This week, a Navy officer has made history after becoming the first known African American female tactical aircraft pilot in the US.
The chief of naval air training congratulated Lt. Madeline Swegle for her accomplishment on Twitter, writing:
“BZ to Lt. j.g. Madeline Swegle on completing the Tactical Air (Strike) aviator syllabus. Swegle is the @USNavy’s first known Black female TACAIR pilot and will receive her Wings of Gold later this month. HOOYAH!”
Meaning “Bravo Zulo”, BZ is a naval abbreviation used to show appreciation for a job well done.
Swegle, a Virginia native, is currently based in the Redhawks of Training Squadron in Texas. She graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2017.
As a recent graduate of the tactical air program, Swegle will be assigned to a team of strike fighters, where it’s likely that she will go on to fly a F-35C Joint Strike Fighter, a F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, or an EA-18G Growler, according to Stars and Stripes magazine.
Swegle has made history just in time to mark 110 years from the beginning of naval aviation, when the first naval aircraft took flight from USS Birmingham in Chesapeake Bay. It was flown by Eugene Burton Ely on November 14, 1910, as reported on the Navy’s official blog. Celebrations for the milestone will be held later this year.
The news of Swegle’s achievement first went public when one of Swegle’s friends, known as Miss Alissa on Twitter, Tweeted photos of Swegle, along with the words, “Just my best friend making history”.
Just my best friend making history pic.twitter.com/k0qG8kaZTr
— Saweetie Apologist (@paigealissa) July 7, 2020
The two photos showed Swegle beaming in front of a T-45C Goshawk training aircraft, and grinning as she is sprayed with what looks like champagne.
Shared on July 7, the post already has 191.4k likes and nearly 24k retweets and comments. People were full of praise for Swegle, with one Twitter user writing:
“Congratulations!!!
I’m a Navy Vet and that was my goal. I couldn’t get there due to medical issues and I’m soooooo glad she could get there!!!!!!!!”
Another commenter, who is a member of the US Army, wrote:
“Congrats and thanks. Civilians don’t understand. She could have flown over my team and protected us from the sky ANYTIME! I appreciate the effort, the dedication, the service and the fortitude to protect those who may just not deserve it. (You know who you are)”
Many notable people congratulated Swegle for her achievement online, with the Navy’s vice chief of information, Rear Adm. Paula Dunn, Tweeting: Go forth and kick butt.”
Billie Jean King also shared her congratulations, Tweeting:
“Congratulations to LTJG Madeline Swegle who has become the @USNavy’s 1st Black female fighter pilot.”
Congratulations to LTJG Madeline Swegle who has become the @USNavy's 1st Black female fighter pilot.
Her accomplishment comes more than 45 years after Rosemary Mariner became the 1st woman in the Navy to fly tactical jets in 1974.#RepresentationMatters https://t.co/07AVMYgglg
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) July 11, 2020
According to the Navy, Swegle will receive her wings of gold on July 31 at a planned ceremony. This news is a positive sign after the Defence Department has vowed to improve their responsiveness to issues around race and diversity, according to Stars and Stripes magazine.
Just two years ago, two black male pilots claimed that they had been removed from their squadrons as a result of racism. The Navy conducted an investigation into the claims, and found that while the correct procedures had been carried out to remove the men from their squadrons, they hadn’t received respectful and dignifying treatment.
Swegle’s achievement comes 45 years after the first woman flew tactical jets in the Navy. Rosemary Mariner, who passed away last year, first flew a tactical jet in 1974, and became the first woman to command an operational air squadron during Operation Desert Storm in 1990.
The first black woman to become a pilot in the Navy was Brenda E. Robinson. Robinson earned her wings 40 years ago, in 1980.
While Swegle appears to have many adoring strangers on her side, it’s clear that her family members are the proudest of her accomplishment. Swegle’s father, who played basketball for the Navy, shared his delight to Twitter, writing:
“It’s official. My daughter, Maddy continues rise.”
It’s official. My daughter, Maddy continues rise. Story follows: https://t.co/OZvnveoAKa
— Carey Manhertz (@cmanhertz) July 9, 2020
Congratulations to Swegle for making such positive history, and we hope that she inspires many more African American female pilots to follow in her footsteps.
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