Redefining A Woman's Place

The Pentagon opens up new posts for female soldiers

For as long as she can remember, Gwen Linde wanted to be a pilot. At Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, Calif., Linde, 29, is commander of a C-141 transport plane, a mammoth, 75-ton, four-engine workhorse that carries everything from weapons, paratroopers and medical supplies to Bob Hope and his entourage. Leading a crew of six, Linde routinely carries out five-day missions to bases in Hawaii, Guam and the Azores. Her dream, however, is to fly the fighter jets that she once trained others to operate. But since those elite birds are designated for combat, women have been barred from flying...

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