It was the intention of the authors to include a vignette about the experiences of Lt.Col. Martha McSally, USAF, an extraordinary officer and leader. Colonel McSally was the first Air Force female to fly in combat, in 1994. She logged nearly 100 hours in combat, enforcing a no-fly zone over Iraq.
In August 2004 she became the first Air Force woman to take command of a fighter squadron, the 354th, home based at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Her command, known as the “Bulldogs,” comprises twenty-two A/OA-10 aircraft and fifty-five pilots and crew members.
Unfortunately, Colonel McSally and her squadron had just returned from an overseas deployment as we were completing this book. There simply was not enough time in her postdeployment schedule for us to interview her and ready her story for publication. We regret we could not include this worthy hero in Women at War.
Courtesy of USAF