5 Forgotten Female Pilots Who Contributed to WWII’s Air Efforts

World War II saw tremendous advancements in aviation, and while men dominated the skies in combat, many women played vital roles as pilots. These women, often overlooked, contributed significantly to the war effort by flying critical missions, transporting aircraft, and training future combat pilots. They broke barriers in an era when women were rarely seen in such roles, showing immense courage and skill. Here are five female pilots whose contributions to WWII should not be forgotten.

1. Jacqueline Cochran

Jacqueline Cochran was one of the most influential women in aviation during WWII. She was not only a skilled pilot but also a driving force behind the creation of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) in the United States. WASP was a program that allowed women to fly military aircraft, freeing up male pilots for combat missions. Cochran’s efforts led to over 1,000 women serving as pilots during the war.

Cochran herself flew many types of planes, from fighters to bombers, and set numerous aviation records both before and after the war. Under her leadership, WASP pilots delivered aircraft from factories to military bases, tested new aircraft, and even towed targets for live anti-aircraft gun practice. Although WASP members were not recognized as military personnel during the war, their contributions were crucial to the U.S. war effort.

2. Marina Raskova

Marina Raskova was a Soviet pilot and navigator who became famous for her long-distance flights before the war. When World War II broke out, she used her influence to create the first all-female aviation units in the Soviet Union. One of these units, the 588th Night Bomber Regiment, became known as the “Night Witches” due to their daring nighttime bombing raids against German forces.

Raskova personally trained many of these female pilots and led them in battle. The women flew slow, lightweight planes that were originally designed for crop-dusting, yet they managed to carry out over 30,000 bombing missions during the war. Despite the danger and difficulty of their missions, the Night Witches played a significant role in harassing and disrupting German forces on the Eastern Front.

3. Bessie Coleman

Though Bessie Coleman is often remembered for her contributions to aviation in the 1920s as the first African American woman to earn a pilot’s license, her influence indirectly shaped the experiences of women pilots in WWII. Her pioneering spirit inspired many women of color, including some who joined programs like WASP, to pursue aviation careers. Although Coleman passed away before the war, her legacy lived on through the women who followed in her footsteps.

The influence of pilots like Coleman on WWII aviation can be seen in the diversity of those who later flew for programs such as the WASP. The program, while predominantly white, did have women of various backgrounds, and Coleman’s trailblazing career helped pave the way for broader acceptance of women in aviation, including during WWII.

4. Hanna Reitsch

Hanna Reitsch was a German test pilot and one of the few women to fly experimental and military aircraft during WWII. She became the first woman in history to fly a helicopter and set multiple aviation records. As a highly skilled test pilot, Reitsch was entrusted with flying many of Germany’s advanced aircraft prototypes, including the rocket-powered Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet and other experimental planes.

Though Reitsch’s wartime service was on the German side, her skills as a pilot cannot be denied. She took part in dangerous test flights, including those involving experimental jet and rocket aircraft. Despite the dangers of test piloting, she survived the war and continued to fly in the postwar years, contributing to the development of aviation even after WWII.

5. Amy Johnson

Amy Johnson was a pioneering British pilot who became famous in the 1930s for her long-distance flights. When World War II began, she joined the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA), a civilian organization responsible for ferrying military aircraft between factories, maintenance units, and front-line squadrons. Johnson flew a variety of aircraft types, including fighters and bombers, across the UK to help the Royal Air Force maintain its fleet.

Tragically, Johnson’s life was cut short during the war when her plane crashed into the Thames estuary in 1941. She was flying an aircraft for the ATA at the time of her death. Johnson’s service during WWII, though brief, was a continuation of her pioneering aviation career, and her contributions to the war effort remain an important part of her legacy.