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{{Short description|United States Air Force airman}}
{{Short description|United States Air Force airman}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Orphan|date=March 2019}}
{{Cleanup rewrite|date=April 2021}}
}}
{{Infobox military person
{{Infobox military person
|name = Vanessa Dobos
|name = Vanessa Dobos
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In 2003,<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/womenofusairforc0000schw|url-access=registration|quote=Airman Vanessa Dobos.|title=Women of the U.S. Air Force: Aiming High|last=Schwartz|first=Heather E.|publisher=Capstone|year=2010|isbn=9781429654494|location=|pages=[https://archive.org/details/womenofusairforc0000schw/page/27 27]}}</ref> [[Airman first class|Airman 1st Class]] '''Vanessa Dobos'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.af.mil/News/Commentaries/Display/Article/142126/women-building-communities-dreams/|title=Women: Building communities, dreams > U.S. Air Force > Display|website=www.af.mil|access-date=2019-03-27}}</ref> became the first female [[Air gunner|aerial gunner]] in the [[United States Air Force|U.S. Air Force]]. This position was previously closed to women.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/140625/setting-her-sights/|title=Setting her sights|website=U.S. Air Force|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-27}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Widener|first=Chuck|date=November 2003|title=A New Breed of Gunner|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mcX7nCUaxG4C&dq=%E2%80%9CA+New+Breed+of+Gunner.%E2%80%9D+Airman.+November+2003.&pg=RA10-PA6|journal=Airman|volume=XLVII| issue = 11|pages=6|via=Google Books}}</ref> She trained with the 58th Training Squadron at [[Kirtland Air Force Base]] in [[New Mexico]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.today.com/slideshow/women-uniform-37272518|title=Women in uniform|website=TODAY.com|language=en|access-date=2019-03-27}}</ref> Her first duty station was at [[Nellis Air Force Base|Nellis AFB]] in [[Nevada]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nara.getarchive.net/topics/vanessa+dobos|title=US National Archives|date=23 August 2002|website=US National Archives|access-date=27 March 2019}}</ref> and she served with distinction in [[Iraq]] and [[Afghanistan]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dod.defense.gov/News/Article/Article/688410/carter-salutes-womens-contributions-on-international-womens-day/|title=Carter Salutes Women's Contributions on International Women's Day|website=U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-27}}</ref>
In 2003,<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/womenofusairforc0000schw|url-access=registration|quote=Airman Vanessa Dobos.|title=Women of the U.S. Air Force: Aiming High|last=Schwartz|first=Heather E.|publisher=Capstone|year=2010|isbn=9781429654494|location=|pages=[https://archive.org/details/womenofusairforc0000schw/page/27 27]}}</ref> [[Airman first class|Airman 1st Class]] '''Vanessa Dobos'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.af.mil/News/Commentaries/Display/Article/142126/women-building-communities-dreams/|title=Women: Building communities, dreams > U.S. Air Force > Display|website=www.af.mil|access-date=2019-03-27}}</ref> became the first female [[Air gunner|aerial gunner]] in the [[United States Air Force|U.S. Air Force]]. This position was previously closed to women.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/140625/setting-her-sights/|title=Setting her sights|website=U.S. Air Force|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-27}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Widener|first=Chuck|date=November 2003|title=A New Breed of Gunner|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mcX7nCUaxG4C&dq=%E2%80%9CA+New+Breed+of+Gunner.%E2%80%9D+Airman.+November+2003.&pg=RA10-PA6|journal=Airman|volume=XLVII| issue = 11|pages=6|via=Google Books}}</ref> She trained with the 58th Training Squadron at [[Kirtland Air Force Base]] in [[New Mexico]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.today.com/slideshow/women-uniform-37272518|title=Women in uniform|website=TODAY.com|language=en|access-date=2019-03-27}}</ref> Her first duty station was at [[Nellis Air Force Base|Nellis AFB]] in [[Nevada]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nara.getarchive.net/topics/vanessa+dobos|title=US National Archives|date=23 August 2002|website=US National Archives|access-date=27 March 2019}}</ref> and she served with distinction in [[Iraq]] and [[Afghanistan]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dod.defense.gov/News/Article/Article/688410/carter-salutes-womens-contributions-on-international-womens-day/|title=Carter Salutes Women's Contributions on International Women's Day|website=U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-27}}</ref>


== Background ==
== Early life ==
Dobos was raised in [[Valley View, Ohio]]. Her interest in the military was inspired by her father, whom she describes as a 'history buff.' She was interested in joining the military only if she could have a flying-related job.<ref name=":0"/>
Dobos was raised in [[Valley View, Ohio]]<ref name=":0"/>


⚫
== Military service ==
When she learned of the 1A7X1 Aerial Gunner role, she was unaware that it had only recently been open to females.{{Citation needed|date=August 2022}}
Her interest in the military was inspired by her father, whom she describes as a 'history buff.' She was interested in joining the military only if she could have a flying-related job.<ref name=":0"/> When she learned of the 1A7X1 Aerial Gunner role, she was unaware that it had only recently been open to females.{{Citation needed|date=August 2022}} "Just the title caught my eye," she said.<ref name=":0"/>


"Just the title caught my eye," she said.<ref name=":0"/>

⚫
== Military service ==
After basic military training, while at the basic aerial gunner course at [[Kirtland Air Force Base|Kirtland AFB]] in New Mexico, Dobos finally realized she was on her way to becoming the first female gunner.<ref name=":0"/>
After basic military training, while at the basic aerial gunner course at [[Kirtland Air Force Base|Kirtland AFB]] in New Mexico, Dobos finally realized she was on her way to becoming the first female gunner.<ref name=":0"/>


"I went from being just another airman in the crowd to someone who people would always be watching and analyzing," she told [[Airman Magazine]] in 2003. "In some ways, I was afraid that people in the helicopter world were already prepared to be disappointed in me. I figured there were some people with hard feelings about a girl in the job. I was determined not to let them down."<ref name=":0"/>
"I went from being just another airman in the crowd to someone who people would always be watching and analyzing," she told ''[[Airman Magazine]]'' in 2003. "In some ways, I was afraid that people in the helicopter world were already prepared to be disappointed in me. I figured there were some people with hard feelings about a girl in the job. I was determined not to let them down."<ref name=":0"/>


Dobos was deployed to the [[Persian Gulf]] in 2003 and Afghanistan in 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|title=A New Breed of Gunner|url=https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/a-new-breed-of-gunner/|access-date=2021-12-16|website=Snopes.com|date=November 2012 |language=en-US}}</ref>
Dobos was deployed to the [[Persian Gulf]] in 2003 and Afghanistan in 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|title=A New Breed of Gunner|url=https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/a-new-breed-of-gunner/|access-date=2021-12-16|website=Snopes.com|date=November 2012 |language=en-US}}</ref>
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On 20 October 2004, her aircraft was on a mission to [[Medical evacuation|medivac]] a local Afghani national who had been shot while working as a member of the Joint Election Monitoring Board overseeing Afghan elections. While in a hooved over the LZ,{{clarification needed|date=June 2022}} the aircraft encountered severe brownout conditions at a higher altitude than is common. When the pilot attempted to leave the dust cloud, the aircraft struck the side of a nearby hill and slid up the hill before rolling down it 5-7 times, coming to rest on its right side approximately {{convert|180|ft|m}} below the point of impact.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Radke|first=Jace|date=2004-12-28|title=Chopper crash blamed on dust condition - Las Vegas Sun Newspaper|url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2004/dec/28/chopper-crash-blamed-on-dust-condition/|access-date=2021-12-16|website=lasvegassun.com|language=en}}</ref>
On 20 October 2004, her aircraft was on a mission to [[Medical evacuation|medivac]] a local Afghani national who had been shot while working as a member of the Joint Election Monitoring Board overseeing Afghan elections. While in a hooved over the LZ,{{clarification needed|date=June 2022}} the aircraft encountered severe brownout conditions at a higher altitude than is common. When the pilot attempted to leave the dust cloud, the aircraft struck the side of a nearby hill and slid up the hill before rolling down it 5-7 times, coming to rest on its right side approximately {{convert|180|ft|m}} below the point of impact.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Radke|first=Jace|date=2004-12-28|title=Chopper crash blamed on dust condition - Las Vegas Sun Newspaper|url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2004/dec/28/chopper-crash-blamed-on-dust-condition/|access-date=2021-12-16|website=lasvegassun.com|language=en}}</ref>


The Flight Engineer, Jesse M. Samek of [[Rogers, Arkansas]], was killed in the crash.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2012-05-19|title=Air Force Airman 1st Class Jesse M. Samek|url=https://www.militarytimes.com/valor/air-force-airman-1st-class-jesse-m-samek/467582/|access-date=2021-12-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519113418/https://www.militarytimes.com/valor/air-force-airman-1st-class-jesse-m-samek/467582/|archive-date=2012-05-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Crash victim identified|url=https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/135772/crash-victim-identified/|access-date=2021-12-16|website=Air Force|language=en-US}}</ref>
The flight engineer, Jesse M. Samek of [[Rogers, Arkansas]], was killed in the crash.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2012-05-19|title=Air Force Airman 1st Class Jesse M. Samek|url=https://www.militarytimes.com/valor/air-force-airman-1st-class-jesse-m-samek/467582/|access-date=2021-12-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519113418/https://www.militarytimes.com/valor/air-force-airman-1st-class-jesse-m-samek/467582/|archive-date=2012-05-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Crash victim identified|url=https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/135772/crash-victim-identified/|access-date=2021-12-16|website=Air Force|language=en-US}}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==

Latest revision as of 16:34, 29 April 2024

Vanessa Dobos
Dobos looking out the crew door of a USAF HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter, equipped with a 7.62mm M134 Minigun machine gun.
Service/branchUS Air Force

In 2003,[1] Airman 1st Class Vanessa Dobos[2] became the first female aerial gunner in the U.S. Air Force. This position was previously closed to women.[3][4] She trained with the 58th Training Squadron at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico.[5] Her first duty station was at Nellis AFB in Nevada,[6] and she served with distinction in Iraq and Afghanistan.[7]

Early life

[edit]

Dobos was raised in Valley View, Ohio[4]

Military service

[edit]

Her interest in the military was inspired by her father, whom she describes as a 'history buff.' She was interested in joining the military only if she could have a flying-related job.[4] When she learned of the 1A7X1 Aerial Gunner role, she was unaware that it had only recently been open to females.[citation needed] "Just the title caught my eye," she said.[4]

After basic military training, while at the basic aerial gunner course at Kirtland AFB in New Mexico, Dobos finally realized she was on her way to becoming the first female gunner.[4]

"I went from being just another airman in the crowd to someone who people would always be watching and analyzing," she told Airman Magazine in 2003. "In some ways, I was afraid that people in the helicopter world were already prepared to be disappointed in me. I figured there were some people with hard feelings about a girl in the job. I was determined not to let them down."[4]

Dobos was deployed to the Persian Gulf in 2003 and Afghanistan in 2004.[8]

Pave Hawk Crash - Afghanistan

[edit]

As a Senior Airman, Dobos was the gunner on a Pave Hawk crew that was assigned to the 66th Rescue Squadron in October 2004.[9]

On 20 October 2004, her aircraft was on a mission to medivac a local Afghani national who had been shot while working as a member of the Joint Election Monitoring Board overseeing Afghan elections. While in a hooved over the LZ,[clarification needed] the aircraft encountered severe brownout conditions at a higher altitude than is common. When the pilot attempted to leave the dust cloud, the aircraft struck the side of a nearby hill and slid up the hill before rolling down it 5-7 times, coming to rest on its right side approximately 180 feet (55 m) below the point of impact.[9][10]

The flight engineer, Jesse M. Samek of Rogers, Arkansas, was killed in the crash.[9][11][12]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Schwartz, Heather E. (2010). Women of the U.S. Air Force: Aiming High. Capstone. pp. 27. ISBN 9781429654494. Airman Vanessa Dobos.
  2. ^ "Women: Building communities, dreams > U.S. Air Force > Display". www.af.mil. Retrieved 2019-03-27.
  3. ^ "Setting her sights". U.S. Air Force. Retrieved 2019-03-27.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Widener, Chuck (November 2003). "A New Breed of Gunner". Airman. XLVII (11): 6 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ "Women in uniform". TODAY.com. Retrieved 2019-03-27.
  6. ^ "US National Archives". US National Archives. 23 August 2002. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  7. ^ "Carter Salutes Women's Contributions on International Women's Day". U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. Retrieved 2019-03-27.
  8. ^ "A New Breed of Gunner". Snopes.com. November 2012. Retrieved 2021-12-16.
  9. ^ a b c "HH-60G Afghanistan 2004". rotorheadsrus.us. Retrieved 2021-12-16.
  10. ^ Radke, Jace (2004-12-28). "Chopper crash blamed on dust condition - Las Vegas Sun Newspaper". lasvegassun.com. Retrieved 2021-12-16.
  11. ^ "Air Force Airman 1st Class Jesse M. Samek". 2012-05-19. Archived from the original on 2012-05-19. Retrieved 2021-12-16.
  12. ^ "Crash victim identified". Air Force. Retrieved 2021-12-16.


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