Patricia Denkler (born October 4, 1952) is a former American naval aviator. She was the first woman to land a plane on an aircraft carrier.[1]
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Career
editPatricia Denkler | |
|---|---|
| Aviation career | |
| Full name | Patricia A. Denkler, USN |
| First flight | 1979 |
| Famous flights | First Navy Woman to be carrier qualified in a jet aircraft |
Denkler began flying in 1975. Before joining the United States Navy, she flew tailwheel-type aircraft and gained aerobatics experience in biplanes.[2]
Denkler followed in the footsteps of her father and brother to become a Naval aviator.[2] William Denkler was a Naval aviator who flew in World War II.[3] In 1977, she met then Commander John McCain who encouraged her to apply to the Navy Flight Program.[4] The U.S. Navy only began accepting women pilots in 1973.[1] She applied for Aviation Officer Candidate School and was accepted for the October 1977 class. At that time, approximately fifteen women were selected per year.[5]
After earning her wings in 1979, Denkler was chosen to be a selectively retained graduate. She was recognized as an above average aviator and continued in the flight training program as an instructor after graduation.[2] During her time in the Navy, she became the first female naval aviator to carrier qualify in a jet aircraft.[6] She later became the first woman to land a plane on an aircraft carrier when in 1981, she flew a TA-4J aboard the USS Lexington. In 1982, she became the first woman to land a fleet combat aircraft, the A6E Intruder on a carrier.[5]
Denkler joined the Ninety Nines in 1985.[7] After retiring from the Navy, she became a pilot at Delta Airlines, where she worked for 31 years.[8] In 1988, she moved to Beaufort, South Carolina.[8]
References
edit- ^ a b "Women Win Their Wings". NHHC. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
- ^ a b c Russell, Sandy (June 1981). "High Flying Ladies" (PDF). The Ninety Nines. pp. 20–. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Beveridge, Lici. "Veterans enjoy camaraderie, service to country". Hattiesburg American. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
- ^ Magazine, Elysian (2020-07-16). "ELYSIAN Magazine | Patricia Denkler - One Door to the Next". ELYSIAN Magazine. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
- ^ a b bftlifestyle (2016-09-30). "Beaufort's Own Aviatrix". Beaufort Lifestyle. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
- ^ "Fifty Years of Women in Naval Aviation". NHHC. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
- ^ "Chapter News" (PDF). Ninety Nine News. September 1985. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
- ^ a b "Patricia Denkler". itsallpink.com. Retrieved 2024-05-25.