Sonya Lynette Finch 1976- Creston, Iowa
I enlisted into Army National Guard, August, 1993; graduated from UNI, 1999 and was commissioned as Second Lt
in Army Aviation.
Graduated Army Aviation (helicopter) Basic, October 2000. Flew OH-58 Kiowa helicopters until May 2005. Also
trained in the AH-64 Apache helicopter July 2002, but flew less than 100 hours.
I was the first female to fly the OH-58 and AH-64 Helicopters in the Iowa Army National Guard and to command
within the Cavalry as an aviator in the Iowa Army National Guard. I donated a flight suit to the museum on Camp
Dodge in Johnston, Iowa. They have a "women in military aviation" section within their museum.
I transferred to the Air Force in May 2005. Trained on T-6 Texan's and T-38 Talon's. Graduated from Air Force
Pilot Training, November 2006. Graduated from KC-135 (Boeing 707) training, January 2009.
I enlisted in the Army National Guard because I wanted to go through ROTC and get my commission; then I could
become an officer and fly helicopters. I can't tell you exactly why I wanted to fly, but I think I always knew that I
wanted to be in the air.
I held command positions of Platoon Leader and Commander within the Cavalry while I flew with the Army National
Guard. I was accepted to fly fixed wing aircraft within the Air Force, so I transferred to the Air National Guard to
continue my career. I currently fly the KC135 in the Air National Guard, 185th Air Refueling Wing. On my full-time
status in the military, I currently work for the Iowa Counterdrug Task Force as an Executive Officer.
I met Sonya at a party for a friend's wedding. Having been told she was a military pilot I sought her out, told her of
my art passion for women in aviation, asked her to send me photos of her plane and herself. She did send photos
and raved about the college-painting I did.
I enlisted into Army National Guard, August, 1993; graduated from UNI, 1999 and was commissioned as Second Lt
in Army Aviation.
Graduated Army Aviation (helicopter) Basic, October 2000. Flew OH-58 Kiowa helicopters until May 2005. Also
trained in the AH-64 Apache helicopter July 2002, but flew less than 100 hours.
I was the first female to fly the OH-58 and AH-64 Helicopters in the Iowa Army National Guard and to command
within the Cavalry as an aviator in the Iowa Army National Guard. I donated a flight suit to the museum on Camp
Dodge in Johnston, Iowa. They have a "women in military aviation" section within their museum.
I transferred to the Air Force in May 2005. Trained on T-6 Texan's and T-38 Talon's. Graduated from Air Force
Pilot Training, November 2006. Graduated from KC-135 (Boeing 707) training, January 2009.
I enlisted in the Army National Guard because I wanted to go through ROTC and get my commission; then I could
become an officer and fly helicopters. I can't tell you exactly why I wanted to fly, but I think I always knew that I
wanted to be in the air.
I held command positions of Platoon Leader and Commander within the Cavalry while I flew with the Army National
Guard. I was accepted to fly fixed wing aircraft within the Air Force, so I transferred to the Air National Guard to
continue my career. I currently fly the KC135 in the Air National Guard, 185th Air Refueling Wing. On my full-time
status in the military, I currently work for the Iowa Counterdrug Task Force as an Executive Officer.
I met Sonya at a party for a friend's wedding. Having been told she was a military pilot I sought her out, told her of
my art passion for women in aviation, asked her to send me photos of her plane and herself. She did send photos
and raved about the college-painting I did.
