Date of interview: 13 December 2021
Penny Rafferty Hamilton is an award-winning writer and photographer with over 40 years authoring articles and books. Dr. Hamilton reflects her passions – aviation, Western heritage, and women’s history. A world-record setting aviator, her current focus is aviation and aerospace history. Recently, she authored America’s Amazing Airports, Inspiring Words for Sky and Space Women, and 101 Trailblazing Women of Air and Space. Dr. Hamilton holds degrees from Temple University, Columbia College (Distinguished Alumna Award winner), and the University of Nebraska (Alumni Achievement Award Winner). Her ground-breaking Teaching Women to Fly Research Project findings were published in the Proceedings of the Human Resource Development International, and in the International textbook, Absent Aviators: Gender Issues in Aviation. Hamilton appears with her airplane on that book cover. Hamilton is a Laureate of the Colorado Aviation, Colorado Women’s, and Colorado Author’ Halls of Fame. Her success story was featured on Rocky Mountain Public Television Great Colorado Women, produced in documentary style. Hamilton was named National Association of State Aviation Officials Aviation Journalist winner. She co-holds World & National Aviation Speed Records. She is honored in the Amelia Earhart International Forest of Friendship, ABC-TV Channel 7 Denver Everyday Hero Award Winner, Federal Aviation Administration Central Region Aviation Education Champion, two-time winner of the U.S. Small Business Administration Media Advocate Award, and Eli Lilly International Oncology on Canvas Art Competition winner. Multi-talented, Hamilton is dedicated to sharing the stories of inspiring women and aviation history.
MWSA: How did you find out about MWSA?
Penny Rafferty Hamilton, Ph.D.: My husband of 50 years, Dr. William A. Hamilton, is a long-time writer in the field of military issues and history. Because he was heavily involved in the editing of my recent books, he noticed the large number of women included from military aviation, especially World War II. He suggested MWSA members would be interested in these inspiring stories. After several emails sharing my background, MWSA volunteers encouraged me to join. I did so on December 7, eighty years after Pearl Harbor as my symbolic tribute to those brave WWII military members and their families.
MWSA: Do your books include military aviation history?
Penny Rafferty Hamilton, Ph.D.: Definitely, Yes! Readers enjoy inspiring stories. Adventures in military aviation add another element of challenge to their tales. For example, my America’s Amazing Airports book includes the stories of several military aviation heroes. Because our airports are the centerpieces of our amazing air transportation system, honoring our military aviators is a lasting tribute to their sacrifices and service. Rather than just list airports named after military leaders, I want to share “the rest of their story,” as the late Paul Harvey would say. Also, I often write print and e-zine articles based on research from my books. For example, “Airports Honor Vietnam Military Pilots,” a recent State Aviation Journal article, was based on my original research for my America’s Amazing Airports book. Here is an excerpt:
“Several airports salute the service of stellar Vietnam-era military pilots. Of course, Charleston, West Virginia’s Yeager Airport (KCRW) is named for the legendary General Charles E. “Chuck” Yeager. His Air Force career spanned 30 years and three wars. In Southeast Asia, he commanded a fighter squadron and added another 414 combat hours and 127 missions to his already impressive air exploits. In World War II, in his P-51 Mustang in combat in Europe, he became an “Ace” by downing five enemy aircraft. Officially, at that wars end, he logged 64 combat missions and more official victories to add to his “Ace” credentials. All of these incredible actions were despite having his planes shot down several times, evading the enemy, and heroically carrying a wounded U.S. Air Force navigator on his back over the Pyrenees to escape the enemy. Even with his own combat wounds, he convinced the military leadership that he should keep flying and fighting. After World War II, he was a natural selection for the new military test pilot program. On October 14, 1947, he strapped his compact body into a rocket-powered experimental aircraft. Yeager reached Mach 1 and broke the sound barrier at an altitude of 45,000 feet in his Bell X-1, named “Glamorous Glennis” for his wife. A funny historic tidbit on Yeager is in 1983, he made a cameo appearance in the movie, The Right Stuff, where actor, Sam Shepard, portrayed Yeager. The scene was at Pancho Barnes’ Happy Bottom Riding Club bar in the California Mojave Desert near Edwards AFB. Yeager played “Fred,” a bartender. Yeager joked, “If all the hours were ever totaled, I reckon I spent more time at her place than in a cockpit over those years!” By 1985, his home state renamed the former Kanawha airport in his honor.
Another Vietnam hometown military hero is North Dakota’s Air Force Major General Eldon “Al” Wayne Joersz. He flew the F-105 Thunderchief, supersonic fighter-bomber in Vietnam, and was a Wing Commander. As a decorated combat pilot, Joersz was chosen as a flight instructor for the SR-71, long range, high altitude, strategic reconnaissance aircraft nicknamed “Blackbird” and “Habu.” On July 28, 1976, Joersz jointly set the World Air Speed record making the North Dakota aviator one of the “world’s fastest pilots.” His aviation accomplishments are honored at Mercer County Regional Airport Al Joersz Field (KHZE).
Iowa’s Sioux Gateway Airport Bud Day Field (KSUX) honors military icon, the late George Everette “Bud” Day. Day, a local Iowa veteran Marine aviator, flew in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. Day is considered to be one of the most decorated U.S. Military officers since Douglas MacArthur. He earned the Medal of Honor and Air Force Cross. While a POW in the infamous “Hanoi Hilton,” Day was severely tortured. However, the torture did not stop Bud Day from leading a resistance against the North Vietnamese guards. Colonel Day published several books including, Return with Honor, and Duty, Honor, Country. Bud Day’s military leadership in Vietnam from August 26, 1967 through March 14, 1973 earned the last Medal of Honor awarded prior to the end of United States involvement in the Vietnam War on April 30, 1975.”
MWSA: Are female military aviators in your new book, 101 Trailblazing Women of Air and Space?
Penny Rafferty Hamilton, Ph.D.: Yes. For example, a few from around the world associated with World War II. America’s WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots), and Russia’s Night Witches of the 588th Night Bomber Regiment. Of course, the WWII civilian women who flew for Britain’s Air Transport Auxiliary. We all need to be reminded of these trailblazers who charted a course for us. Often, their stories are not well known. Several contemporary U.S. Military women aviators are included in the book. Coming from an academic background, I want to encourage readers to “Explore More,” which is what I title my bibliographies. My books are more pictorial history, which is easy to read for a wider age range of readers. The photographs often propel the story. If a young woman can see a pilot, or astronaut, or airport manager, who looks like she does, research shows she is more likely to pursue the field. Psychologists sometimes say, “The me I see is the me I will be.” We even encourage young women interested in aviation to post photographs of themselves near an airplane or inside one so that image is always in front of them. Usually in my “Explore More” chapter I suggest books for ages five to 95.
MWSA: Who was the most inspiring in your book?
Penny Rafferty Hamilton, Ph.D.: Short answer is “ALL,” of course! All the early aviators had a lot to overcome. Women overcame cultural norms. Pioneer aviators flew aircraft literally strung together with piano wire and canvas. Some “aeroplanes” were barely airworthy. Also, the knowledge of aerodynamics was literally “seat-of-your pants.” Everyone had a steep learning curve. Many readers will be familiar with America’s first licensed woman pilot, Harriet Quimby (1911), and Bessie Coleman, the first African American/Native American woman to hold a pilot’s license, and the first Black person to earn an International pilot’s license (1921). But, some might not be as familiar with parachutist, Tiny Broadwick, and Chickasaw stunt pilot, Eula Pearl Carter. Many readers will know about our early women astronauts as Sally Ride and Shannon Lucid,. But, they may not know about the original Mercury 13 women. In my Inspiring Words for Sky and Space Women: Advice from Historic and Contemporary Trailblazers book lesser known vignettes about Native American space engineer, Mary Golda Ross, and NASA Astronaut Kalpana Chawla are told. I believe in the MWSA motto, “Saving History one story at a time.”
MWSA: What is next?
Penny Rafferty Hamilton, Ph.D.: 2022 will be a year filled with more inspiring tales. Right now I am researching and writing several manuscripts. MWSA members will probably be interested in Athena’s Daughters: Women Warriors of the Sky. It will be packed with real life stories of military sky stars as U.S. Navy test pilot and NASA astronaut. Suni Williams. Williams is a U.S. Naval Academy graduate. She was selected for U.S. Naval Flight School. As a stellar student, Suni began Sea Knight H-46 Rotary Wing Training. The Sea Knight is a medium-lift tandem-rotor transport helicopter.Williams joined U.S. Naval Squadrons in support of several military operations. Her overseas deployments were in the Mediterranean, Red Sea, and Persian Gulf for Operation Desert Shield. In January, 1993, Suni was selected for U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. After graduation, she was the Project Officer for H-46. She was the Squadron Safety Officer. She flew test flights on multiple rotary wing assets.
In 1995, Suni earned a Master’s degree in engineering at Florida Institute of Technology. In December, 1995, she went back to the Naval Test Pilot School as an instructor in the Rotary Wing Department, and as the school's Safety Officer. There she instructed in the UH-60 Sikorsky Black Hawk, OH-6 Hughes Cayuse, and the OH-58 Bell Kiowa. After that assignment, Williams was deployed on the USS Saipan, an amphibious assault ship. She was the Aircraft Handler and Assistant Air Boss when her selection for NASA Astronaut training was announced. In 1998, Suni had logged more than 3,000 flight hours in more than 30 aircraft types. In June, 1998, Suni began her NASA astronaut training. Suni’s first space flight was in December, 2006. She launched with the crew of STS-116, docking with the International Space Station on December 11. As a member of the Expedition 14 crew, Suni was a Flight Engineer. While onboard, Williams established a world record for women with four spacewalks totaling 29 hours and 17 minutes. In June 2007, Suni returned to Earth with the STS-117 crew, landing at Edwards Air Force Base. In 2012, she returned to space and the International Space Station. In November, 2012, after 127 days in space, Suni returned to Earth, landing in Kazakhstan. Suni Williams explained her path from air to space, “Understanding how things work and being an engineer led me to become a helicopter pilot, and eventually to NASA. The path doesn’t necessarily have to be straight, but don’t limit yourself to what you know. Go out and try new things.” Also, I will include Suni’s inspiring journey in another book titled, Astronauts of the World: Women in Space, because many countries have female space trailblazers today. We want to tell their stories to the world.
Of course, all these books need grant support, sponsors, or interested publishers who understand the passion in our industry. Whatever life brings, I know it will be inspiring and motivating. Thank you MWSA for allowing me to share my passion for these true stories. Learn more about the author at www.PennyHamilton.com
MWSA: What are a few favorite quotes from your books?
Penny Rafferty Hamilton, Ph.D.: General Chuck Yeager, “Rules are made for people who aren’t willing to make up their own.”
Martha McSally, U.S.A.F. Colonel (retired), “Before I became a fighter pilot, everyone said that women didn’t have the strength. Well, I had just completed the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon.”
Jessica Cox, “Never let fear stand in the way of an opportunity.” From her inspirational book, Disarm Your Limits: The Flight Formula to Lift You to Success and Propel You to the Next Horizon. This young woman is the world’s first licensed armless pilot. Because of a rare birth defect, Jessica was born without arms. She learned to use her feet as hands.
Aviation and Aerospace history are exciting. Writing about achievers is inspiring and a blessing for me every day. MWSA members know what a gift it is to write about stellar individuals who energize you to do your best.