Today in American Military History -- 1974
First woman naval aviator: Lt, j.g., Barbara Ann Allen
Barbara Ann Allen Rainey (August 20, 1948 - July 13, 1982) was one of the first six female pilots in the U.S. armed forces.[1] Rainey received her wings of gold as the first female to be designated a naval aviator in February 1974[2] and became the first Navy woman to qualify as a jet pilot. She attained the rank of Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy. She was killed in an aircraft crash in 1982 while performing her duties as a flight instructor.