Hazel Ying Lee (1912-1944)
Aviator Hazel Ying Lee was the first Chinese American woman to fly for the US military, and one of two Chinese American women to serve in the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) during WWII.
She was born in Portland, Oregon, became a licensed pilot in 1932. After becoming a member of the WASP, she flew fighter aircraft to their destinations as they poured out of American factories. Hazel wrote her sister: "Flying Pursuit [fighter aircraft] keeps me very busy; we are on a 7 day work week."
On Thanksgiving Day 1944, while piloting a P-63 Fighter, Hazel Ying Lee was killed in a mid-air collision during a snowstorm. She was 32 years old. She was one of 38 WASPs who died in the service of their country
Please visit the National Womens History Museum for more information on the Women Airforce Service Pilots.
She was born in Portland, Oregon, became a licensed pilot in 1932. After becoming a member of the WASP, she flew fighter aircraft to their destinations as they poured out of American factories. Hazel wrote her sister: "Flying Pursuit [fighter aircraft] keeps me very busy; we are on a 7 day work week."
On Thanksgiving Day 1944, while piloting a P-63 Fighter, Hazel Ying Lee was killed in a mid-air collision during a snowstorm. She was 32 years old. She was one of 38 WASPs who died in the service of their country
Please visit the National Womens History Museum for more information on the Women Airforce Service Pilots.
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