The White Falcon - 23.07.1993, Síða 4

Reservist is first woman to join air combat crew
By Mitsi J. Welch
Women in the military have come a long
way since they were first called to “free a man
to fight” and serve in the armed forces. The
first military women were asked to code,
clean, type, tend to the wounded and keep the
operations running smoothly — behind the
lines of battle.
Since then women have slowly integrated
into almost all aspects of military service —
still behind the lines of battle. However, with
recent changes in the philosophy behind
women’s roles in combat, the ban has been
lifted and women are being afforded the
opportunity to serve in direct combat roles
previously held wily by men.
Kathryn Hire is living proof of these chang-
ing times. As a lieutenant commander in the
Naval Reserves, she is assigned to Patrol
Squadron SIXTY-TWO (VP-62)out of
Jacksonville, Florida, as a flight navigator/
communicator — the first woman to be as-
signed to a combat air crew.
Since graduating from the U.S. Naval
Academy and being commissioned in 1981,
LCDR Hire served seven and a half years
active duty before transferring to the reserves.
After receiving her wings and becoming a
flight officer in 1982, she was assigned to the
VX-N8 oceanographic development squad-
ron in Maryland for three years before be-
coming an instructor at a naval air training
unit in California. She spent the next three
years teaching other naval flight officers how
to fly P-3 and C-130 airplanes.
Hire left active duty from there and joined
the reserve unit in Jacksonville so that she
could pursue a civilian career while main-
Reserves train along side
active duty personnel
Patrol Squadron (VP) 62’s reserve unit from Jackson-
ville, Florida, was here participating in joint training
maneuvers with VP-49. According to LCDR Kathryn
Hire, Naval Flight Officer with VP-62, the training
mission was a test program to integrate active duty and
reserve units under a single command to execute mari-
time patrol missions.
“One of the best ways to maintain combat readiness
in peace time is for reserve units to work along with
active duty squadrons,” said Hire. “This integration of
active duty and reserve units seemed to work out very
well.”
During the training, VP-62 and VP-49 conducted ice
reconnaissance patrols over Iceland and Greenland.
taining her military career. When she’s not
flying maritime patrol missions with VP-62,
she works as an aerospace test project engi-
neer at Lockheed, working on space shuttle
projects.
LCDR Hire said she heard on the news
combat flight positions were being opei
up to women, so she decided to submit her ap-
plication to VP-62.
“I had been working with VP-62 for two
years, briefing and debriefing the crew, but I
really wanted to get back into
the aircraft,” she said.
Hire was selected by a board
of senior naval aviators who
reviewed the service records of
individuals applying for the
flight crew.
“My primary goal was to get
on the flight crew with VP-62.
I had no idea that I would be the
first female to do this,” Hire
said.
Although surprised by the no-
toriety she’s gained, Hire said
she’s pleased with the positive
impact of this history making
assignment. “I think it’s sig-
nificant to military women
because it means that there are
so many more opportunities for
us now," she said. “ The can
path has really opened up for women
combat and aviation.”
tor
VP-49 celebrates 31 years of mishap free flying
By LTJG John Brown HI
Assistant Public Affairs Officer, VP-49
Patrol Squadron FOURTY -NINE (VP-49),
based out of Naval Air Station (NAS),
Jacksonville, recently celebrated 31
consecutive years of class “A” mis-
hap-free flying. The outstanding safety
record of the world famous “Wood-
peckers,” extending back to 1962, en-
compasses 210 thousand flight hours
and is an achievement for which all
squadron personnel can be very proud.
VP-49 was recently awarded a cita-
tion from VADM A. A. Less, Com-
mander, Naval Air Force, U. S. Atlan-
tic Fleet, for outstanding performance
and contribution to fleet readiness.
“This significant achievement is a
direct reflection of our squadron’s total
commitment to safe operations, both
in the air and cm the ground,” said
CDR Mark Anthony, Commanding
Officer of VP-49 personnel deployed
to Iceland. “A standard of safety has been set
that all hands must strive to sustain.”
The Woodpeckers continue their outstand-
ing safety record while deployed to Keflavik,
maintaining the highest degree of operational
readiness. Through the first half of their
deployment, VP-49 has flown in excess of
2,000 hours conducting operational and train-
ing missions in the North Atlantic, Norwe-
gian Sea and Baltic Sea with detachments
throughout the Atlantic
and Carribbeam as well
as Eastern European
countries never before
visited by U. S. P-3
squadrons.
Ay one P-3C Orion sits
stationary (left), a
second one takes off for
yet another mishapfree
flight. (Photo by PH2
Dave Difantorum)
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