Mary Magdalene "Maggie" Maga

Maga was one of the United States Navy's first women aircraft mechanics, trained and served during World War II as an Aviation Machinist Mate. Besides doing maintenance on aircraft on the night shift, she also performed line handling services such as driving trucks, parking and fueling aircraft, and lighting the black smudge pots used at that time to light the runways at night. She received flight pay for flying on test flights following inspection and maintenance checks. Maggie competently paved the way for the women mechanics and line service crew members who followed her. She is proud to represent the other unnamed women who maintained and serviced Navy aircraft during WWII, and she remains busy encouraging the younger generations of women mechanics.