American Flygirl - Webinar

A uniquely hidden figure, Hazel Ying Lee was a pioneering trailblazer in the history of WWII, aviation, women, the military, and America, yet her inspiring story and extraordinary accomplishments have been unheralded and ignored. The only book to focus on an Asian American female aviator, American Flygirl (Kensigton 2024) breaks this silence, illuminating the structural and racial barriers Lee faced to become the first Asian American woman to earn a pilot’s license, join the WASPs, and fight for this country amid widespread anti-Asian sentiment and racist policies, such as the Chinese Exclusion Act and Japanese internment camps. This online book talk coincides with AAPI Heritage Month, which is observed throughout May to recognize the contributions and influence of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States. Susan Tate Ankeny is the author of nonfiction WWII history books including American Flygirl (Kensigton 2024) and The Girl and the Bombardier.