The Road to Wings

by Julie Tizard

“Well, I was thinking about an IP slot here at Willie, but Bulldog said they might open fighters to women. What do you think?”

  The idea of flying with Casey again caused warmth to flow through Kathryn’s chest.

  “First of all, I think you’d make a great IP in either jet, and secondly, you have to decide what will be the best assignment for you.” Kathryn still hadn’t told Casey about her discussion with the wing commander concerning her upcoming promotion and selection for senior officer school in Alabama. This sin of omission was starting to weigh heavily on her.

  “You really think they’d want me as an IP? That would be amazing. Would it be better to ask for a T-38 or a T-37? What would be better for us?”

  Kathryn delayed in answering the question. She knew what she wanted, but she was afraid they could never work out their careers in the Air Force. “I don’t know, Casey. You have to figure that out. I can’t tell you what to do.”

  “Am I overstepping in asking about what would be best for us? I know it’s premature, but I’ve been thinking about you and me together. I’m sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable.”

  “It’s okay, you still have a while to decide. Let’s go to the assignment night party at the Officers’ Club this Friday. The class ahead of yours will be getting their assignments, and maybe it will make your decision clearer.”

  “Okay, I’d like that. I’ll meet you at the O Club at six.”

  “Great. I have to get up early and fly with a new student tomorrow. I’ll see you Friday.” Kathryn felt guilty cutting Casey off.

  After she hung up the phone, she was overwhelmed with confusing feelings. She wanted to be with Casey, but she still had doubts she was capable of being in a real relationship. Their time together in Colorado Springs had been a breakthrough for her. She was still afraid of getting her heart broken again, especially if they got separated by the Air Force, but she also knew she was starting to fall for Casey. She wanted the promotion to major and she wanted to be a squadron commander some day. She wasn’t thrilled about going to school in Alabama for a year, then four years in a staff job, but that was required to have a chance at command. Almost no relationship could survive a separation like that. She didn’t want Casey to make the wrong choice to be with her. For two women pilots to be together in the Air Force—it would take a miracle to make it happen. She just didn’t know if she deserved a miracle.

  Chapter Thirty-five

  The O Club was packed, and all the guys had been drinking heavily. Casey didn’t know anyone in this class, and there was one woman student. They were all very cocky and full of themselves with excitement. She saw Kathryn and Barb Arnau enter the back of the big room and maneuvered over to stand with them.

  The wing commander, Colonel Johnson, walked up to the raised podium, put his hands up for quiet, and spoke into the microphone.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Willie assignment night for class 93-01. This is one of my favorite events, and I know it’s an exciting night for the pilots in this class who’ve worked so hard to get here. Some of you may be disappointed with the flying assignment you get tonight. There are no bad airplanes in the U.S. Air Force, and each one has a very important mission. If you don’t get your first choice of airplane or base of assignment, I expect you all to behave like officers. Congratulations to each and every one of you. Now let’s open some envelopes!”

  The air was crackling with anticipation as the first name was called. He was a captain wearing navigator wings and was the top-ranked student in his class. They flashed a picture of him on a big screen behind the podium. As he opened his envelope, they put up a picture of his new jet.

  “F-15 to Kadena, Japan!” The room erupted in cheers as he jumped off the stage with a giant smile on his face and a fist pump in the air.

  There were five students in the top ten percent of the class who were next. The second guy got an F-16 to Korea and the third person got a KC-10 air refueling tanker to Barksdale AFB, Louisiana. It was a beautiful, huge, new KC-10 painted in Air Force colors. Casey noticed whispers in the crowd because he didn’t ask for a fighter, but he got his first choice and was clearly thrilled. The happiness was contagious as everyone cheered and yelled, including the IPs.

  After the top students got their jets, the rest of the class went up on stage one by one. The next guy got a B-52 bomber to Malmstrom, Montana, and he looked very relieved that he got any airplane. Casey suspected he was working his ass off just to not to get eliminated from pilot training. She overheard Barb tell Kathryn, “I never thought he’d get this far. I’m amazed he’s still in pilot training. He knows he’s damn lucky to get a bomber.”

  Kathryn laughed and added, “The scary part is he’ll be flying a plane with nuclear weapons!”

  The next guy got an F-4 fighter to Germany, and he was very happy. He was followed by a big guy with an even bigger swagger. He opened his envelope and got a T-37 to Laughlin AFB in Del Rio, Texas. He was clearly crushed. The rest of the assignments continued with a mixture of joy, relief, and some disappointments on the faces of the students. The only woman in the class walked across the stage and got a T-38 to Reese AFB in Lubbock, Texas, and she was overjoyed. At the end of the evening they put up a slide on the screen with all the assignments. Casey was surprised to see that only four of the IPs were going to Willie and the other four were going to pilot training bases in Texas, Oklahoma, and Mississippi.

  “Why are there so many IPs going to other bases?” Casey asked Kathryn.

  “Because the other pilot training bases can’t produce enough of their own IPs to fill their instructor slots. Willie has the highest number of fighter and IP qualified pilots in the Air Force, so we export a lot of pilots to be IPs at the other training bases.”

  “Wow, I had no idea. What determines who gets sent to other pilot training bases?”

  Barb chimed in. “Usually class rank. The higher-ranked pilots stay at Willie. In this class, Carol, the only woman, really wanted to be an IP in the T-38, and that was more important to her than staying at Willie. She wants to go to test pilot school and thinks the T-38 will help her get there even though women aren’t allowed to be test pilots.”

  The wing commander returned to the stage to close the ceremonies.

  “Well, this has been a great assignment night. For those of you who didn’t get your first choice, work hard in your next assignment, and you’ll eventually get where you want to be. I’m going to close with a very significant announcement. I just got the official word from the Secretary of the Air Force today. Congress has overturned the combat exclusion law barring women from flying combat aircraft. Therefore, starting with the next class, women pilots will now be eligible to fly fighter, bomber, attack, reconnaissance, and tactical airlift aircraft. Have a great evening and don’t drink too much.”

  A collective rumble ran through the crowd at the wing commander’s big announcement. Casey overheard one of her classmates say, “Great. Now it will be even harder to get a fighter if they let those bitches fly them.” She was surprised to hear his comment. She’d previously thought he was a good guy. Clearly, he was no friend.

  “Wow. That’s amazing, Kath. I wonder if they’ll let any of us cross-train into fighters?”

  “I doubt it, Barb, but it would be nice to have the chance to try. I know some of the women pilots from the first classes who have been lobbying Congress for years to get the combat exclusion law overturned. I’m so proud of them.”

  “Well, Casey, this change means doors are open to you that have so far been closed to all of us. Do you think you want to be the first woman fighter pilot?” Barb asked.

  “I never thought that would be possible. I guess I have a lot to think about if I’m ranked high enough to even get one.” Casey got very quiet. She had a lot on her mind.

  “Well, some of the women from the softball team are going to the Incognito Lounge in Phoenix tonight if you guys are interested in coming.” Barb looked anxious to leave.

  “Sorry,
I can’t tonight. Thanks anyway,” Kathryn answered.

  “Me either. Maybe some other time.” Casey was ready to leave, but she wanted to talk to Kathryn alone.

  Casey whispered to Kathryn, “Can we go somewhere and talk?”

  “Let’s go out to the parking lot. Everyone is going to stay here and get hammered tonight.”

  Out of view in the shadow of a tree, they stood close together.

  “What do you think about requesting a fighter? Do you think I should do that?” Casey asked.

  “If it was me, I’d try to get more information before deciding. None of us women pilots really know what it’s like to fly in a fighter squadron. You’d be breaking new ground. It’s a very different culture than flying in a tanker squadron. Maybe you should talk to Bulldog about it. He knows fighter life better than anyone.”

  “I think I will talk to him. What would that mean for you and me? There are very few bases in the world that have both fighters and tankers, but would you want to fly the KC-135 again? I’m more confused than ever now.” Casey looked really distressed.

  Kathryn reached out to take Casey’s hand. “I will eventually get sent back to the tanker whether I want it or not. It’s just a matter of when.” She was thinking about her school assignment to Alabama for a year, then the Pentagon. Maybe I should tell her now.

  “I think it would be amazing to be one of the first women to fly a fighter, but I really want to be where you are too. I guess I have a lot to figure out. Do you want to be stationed where I am? Maybe I’m getting way ahead of myself.”

  Kathryn could hear doubt in her voice.

  “Casey, we both have a lot to figure out right now. You have two weeks before you have to put in your assignment request sheet, so let’s hold off on any big decisions for a while.” Kathryn could sense her resolve slipping away. She had to talk to Casey about her promotion and school, but she didn’t want to add to her confusion right now. The right time would come and she’d tell Casey everything—just not now.

  “I’d really like to kiss you good night right now.” She squeezed Kathryn’s hand.

  “Me too, Casey, me too. Good night.” She blew her a feeble air-kiss.

  Casey took off across the parking lot toward her quarters.

  Kathryn saw a small group of Casey’s classmates call out to her as they emerged from the O Club. “So, Tompkins, you putting in for an F-16 or an F-15?”

  “Maybe both!” she yelled back at them.

  “Crap. We thought you’d fill one of our IP slots for us!”

  “Well, I guess you’ll just have to fly better than me if you want a fighter, won’t you!” She was laughing as she ran the rest of way to her quarters building.

  Chapter Thirty-six

  Kathryn’s distress at not being open with Casey about her promotion and school assignment was eating her alive. Especially after their weekend together in Colorado Springs. Casey was trying to make a huge decision about her future flying assignment and she didn’t have all the facts. She decided she would try and work the system to delay her school assignment to Alabama and try to stay at Willie a few more years so she could have a chance with Casey. She had to talk to the wing commander.

  “He will see you now,” Mrs. Roberts said.

  “Captain Hardesty, what can I do for you?” He looked busy and impatient.

  “Sir, I need to talk to you about my school assignment.” Kathryn decided to dive right in.

  “What about it?”

  “I want to know if there is any way I can delay starting school? I have a very important family issue and I need to stay here at Willie.”

  There was a long pause before he answered. “You realize this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you, don’t you? It won’t come around again. You’d be giving up your chance to ever be a squadron commander. Are you sure you’re prepared to give that up?”

  There it was. The giant question. The career she’d always wanted in the Air Force or a chance with Casey. “Yes, sir, I fully understand what I’m asking. I wouldn’t be requesting it if it wasn’t essential for my family.”

  “I have to tell you, I’m very disappointed to hear this from you. There are men on this base who would kill for this opportunity, and you want to give it away. I’ll have to get back to you. You’re dismissed.”

  She knew better than to say anything. She did an about-face and left his office immediately, scared but hopeful.

  *****

  The day finally came for Casey’s navigation check ride—her last check ride in pilot training. She’d studied all the different destinations in the check ride profiles and was confident she could fly any of them. She knew her instrument flying rules cold and was prepared for anything the check pilot could ask her.

  “Tompkins, your check pilot is Captain Kennedy, and you’ve got profile number two. Your takeoff time is 1015 hours. Meet him in Base Ops at 0900,” the scheduler told her.

  “Yes, sir, got it,” she answered. Profile number two—Biggs Army Airfield, El Paso, Texas. Sweet! She said a silent “thank you” to Captain Janie Taylor for taking her to El Paso on her cross-country trip. She filled out the flight plan, checked the weather forecast, calculated her takeoff data, and checked the notices to airmen. She was ready.

  Captain Kennedy showed up and reviewed her flight plan. “Show me how you came up with this landing fuel?”

  Casey showed him her performance charts, her ground speed calculations with wind corrections, and her descent planning. “Good. This all looks in order. Let’s sit down at the planning table and brief this up.”

  Casey would be under the instrument hood in the backseat and Captain Kennedy would do the initial takeoff from the front seat. Once airborne, Casey would take the jet and do all the flying and make all the radio calls. She ran into Bulldog in the parachute shop as she was getting ready to go out to the plane.

  “Hey, Ace, knock ’em dead today. Take your time when he gives you holding. He loves to try to trip up studs giving them the outbound radial instead of the inbound course. You’ll do great.”

  “Thanks, Bulldog.”

  It still felt cramped flying from the backseat, especially with the hood covering the whole canopy. The takeoff was normal even though she still hyperventilated every time. The check pilot gave Casey the jet passing four hundred feet.

  Just as Bulldog said, he tried to confuse her with non-standard holding instructions, but Casey was ready for him. She quickly drew a picture of the holding pattern and she figured out the correct entry pattern. He had her fly a non-precision approach which she knew would be to a missed approach. Her aircraft control was smooth and positive as she made small corrections and nailed the approach. He had her fly an ILS precision approach next. She was prepared to go around again at decision height, when he suddenly said, “My jet, landing.”

  After his landing and taxi in, Casey knew she’d flown well and a weight lifted off her shoulders. She climbed down the ladder and Captain Kennedy turned, shook her hand, and said, “Good job, Captain Tompkins. Excellent ride.”

  She was overjoyed. She’d passed all her check rides and finally knew she would graduate and get her wings. She wanted so badly to call Kathryn and share her good news. The check pilot flew the return leg to Willie and didn’t make her use the instrument hood. He quizzed her on instrument procedures, lost communication rules, and instrument emergencies the whole way back to Willie.

  His debrief was short and sweet. “You know your stuff and you fly a beautiful airplane. I don’t have anything else for you. Overall grade, Excellent. I hope you’re thinking about staying here as a T-38 IP or maybe even applying for a fighter.”

  “I am. Thank you, sir.”

  When she walked into the Gombey flight room, a cheer rose up from her classmates. She was only the second student to earn an Excellent on her nav check.

  Bulldog came over to her and slapped her hard on her back. “Way to go, Ace, I knew you could do it!”

  “Captain Tompkins,
can I see you in my office for a minute?” the flight commander asked.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Have a seat, Casey. Good job on your nav check today. I wanted to talk to you about your flying assignment after you graduate. The T-37 squadron let me know they would like you to come back as a T-37 IP, and we hope you will come back here to be a T-38 IP as well. I know you’ve heard about the recent policy change letting women fly fighters for the first time, and I want to know if you are interested in this. You are certainly both fighter and instructor qualified. Have you thought about what you’d like to do?”

  Casey sat in stunned silence as his words sank in. Both squadrons want me as an IP and he thinks I can fly a fighter? Wow. She was beaming inside. “To be honest, sir, I haven’t really made up my mind yet. I’ve been so focused on finishing my nav check that I haven’t thought too much about my assignment.”

  “Well, you need to give it some very serious consideration. You have one week left to submit your dream sheet, so let me know what you decide.” He stood and reached out to shake her hand.

  “Thanks, sir, I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.” She returned his firm handshake. I have to talk to Kathryn about this right now.

  *****

  They arranged to meet at a famous old steak house in Tempe for dinner. It was far enough away from the base that they felt safe from prying eyes. After they got seated in a quiet booth, Casey decided to dive right into the conversation they needed to have.

  “The flight commander told me today after I passed my nav check that both the T-37 and T-38 squadrons want me back as an IP. He also told me that I am fighter qualified and he wanted to know if I was interested in that.”

  “Wow, Casey, that’s so great. I knew you were fighter and IP qualified, but it’s great to hear that from your flight commander. I’m so proud of you.”

  Casey’s throat got very tight hearing those words from Kathryn. She’d worked so hard for years to get here, and now to know that Kathryn was proud of her was the icing on the cake.