WASHINGTON -- A Minnesotan is among a long overlooked group of women who flew aircraft during World War Two.
On Wednesday, she and others were awarded congressional gold medals, the highest civilian honor bestowed by congress.
The Faribault Daily News reports Faribault native Liz Strohfus received the honor for flying eight different aircraft over two years.
The women aviators didn't fly combat missions, but took over military domestic flights during the war, becoming the first females to fly in U.S. military planes.
Thirty eight W.A.S.P.S, or women Air Force service pilots, were killed in service.
But they were long considered civilians, not members of the military, and thus were not entitled to the pay and benefits given to the men.
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