Elizabeth Greene: Pioneer Pilot
The area of missions specialization that has been the most closed to women has been that of aviation, and yet even that specialization was initiated largely through the efforts of a woman pilot, Elizabeth Greene.
She had served in the Air Force during the early months of World War II, but her heart was not in military service. She viewed her training as preparation for future service in missionary aviation, a specialization that was only in the very early developmental stages.
It was during the war that Greene wrote an article for a Christian magazine, presenting the need for missionary aviation. The article was spotted by a navy pilot who promptly contacted Greene, asking her to join him and some other pilots in founding an organization that later became known as Mission Aviation Fellowship.
Her flying service with that organization included terms in Mexico, Africa, and Irian Jaya. Despite her impressive record of flying experience, she faced sex discrimination in her ministry and she perpetuated that attitude in her own philosophy of missionary aviation by defending MAF's initial policy of refusing female applicants.
Taken from Daughters of the Church by Ruth A. Tucker and Walter A. Leifeld. Copyright © 1987 by Ruth A. Tucker and Walter A.
Leifeld. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
comments