Geraldine Pratt May Explained

Colonel Geraldine Pratt May
Birth Date:	April 21, 1895
Death Date:	November 2, 1997
Death Place:	Menlo Park, California
Placeofburial:	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance:	United States of America
Branch:	Women’s Army Corps Women's Air Force United States Air Force
Rank:	Colonel
Awards:	Legion of Merit

Col. Geraldine Pratt May (April 21, 1895 – November 2, 1997)^[1] was the first director of the Women's Air Force (WAF) and the first woman colonel in the United States Air Force.^{[2] [3] [4]}

Military career

May joined the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) in July 1942. She was promoted to staff director of WAAC’s Air Transport Command in March 1943.^[5]

In 1948, May became the first director of the newly created the Women's Air Force (WAF) and was promoted to the rank of colonel making her the first woman colonel in the United States Air Force.^[6]

May received the Legion of Merit for her service during World War II.

Death and legacy

May died in Menlo Park, California at the age of 102. She is interred at Arlington National Cemetery.

Notes and References

1. Web site: February 1998. Geraldine Pratt May, Obituary. Air Force Magazine.
2. Web site: Heritage Spotlight: Women. 2021-06-01. www.jble.af.mil. en-US.
3. Web site: Women in the Armed Forces: A Century of Service. 2021-06-01. Issuu. en.
4. Web site: Eveleth. Rose. Rose Eveleth . Today in 1948, the U.S. Air Force Accepted Its First Female Member. 2021-06-01. Smithsonian Magazine. en.
5. Web site: Aerospace World. 2021-06-09. Air Force Magazine. en-US.
6. Web site: United States Air Force. 2021-06-09. www.arlingtoncemetery.mil.