Hazel Ying Lee

WWII US WASP, 3rd Ferying Squadron: posthumous

In 1943, Hazel Ying Lee became one of 132 Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) to serve their nation during World War II. She made aviation history as the first Chinese-American woman to fly a military plane. A native of Portland, Oregon, Lee fell in love with flying at a time when less than one percent of American Pilots were women.

After obtaining per pilot's license in 1932, se wanted to fly for the Cinese Air Force against Japan. Unable to join the Chinese Air Force, Lee remained in China until 1938 and contributed to that nation's war effort in a number of ways. After returning to the United States, Lee learned about an opportunity to fly military aircraft through the Women's Flying Training Detachment (WFTD). during training at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, Texas, she made an emergency landing in a farmer's field. Mistaking her for a Japanese pilot, the farmer held her at "pitchfork point" until the farmer's son realized who Lee was and assisted her.

Graduating as a WASP on August 7, 1943, Lee joined the Air Transport Command's 3rd Ferrying Squadron and began ferrying trainer and liaison type aircraft. After completing "Pursuit School," Lee began to ferry advanced fighter aircraft. In late November 1944, she picked up a new Bell P-63 King Cobra in New York and flew the aircraft to Great Falls, Montana. Another P-63 struck Lee's aircraft while landing at Great Falls on November 23, 1944. She survived the fiery crash, but succumbed to her injuries two days later. In her lifetime, Lee flew more that 70 different aircraft and died doing what se loved: flying.

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