Ann Baumgartner

Ann Baumgartner was born in Georgia on August 27, 1918. She grew up loving airplanes. When she was a kid, she met Amelia Earhart, the famous woman pilot. This inspired Ann to fly.

Ann went to college at Smith College. She studied science and writing. Ann loved flying too. She took her first flight in 1940 in a small plane called a Piper Cub. She loved it so much that she wanted to become a pilot instead of a doctor.

In 1943, Ann joined a special group called the Women Airforce Service Pilots, or WASPs. During World War II, not many women were pilots. The WASPs flew planes to help the Army in non-combat jobs.

Ann was very good at flying. She was the only woman test pilot at a place called Wright Field. She tested many planes, including new jets. On October 14, 1944, Ann became the first American woman to fly a jet airplane. This was a big deal because jets were new and very advanced.

After the war, Ann wrote many articles about science and taught people to fly. She even wrote a book about her experiences. Ann received many awards for her work in aviation.

Ann married William Carl, who designed airplanes. She kept flying and writing for a long time. Ann died at age 89, but she left a big mark on the world of flying. She showed that women could be great pilots too.