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Dyess celebrates 80th anniversary of women serving in the Air Force

Dyess Air Force Base celebrated the 80th anniversary of women entering the Air Force Friday. The author of “Final Flight Final Fight” and “What Grandma Did,” Erin Miller, spoke about the inspiration for her books. Her Grandmother Elaine Harmon served in World War Two as a pilot and trained male pilots. Harmon was a graduate of the 449 WASP program and flew in World War II.

“For many decades my grandmother and her fellow pilots of the women airforce service pilots went unrecognized for their service during World War II and its taken many decades since for them to be fully recognized throughout the general public,” Miller told those gathered at Dyess.

The Women Airforce Service Program allowed women to fly in combat beginning in 1942. The program taught women to fly cargo, transport planes, test planes, tow targets to practice firing, and train male pilots going overseas.

Many all-female crews from across America flew in for the event at Dyess to showcase their planes and skills.