55 years of the U-2 Dragon Lady: first female U-2 pilot

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Luke Johnson
  • 9th RW Public Affairs
BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  (Editors note: This story is part one of four in a series that celebrates 55 years of the U-2 mission.)

Playing for the U.S. National Water Polo team would seem an unlikely place to start the journey to becoming a U-2 pilot; however, little did Col. Troy Devine know that her poolside interactions with her coach would eventually lead her to join an exclusive club very few aviators are a part of.

Her coach, a U.S. Air Force Academy graduate, encouraged her to explore a career as an Air Force officer and pilot.

"On his recommendation, I started investigating it, and as soon as I peeked under the tent, I was hooked," said Colonel Devine, mobility assistant at the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.  "I was definitely committed to getting into the Academy, graduating and going on to pilot training."

Once she completed pilot training in 1987, restrictions for women to serve combat operations were still in place. She was selected as a first assignment instructor pilot at Williams Air Force Base, Ariz.

"I wrote on my dream sheet that I wanted an F-16 at Kunsan or any fighter anywhere, but there were no fighter cockpits available to women at the time," Colonel Devine said. "I gladly accepted my assignment as a T-38 instructor pilot, and I enjoyed flying and training there for a little over four years."

In 1991, as Congress began to reverse the Title 10 restrictions for women in combat, Colonel Devine contacted U-2 recruiter Col. Bill Gilbert, at the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, to submit a package to begin the process of becoming the first female U-2 pilot.

For her, the U-2 was shrouded in mystery, due to some of its missions and also the impact it had on national authority command decisions.

"As soon as I started getting an inkling that might be the direction I wanted to go, I picked up every U-2 publication ever written," Colonel Divine said.

As she began learning as much as possible about the aircraft, she knew this was something she wanted to pursue. In order to prepare herself for the interview process, she learned the art of flying gliders and sail planes to broaden her skills as a pilot.

"I knew the flight characteristics of the aircraft were very different and quite outside of what I was experiencing flying the T-38 predominantly," Colonel Devine said.

As Congress finalized its decision to open up the U-2 program to women, Colonel Devine was able to move forward with her goal of becoming a U-2 pilot.

"My first great feeling of success was actually getting the interview, which was really fabulous," she said.

Coming to Beale and learning the details of how maintainers, physiological support and Lockheed technical representatives work together ensuring the success of the U-2 mission solidified her commitment to the mission of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing.

"I was absolutely and totally committed to the mission after I'd gone through the interview process," she said.

However, her first interview sortie in the Dragon Lady was a lesson in humiliation for her, and she credits her instructor for giving her a boost of confidence with the aircraft.

"All of my preparation and my attempts to try broadening my experiences so that I could do better in the U-2 interview process flying part, seem to be for naught and that first mission was completely humiliating for me," Colonel Devine said. "I listened intently to everything my flight instructor offered for remediation of my problems. Thankfully it worked out well where I showed a distinct learning curve."

After completing her third interview sortie, a multitude of pilots gathered in the video room at the 1st RS, where U-2 landings are recorded, to see if she was accepted into the program. Once she got the news that she would be the newest U-2 student pilot for the 1st RS, she was very relived and anxious to begin her new journey as a U-2 pilot.

"I was absolutely elated when I found out I was hired," Colonel Devine said.

Colonel Devine admitted at the beginning of her acceptance, the adjustment to the U-2 program was not easy because she had to adapt the female physiology to the U-2 pressure suit.

"When the U-2 opened up to women there was distinct and legitimate concern about whether or not it was a good idea for the program which was doing tremendous work and did not seem to need any new ingredients to improve," Colonel Devine said. "The decision was made to allow women, and the fact that the interview process was so transparent was really positive. Once I was hired, there was really no debate in the community as to whether I was qualified."

Flying in the U-2 pressure suit was the most complicated aspect of the training for her, as she was used to flying the T-38. Looking back, she realized she should have been more assertive in the initial sizing of her suit despite the best efforts of the physiological support personnel.

"Of all the things in the U-2 that was the most difficult to get around was flying in the cumbersome pressure suit," she said. "The biggest challenge for me personally was just learning to feel comfortable in the suit, tactually flying in the pressure suite with the hockey mitts and the oversized boots."

Colonel Devine said her first solo high flight was unbelievable, comparing it to driving a high-end sports car for the first time.

"It's like your dad throwing you keys to the Ferrari saying 'hey go ahead take it for a ride,'" she said. "While it's awesome, and you're confident that you can do it, you still have the feeling of wow, I can't believe they're really letting me do this. It's really amazing."

Her first operational mission over Korea instilled in her the significance of the U-2 mission.

"Once I had the aircraft on station, I realized the life of a U-2 pilot was making sure the mission went as well as it possibly could," Colonel Devine said. "I had to make sure the aircraft was in the best possible position to collect as well as it possibly could, and in the back of your mind, you know that you have to get this thing back on the ground."

Her most memorable mission was over Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom, when she was commander of the 99th Reconnaissance Squadron. She was flying an incredibly difficult mission and had a lot of issues with the sensors. However, she was able to make the most of the mission and complete it, and she credits her squadron for pulling through as a team.

"I felt like I had given everything that I possibly could and so had the rest of the team," Colonel Devine said. "Together we achieved the most we could, given the circumstances we were working in. I felt incredibly blessed to be there and to be so well trained and so well prepared to do that, and I felt a great sense of satisfaction and hope not only for the men and women of the 99th RS, but for the people of Iraq and our country."

Even though Colonel Devine made history as the first female U-2 pilot, she feels her place in U-2 history is overshadowed by the legends that have flown the Dragon Lady.

"When I came into the program, I could not get too excited about the fact that I was the first woman because the program was filled with this rich history of legitimate aviation legends," she said. "I don't think the fact that I was the first woman had much to do with the program at all. I did my best to not ever make that an issue by being as competent as I possibly could."

As she looks back on her career as an Air Force officer and U-2 pilot, she feels the significance of her achievement as the first female U-2 pilot can serve as inspiration for other Airmen to achieve great things in the Air Force.

"The fact I was a woman is the only real value in it (first female U-2 pilot). Now maybe other folks can look at their possibilities in the Air force differently and see a broader array of opportunities," Colonel Devine said.

Although she has not flown the U-2 for several years now, Colonel Devine still feels connected to the men and women of the U-2 program.

"When I see these young pilots that are flying it now, I feel a real sense of community and camaraderie with the program and have a great respect for the platform," she said. "There is a tremendous amount of talent in the U-2 program."

After 20 years of service, Colonel Devine retired from active duty in 2004, and in 2005, she joined the Air Force Reserve as an individual mobilization augmentee. Recently, she served as the vice commander of the 940th Wing at Beale.

"I've been personally blessed by the opportunity to fly the U-2 and to have served my country in the capacity that I have as a U-2 pilot and a commander in this program," she said. "I have a lot of respect for the men and women who continue to make the mission happen."