| Women Air Traffic Controllers in Vietnam: Fact or Fiction? |
| There are many references on the Internet to women having worked as air traffic controllers in Vietnam. Some of them are: · "They were the nurses (80% of the military women in Vietnam were nurses), physical therapists, occupational therapists, air traffic controllers, aerial reconnaissance photographers, intelligence and language specialists, legal officers, and in security and administrative positions." (http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewwork.asp?AuthorID=4555) · "Some also worked as air traffic controllers, photographers and cartographers." (http://www.tulane.edu/~walker/webjournals/chervin2.htm) · "At least 1,200 female soldiers were stationed in Vietnam in various branches of the military as photojournalists, clerks, typists, intelligence officers, translators, flight controllers, even band leaders." (http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/1999/11/11/women/index.html) The theme is repeated at other web sites that cater to women that served in Vietnam, women in aviation & books. Up 'til now, apparently, no one bothered to verify the statements. I was contacted by a former U.S. Army air traffic controller named Mary Belknapp nee Shea. Her first assignment was HQ, USARV, in Long Binh, September 1971, "...controlling air traffic at a very small VIP helicopter pad deep within the command compound." Mary confirmed the name of another woman controller, Mary A. Bighaus. Therefore, I'm happy to report that the claims are fact. I hope this page encourages other women who were air traffic controllers in Vietnam to come out of the shadows & announce themselves. They can either contact me or join the USAATCA & meet others who shared their work, especially the other women. |
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