Kathryn 'Kay" Gunderson

Kay Gunderson fell in love with flying early in life. She took that passion into World War II working for the U.S. Navy teaching pilots on the Link Trainer. Then Kay learned of the WASPs – Women Airforce Service Pilots – and immediately applied. In 1943, Kay became a part of the WASP 5th class.

“She was assigned to fly tow targets for machine gun practice for the cadet pilots at Eagle Pass, Texas,” her daughters explained. “Live rounds, one tearing through a tail fin, but they never took [Kay] down.”

Kay’s job also included delivering new models of airplanes to various bases all over the country, training waiting pilots on the newest technology and ferrying service personnel wherever they were needed.

WASP service was long unrecognized. It wasn’t until legislation passed in the late 1970s did the women finally get veteran status. Then, in 2010, Kay received a Congressional Gold Medal.