It was the spring of 1942, just months after the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor. America was at war and preparing for a lengthy, difficult WWII. Sacramento Air Depot—later to be known as McClellan Air Force Base—was becoming a hub of military activity. In early March, 24 B-25 bombers were being modified to extend their range. On March 24th, the group was ordered to relocate to the west coast. Their destination was the Sacramento Air Depot where they went through a maintenance cycle and final preparations before they left, individually, for Alameda Air Station. There Lt.  Col. Jimmy Mitchell’s B25 bombers would be loaded on the aircraft carrier, the USS Hornet, for the first attack on Japanese homeland.

It was about this time a petite, 17-year-old, 98-pound, high school junior, Eileen Brady, decided she wanted to help the war effort. She heard they were hiring women at the Sacramento Air Depot, paying a hefty $45 every two weeks. Her mother, Edythe Brady, had already signed on for the war effort. Eileen left high school and spent two weeks undergoing training to become, what was to become known as, “Rosie the Riveter.” Wearing blue coveralls and a bandana for her hair, she learned to rivet and “buck” at the same time, but because of her petite size, she was often called upon to crawl into the very restricted spaces in the wings to “buck” for the riveter on the outside of the plane. (Imagine the noise inside that wing while the riveter on the outside was hammering Ra-tat-tat-tat!) It was like being inside a drum,” she would say.

She worked this assignment, but when riveting was not needed her assignment was to unpack the life raft packs aboard every plane crossing the Pacific. She would inspect and repair every aspect of the pack, replace emergency food and water supplies, patch as needed, and occasionally leave a little note wishing good luck and God’s speed—along with her phone number.

She worked on B-25’s, B-24’s, P-61’s, P-38’s, whatever came through the depot, but her favorite was the B-17 Flying Fortress. One day, when they were about to test fly a B-17, and because she had performed so well on repairing parts of the plane, she was invited to “put on a chute and come on board this test flight!” Now, for this 98-pounder gearing up was a chore. Her chute and all the gear almost doubled her weight! Out she went, ready to fly, but when she got to the plane she was told by the pilot: “No women will fly on my plane.” She turned, disappointed, and went back to work, crawling into wings, and listening to the Ra-tat-tat-tat of the riveter on the outside. “One day,” she said, “I’ll get my chance.”

Move forward 73-years and Eileen Lyda (now married to Don Lyda for over 50 years) got her opportunity to fly on a B-17.

On September 30th, one week short of her 90th birthday, Eileen flew aboard the Sentimental Journey, a B-17, of the Arizona Commemorative Air Force squadron, whose captain will most likely said to Eileen, “You are welcome to fly on my plane.”

So, Eileen, hope you enjoyed the ride and thank you for your service.