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Following the German invasion, the Soviet Union authorized the formation of three all-female combat aviation units, largely due to the efforts of Marina Raskova. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6ztL3v4dBU -
President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the bill creating the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC), an auxiliary unit to the U.S. Army. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/womens-army-corps-wac-world-war-ii -
The Soviet 588th Night Bomber Regiment (nicknamed the "Night Witches" by the Germans) flew its first combat mission, beginning a campaign of harassment bombing on the Eastern Front.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7NSUFDHFgg -
President Roosevelt signed legislation establishing the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) as a branch of the U.S. Naval Reserve, freeing men for sea duty.
https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/artifacts/uniforms-and-personal-equipment/uniforms0/waves.html -
The WAAC was converted to the Women's Army Corps (WAC), giving its members full military status, pay, and benefits within the U.S. Army.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0lRS3QdVzw -
The U.S. Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS) and the Women's Flying Training Detachment (WFTD) merged to form the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) to ferry military aircraft and train male pilots.
https://www.afhistory.af.mil/FAQs/Fact-Sheets/Article/458964/womens-airforce-service-pilots-wasp/ -
The 6888th, the first and only all-Black WAC unit to serve overseas during WWII, was inspected in Europe, where they efficiently processed a massive backlog of mail for U.S. soldiers.
https://www.thenmusa.org/articles/a-different-kind-of-victory-the-6888th-central-postal-directory-battalion/ -
The Night Witches flew their final bombing mission, just days before the German surrender, having completed over 24,000 missions during the war.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_viwvpx0dqg -
The all-female Soviet air regiments were disbanded following the end of the war, and their members were demobilized.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_Witches -
After decades of fighting for recognition, the WASP were finally granted full military veteran status by the U.S. Congress.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbMxRA6qp2M