World War II pilot from York County, Pa.: ‘Female pioneers … inspire generations of young women to achieve the impossible’
York County, Pa., native Susan (Smith) Rodiguez, trainer of pilots in World War II, discusses her service to America during and after the war in this York, Pa., Daily Record/Sunday News video. The U.S House recently honored the former pilot.
Also of interest: Pioneering aviator Aline Rhonie another York native who made U.S. headlines and York County sacrificed on homefront and war front to aid Allies in World War II and World War II propaganda posters raised spirits, women’s wrath.
In March, the surviving Women Airforce Service Pilots were honored with the award of Congressional Medals of Honor.
York County’s Mary Reineberg Burchard was in that group.
The service pilots flew military planes in non-combat missions over American soil… .
Rep. Todd Platts recognized Susan Rodriguez’s service on the floor of the House of Representatives because the Bethesda, Md., resident did not qualify for inclusion in the service pilot awards.
“The achievements of Mrs. Rodriguez and other female pioneers continue to inspire generations of young women to achieve the impossible,” Platts said.
Here story is told in the York, Pa., Daily Record/Sunday News’ piece: During WW2, this female veteran taught Army boys to fly.
Other yorktownsquare.com posts detailing women in the military:
Other posts of interest linked to York County women in World War II:
– ‘Her words helped win the war.’
– Nurses and their work appear again and again in York County’s past.
– York County WWII nurse: ‘You know, it was the biggest war ever, and they needed nurses’.
– Katharine Beecher made candy in World War II.
– Pioneering aviator Aline Rhonie another York native who made U.S. headlines.
Also:
– For more than 200 posts on women in York County history, visit this blog’s Women’s History category.
– All York Town Square posts from the start. (Key word search by using “find” on browser.) Or search via Google.
– Video by Paul Kuehnel.
