In a groundbreaking moment for Norway’s Air Force, the country celebrated the graduation of its first female fighter pilot in almost 30 years. The identity of this accomplished individual remains confidential as per military protocol.
The woman pilot had completed her training under the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training (ENJJPT) program at the 80th Flying Training Wing. The newly graduated fighter pilot is set to make history as the first Norwegian woman to fly the F-35.
What makes this accomplishment even more extraordinary is the pilot’s unique family ties to the U.S. Air Force. Her grandfather, as a young boy in China during World War II, formed a deep bond with U.S. service members stationed in the region. The young boy’s life was saved when a U.S. Army Air Force officer went to great lengths to procure life-saving rabies serum, which eventually led to her grandfather’s recovery.
To commemorate this touching story of friendship and survival, the pilot’s grandfather visited Sheppard Air Force Base, gifting a photo album from the war years to Col. Brad Orgeron, the commander of the 80th Flying Training Wing and ENJJPT.
For more information, hit the Source below