Hazel Ying Lee: The Pilot History...

Hazel Ying Lee: The Pilot History Almost Forgot

Women in History by Sherry Crowther
S1 · E7
Aug 17, 2026
25:18

Episode notes

Before women were accepted in military aviation, Hazel Ying Lee was breaking barriers in the skies. As the first known Chinese-American woman to earn a pilot's license, she overcame racism, sexism, and repeated rejection to become one of the elite Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) during World War II. Trusted to transport some of America's fastest fighter aircraft, Hazel played an important role in the war effort, however, her extraordinary story remained largely forgotten for decades.

Keywords

history
women's history
World War 2
Chinese-American History

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