US female fighter pilot scores historical first

An American woman made history when she became the first female fighter pilot to claim an air-to-air victory, shooting down a Houthi-launched drone. While her name has not yet been released, the Navy confirmed the shoot down happened during the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group’s nine-month deployment in the Middle East, where it conducted operations against Houthi targets and protected international shipping lanes.

The naval aviator recorded the milestone while flying a F/A-18F Super Hornet with Strike Fighter Squadron 32, known as the “Flying Swordsmen.” The military considers downing aerial drones an aerial victory. While not the first instance of women engaging in aerial combat, the shoot down represents a first for American forces. 

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The USS Eisenhower deployed to the Middle East in October 2023, firing 60 air-to-air missiles and 420 air-to-surface missiles and bombs during its nine-month mission. The Flying Swordsmen flew over 3,000 combat hours and 1,500 missions in Operations Inherent Resolve and Prosperity Guardian.

Cmdr. Jason Hoch praised the squadron’s performance,

“I couldn’t be prouder of the Swordsmen’s performance day-in and day-out in incredibly demanding conditions,” Hoch said. “We proved over and over again that the flexibility a carrier strike group brings to the fight is unmatched.”

The unnamed female aviator is the first American military pilot to score an air-to-air kill, but not the first woman in history. During World War II, a Soviet pilot took that distinction. While there is some dispute whether Lt. Lydia Litvyak or Lt. Valeriya Khomyakova was the first to get an aerial victory, both recorded confirmed kills.