A Modern-Day Rosie the Riveter at the 911th Airlift Wing
By MS. KIM KNIGHT AND MS. BETTY NYLUND BARR, STAFF WRITERS
Several years ago, The Mobility Forum had the honor of interviewing Ms. Elinor Otto, one of the original Rosie the Riveters. She began working in a California aviation factory in 1942 for 65 cents an hour, building airplanes to support the war effort. Throughout her long career—until she was 95 years old—Ms. Otto helped build the 279 C-17s that the U.S. Air Force flew in times of war and for countless lifesaving humanitarian airlifts. Ms. Otto, and the many other women who stepped up to answer the call during World War II, did more than build aircraft—they inspired a movement and provided the groundwork for the next generation of young women.
One of these young women is Airman First Class Bethany Dacus, Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Crew Chief at the 911th Airlift Wing, Pittsburgh Air Reserve Station, Pittsburgh International Airport, PA. Dacus is a former barber who has been with the Air Force for a little more than 1 year. She shared that she always intended to join the Air Force and finally decided not to put it off any longer. One of her goals was to work directly with the aircraft, so Dacus met with an Air Force recruiter to begin a new career path. Although Dacus claims that she is not mechanically inclined, she did not let that dissuade her from becoming an aircraft mechanic.
With enough motivation and determination to learn, “You can set your mind to anything, and you can do it,” she said.
Dacus attended tech school for 3 months to prepare for her position. “I definitely had to work harder because I didn’t know anything about aircraft maintenance!” she insisted. “They [the other students] knew all the mechanical terminology and all the tools already, and I definitely didn’t, so I’d have to go back to my room, and I’d have to make flashcards and study, whereas they didn’t have to do that.” Undaunted, Dacus did what was necessary to achieve her dream. “If you have a strong work ethic and good drive, you can do whatever you put your mind to.”
When she first started, there were very few female aircraft mechanics. She quickly learned the ropes, however, and had support from a great team at the 911th. She also said she developed a thick skin and proved herself by mastering the skills needed to lead a crew. The most important things she has learned, according to Dacus, are to stand up for herself, speak her mind, and be tough.
Like Elinor Otto, Dacus works on C-17 Globemaster IIIs, which she describes as “the second largest military cargo plane.” The 911th’s maintainers provide maintenance exclusively on its fleet of eight C-17 Globemaster IIIs. She described her position as Crew Chief as being a member of the pit crew—performing inspections, changing tires, and troubleshooting issues to determine the proper fix. Because of their more in-depth knowledge of specific aircraft systems, the Specialists are considered the experts in their field and take the lead on repairs requiring their attention.
The huge emphasis on safety permeates everything they do—from constant on-the-job training to the precautionary procedures to the suits and equipment they wear. “When we’re inspecting inside the inlet of the engines, we put these white coveralls on. We are required to wear them to lessen the chances of foreign objects being injested by the engine.”
The attitude toward women in the military has evolved far beyond the days when the Rosies worked in factories to support the war effort during World War II. When that war ended and the men returned home, the Rosies lost their jobs as the demand for warfighting aircraft decreased.
Fast-forward to the current day. The Commander of Air Mobility Command, Gen Mike Minihan, accepted the position when the former Commander, Gen Jacqueline Van Ovost, was nominated to serve as Commander of the United States Transportation Command—the first woman in history to serve in this position and a true inspiration as the highest ranking female in the military today. Before Gen Van Ovost, Gen Maryanne Miller was the AMC Commander, also the first woman to serve in that prestigious position.
Ms. Elinor Otto stated, “There was a time when men said women can’t do this or that, but we’ve proved ourselves in every way. We’ve come a long way!”