Female WWII pilot laid to rest at Arlington
World War II pilot Elaine Harmon, who died at 95, wanted to be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. Her wish was finally fulfilled — but it took a lobbying campaign by her family and an act of Congress.
Even in death, Elaine Harmon successfully challenged convention.
Harmon, a Baltimore native and pilot, was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery on Wednesday after her family fought all the way to the White House to guarantee that women who flew noncombat missions during World War II would be afforded the honor.
More than 1,000 women flew noncombat missions for the Women Airforce Service Pilots during the war. The WASPs delivered war planes, ferried cargo and towed targets for other pilots.
But since that time, the women and their descendants have fought for recognition at every step. The group was not granted veteran status until 1977.
Harmon died last year with the understanding that she would be inurned at Arlington after the cemetery’s superintendent approved the honor for the WASPs. She never knew that the secretary of the Army had overturned the decision about a month before she died at 95.
Her family fought the decision, and Congress got involved. Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, D-Md., introduced legislation to force the issue. In May, President Barack Obama signed the law granting the women the right to be laid to rest alongside other service members.
On Wednesday, Harmon’s ashes were taken from a shelf in her daughter’s closet and carried by an honor guard to a spot in the southeast corner of the cemetery. World War II era planes flew overhead.
Between 1942 and 1944, the WASPs logged 60 million miles flying missions across the United States, according to Mikulski’s office. Thirty-eight of the pilots died in the line of duty. About 110 are still living.
Harmon learned to fly while at the University of Maryland.
After completing her training in 1944 at Avenger Field, she was stationed at Nellis Air Base near Las Vegas. She flew the AT-6 Texan, the PT-17 and BT-13 trainers, and co-piloted the B-17 Flying Fortress.
Obama signed separate legislation in 2009 awarding the pilots the Congressional Gold Medal.