Join us in conversation with Susan Tate Ankeny, author of American Flygirl, the untold account of one of World War II's most uniquely hidden figures, Hazel Ying Lee, the first Asian American woman to earn a pilot’s license, join the Women Airforce Service Pilots, and fly for the US military amid widespread anti-Asian sentiment and policies.

A reception from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. will precede the event, and Ankeny will sign copies of her book following the presentation. Preorder a copy of Ankeny’s book in advance here.

For additional information, please email Connie Gentry, Conference and Programs Specialist, at connie.gentry@nationalww2museum.org.

About American Flygirl

In 1932, Hazel Ying Lee, a 19-year-old American daughter of Chinese immigrants, sat in on a friend’s flight lesson. It changed her life. In less than a year, a girl with a wicked sense of humor, a newfound love of flying, and a tough can-do attitude earned her pilot’s license and headed for China to help against invading Japanese forces. In time, Hazel would become the first Asian American to fly with the Women Airforce Service Pilots. But as thrilling as it may have been, it wasn’t an easy trail to blaze.

In America, Hazel felt the oppression and discrimination of the Chinese Exclusion Act. In China’s field of male-dominated aviation she was dismissed for being a woman and for being an American. But in service to her country, Hazel refused to be limited by gender, race, and impossible dreams. Frustrated but undeterred, she forged ahead, married Clifford Louie, a devoted and unconventional husband who cheered his wife on, and gave her all for the cause, achieving more in her short, remarkable life than even she imagined possible.

American Flygirl is the story of a spirited fighter and an indomitable hidden figure in American history. She broke every common belief about women. She challenged every social restriction to endure and to succeed. And against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Hazel Ying Lee reached for the skies and made her mark as a universal and unsung hero whose overdue recognition has finally come.

About the Author

Susan Tate Ankeny is the author of nonfiction WWII history books including American Flygirl and The Girl and the Bombardier. A former educator, she is a member of the Oregon Eighth Air Force Historical Society and the Association des Sauveteurs d’Aviateurs Alliés, which finds and memorializes WWII crash sites in France. The daughter of a WWII bombardier and great-granddaughter of Oregon pioneers, she lives in Portland, Oregon. Learn more at susantateankeny.com.