Military Women Aviators Oral History Initiative (MWAOHI)

This collection consists of interviews and related documents for each of the military pilots selected for The Military Women Aviators Oral History Initiative (MWAOHI).

The Military Women Aviators Oral History Initiative (MWAOHI) was conceived by former National Air and Space Museum Verville Fellow, Lieutenant Colonel Monica Smith (Retired) in July 2018. Fifteen veteran women aviators participate in MWAOHI: five participants from the United States Air Force, five from the United States Army, four from the United States Navy, two from the United States Coast Guard (both also flew in the Army), and one from the United States Marine Corps. Five are among the first military women to earn wings, seven are combat aircraft and/or combat zone aviators, and three are flag officers. The interviewees are as follows: Lieutenant Colonel Olga Custodio (Retired; Lieutenant Colonel Sarah Deal; Lieutenant Colonel Tammy Duckworth (Retired); Lieutenant Colonel Connie Engel (Retired); Lieutenant General Stayce Harris (Retired); Major General Jeannie Leavitt; Colonel Abigail Linnington (Retired); Colonel Nicole Malachowski (Retired); Captain Patricia McFetridge (Retired); Commander Claudia McKnight (Retired); Colonel Sally Murply (Retired); Captain Joellen Oslund (Retired); Lieutenant Commander Tammie Shults; Lieutenant General Jacqueline Van Ovost; and Captain Lucy Young (Retired). Additionally, a sixteenth interview of Colonel Kim "K. C." Campbell was conducted in January of 2020 by NASM curator Michael Hankins.