maintained and flown entirely by women."
It wasn't just the flight crew, either way it's pretty cool.

[HighDesertBob]

10:58 AM on 04/08/2011

I saw that, but the only ones with their photos in the news are the pilots, as if they did it all themselves. Where's the picture of the mechanics who worked long into the night to get their airplanes ready for their "historic" flight. Where are the all female ops crews who planned the mission; where are the all female Life Support technicians who outfitted them with their parachutes and gear; where are the all female POL technicians who serviced their airplanes before and after the mission?

[HighDesertBob]

07:16 PM on 04/07/2011

This may be the first all female combat mission, but the first all female flight crew was a few of decades ago with an all female crew on a C-141.

http://www.post593.org/Newsletters/Aug063.pdf

[Tone67]

04:53 PM on 04/07/2011

nothing sexier than this concept grrr rawr

[DanSc]

02:00 PM on 04/07/2011

I guess the women's sports teams at the USAFA aren't all women USAF teams?

[swiss6]

03:46 AM on 04/09/2011

No.
1) Sports team. Ie who cares?
2) Gender segregated sports, so not relevant.

[MikeDu]

11:23 AM on 04/07/2011

Are these some of those federal employees that the right wing is telling us to hate?

[BowlingForRevenge]

07:32 PM on 04/07/2011

Yep. While these proud crew members are making history flying combat missions in a series of war's to support the defense industry the right wing ...the defense industry's pet monkeys...will hold their paychecks until the monkeys get their way.

[dondon7777]

08:50 PM on 04/07/2011

You got that right!. Fanned and fav'd

[jkb5371]

07:52 AM on 04/08/2011

I hadn't heard the right wing telling us to "hate" anyone, when did they say that?

[czs5056]

11:08 AM on 04/07/2011

this is news? I thought that this was happening for several years already

[Debbie338]

03:50 PM on 04/07/2011

I believe the Army had several all-women helicopter teams in Iraq awhile back, but I think this is a first for the Air Force.

[czs5056]

03:55 PM on 04/07/2011

ahhh

[ABQ AW]

09:00 AM on 04/07/2011

CONGRATULATIONS, DUDETTES!

Good for you and all other women who have and will serve. Unfortunately, during my Vietnam experience things were very different--not a single woman, in ANY capacity (except for an occasional entertainer or two from USO), among the 4,000 folks on my carrier.

From thousands of miles away, I salute you!

Former LTJG, USS CORAL SEA, 1965-1968

[hiddenpeanut]

07:56 PM on 04/06/2011

Thats my cousin.

[BowlingForRevenge]

07:33 PM on 04/07/2011

Awesome...I know you are proud!
(I hope u aren't fibbing)