Esther Blake
Encyclopedia
Esther McGowin Blake was the "first woman in the Air Force." She enlisted on the first minute of the first hour of the first day regular United States Air Force
duty was authorized for women on 8 July 1948.
. 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 and went to work with the civil service at the Veterans Regional Headquarters in Montgomery, Alabama
, until her death in 1979.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
duty was authorized for women on 8 July 1948.
Military career
Blake's active military career began in 1944 when she, a widow, joined her sons in uniform for the United States Army Air ForcesUnited States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
. She closed her desk as a civilian employee at Miami Air Depot and joined the Women's Army Corps
Women's Army Corps
The Women's Army Corps was the women's branch of the US Army. It was created as an auxiliary unit, the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps on 15 May 1942 by Public Law 554, and converted to full status as the WAC in 1943...
when she was notified her oldest son, a B-17 Flying Fortress pilot, had been shot down over Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
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 and went to work with the civil service at the Veterans Regional Headquarters in Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
, until her death in 1979.