On March 9, 1979, Secretary of the Air Force John C. Stetson declared that the women who flew for the Army Air Corps between September 10, 1942 and December 20, 1944 will be considered to have seen active military service. A generation has passed since World War II when 1097 women flew air ambulances, ferried B-17 bombers, towed hugh gliders, pulled target sleeves for fledgling anti aircraft gunners and fighter pilots, and towed drone plane targets that were literally shot down in flames. Thirty-eight of these women pilots lost their lives in the service of their country. On September 2, 1977, the first women Air Force Pilots of a new generation graduated from pilot training at Williams Air Force Base. In the fist class since World War II to include women they once again distinguished themselves by taking top honors. Shown her is Vickie Crawford for was in the First class of women jet pilots.