World War II Women in Aviation: An Exploration in Leadership

1501 North Marginal Road,Cleveland OH 44114

17 September, 2021

Description

"Dinner with a Slice of History" returns w/ Dr. Reina Pennington who explores the leadership WWII leaders Marina Raskova and Jackie Cochran. The International Women's Air & Space Museum (IWASM) is pleased to announce the return of Dinner with a Slice of History, a program made possible through a Cuyahoga Arts and Culture (CAC) grant. During the Second World War, the Soviet Union and United States established segregated organizations for the purpose of recruiting and training women for aviation duties. In both nations, it was individuals, rather than the military establishment, who proposed and developed plans for the use of women aviators. The women who spearheaded those efforts had dramatically different leadership styles, from Marina Raskova’s quiet, businesslike, and approachable character, to Jacqueline Cochran’s brash, forceful, and sometimes antagonistic nature. Yet they employed strikingly similar methods to achieve their goals. This presentation will examine the parallels and differences in the lives and achievements of these two remarkable women. Reina Pennington, PhD, is a former Air Force intelligence officer; she served as a Soviet analyst with F-4 and F-16 fighter squadrons, the Aggressor Squadrons, the Defense Intelligence Agency, and the Alaskan Air Command. She has taught military and Russian History at Norwich University since 1999, and has received the institution's highest awards in both research and teaching. She served for eight years as an elected trustee of the Society for Military History and ten years as a Presidential Counselor for the National WWII Museum. She is the author of Wings, Women and War: Soviet Airwomen in World War II Combat, and is presently working on a book entitled What Russia Can Teach Us About War. Registration InformationRegistration is required prior to the event. Non-IWASM members - $25IWASM members - $15Get Tickets & Join IWASM for 1 year - $55Tickets include admittance to the program, and a boxed dinner provided by Brennan's Catering. Participants will also have an opportunity to enter a special raffle for two (2) roundtrip tickets for Southwest Airlines. When registering, consider donating to IWASM. Even $5 will go toward furthering the museum's mission, activities, and services. Donations are non-refundable. Space is limited for the program. Registrations made via check can be sent to: 1501 N Marginal Rd. Ste 165, Cleveland, OH 44114 and must be received no later than September 15. Visit www.iwasm.org or call 216.623.1111 for more information. COVID-19 Precautions - Ensuring everyone's health and safety.IWASM considers the health and safety of all our visitors, supporters, and communities our top priority. We are following all CDC, State of Ohio, and local recommendations for hosting in person events. Space is limited for this event, and all participants will practice social distancing while at the museum. We ask that if attendees are feeling unwell, or exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, to stay home. Unless actively eating or drinking, all guests are asked to wear a mask regardless of vaccination status in line with airport guidelines. Visit www.iwasm.org to plan your visit and review how IWASM is working to keep our friends, neighbors and communities safe. About IWASM The International Women's Air & Space Museum is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization located in Cleveland, Ohio. Its mission is to collect, preserve, and showcase the history and culture of women in all areas of aviation and aerospace; educate people of the world about their contributions; and inspire future generations by bringing the history to life. The International Women's Air & Space Museum (IWASM) hosts a variety of events both free and ticketed. Events range from free community Family Days, Rocket Days, our annual "Dinner with a Slice of History" speaker series, and more!