All-female C-17 flight commemorates Women's History Month

Photo By Senior Airman Kasey Zickmund | Members of an all-female aircrew discuss the mission before flight at a non-disclosed Southwest Asia location March 10, 2010. Part of the crew, honoring Women's History Month, included (L-R) 1st Lt. Erica McCaslin, pilot, Capt. Alicia Dittus, pilot, Senior Airman Christine Collier, loadmaster, Capt. Angela Kimler, pilot, and Master Sgt. Lisa Peele, First Sergeant, all are assigned to 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron.  

SOUTHWEST ASIA

03.10.2010

Story by Staff Sgt. Kelly White 

379th Air Expeditionary Wing

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- In honor of the aspirations and achievements of women in American history, five female Airmen from the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron represented women Air Force-wide during a Women's History Month all-female C-17 Globemaster III crew flying a deployed mission in the CENTCOM area of responsibility March 10.

"We had three female pilots and two female loadmasters on the flight," said Capt. Angela Kimler," 816th EAS pilot and aircraft commander for the March 10 mission. "We also had our first sergeant [Master Sgt. Lisa Peele] and our intelligence officer [Capt. Sarah Burdon] on board for a total of seven women from the squadron."

While the squadron flies missions daily, and a typical crew consists of four to five members, it's rare to have a crew that's all women.

"It is unusual to fly an all-female crew," the captain said. "We've been out here already for two months and this is the first time we've been able to put together an all-female crew."

Senior Airman Christine Collier, one of the two loadmasters on board the WHM flight, agreed.

"[Senior Airman Spencer Keeley] and I have both been loadmasters for about three years. We went to [technical] school together, to our first duty station together and this is our second deployment together, but this is the first time we're flying a mission together."

The all-female crew described the mission they flew as a pretty ordinary day.

"We got this mission short-notice, which I think this just goes to show that we can fly whatever missions are thrown at us," said Kimler. "There's no need to make us fly anything different than the guys fly. Today we delivered three [Mine Resistant Armored Vehicle] cougars to a downrange location in Afghanistan for the Marines."

For Keeley, this particular mission was meaningful for multiple reasons.

"March, being Women's History Month, is a very important month for most women," she said. "It's also really important for our squadron, being mostly males, to let us female loadmasters and female pilots fly together and show off what we can do...show that we're a part of [women's history]."

"It's a personal thing, too," she said. "I feel very honored to be part of the all-female crew, especially because I was a 'military brat' and my mom served in the military for 20 years. I get to show respect in my own personal way to my own family and also to all the women in our country."

The aircraft commander said the mission was one she especially enjoyed, as well.

"I'm great friends with all the females on the crew, and it's been a privilege to fly with them and to fly a successful mission," Kimler said. "I think this just shows how far along women have come. We're all fully qualified to do what we did today, and we got the mission done."

• Date Taken: 03.10.2010
• Date Posted: 03.21.2010 01:40
• Story ID: 46951
• Location: SOUTHWEST ASIA