Skip to content
Description
By: Susan Tate Ankeny
One of WWII’s most uniquely hidden figures, Hazel Ying Lee was the first Asian American woman to earn a pilot’s license, join the WASPs, and fly for the United States military amid widespread anti-Asian sentiment and policies.
Her singular story of patriotism, barrier breaking, and fearless sacrifice is told for the first time in full for readers of The Women with Silver Wings by Katherine Sharp Landdeck, A Woman of No Importance by Sonia Purnell, The Last Boat Out of Shanghai by Helen Zia, Facing the Mountain by Daniel James Brown and all Asian American, women’s and WWII history books.
In 1932, Hazel Ying Lee, a nineteen-year-old American daughter of Chinese immigrants, sat in on a friend’s flight lesson. It changed her life. In less than a year, the girl with the wicked sense of humor, a newfound love of flying, and a tough can-do attitude earned her pilot’s license and headed for China to help against invading Japanese forces. In time, Hazel would become the first Asian American to fly with the Women Airforce Service Pilots. As thrilling as it may have been, it wasn’t easy.
In America, Hazel felt the oppression and discrimination of the Chinese Exclusion Act. In China’s field of male-dominated aviation, she was dismissed for being a woman, and for being an American. But in service to her country, Hazel refused to be limited by gender, race, or impossible dreams. Frustrated but undeterred, she forged ahead, married Clifford Louie, a devoted and unconventional husband who cheered his wife on, and gave her all for the cause, achieving more in her short, remarkable life than even she had imagined possible.
American Flygirl is the untold account of a spirted fighter and an indomitable hidden figure in American history. She broke through every common belief about women. She challenged every social restriction to endure and to succeed. And against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Hazel Ying Lee reached for the skies and made her mark as a universal and unsung hero whose time has come.
One of WWII’s most uniquely hidden figures, Hazel Ying Lee was the first Asian American woman to earn a pilot’s license, join the WASPs, and fly for the United States military amid widespread anti-Asian sentiment and policies.
Her singular story of patriotism, barrier breaking, and fearless sacrifice is told for the first time in full for readers of The Women with Silver Wings by Katherine Sharp Landdeck, A Woman of No Importance by Sonia Purnell, The Last Boat Out of Shanghai by Helen Zia, Facing the Mountain by Daniel James Brown and all Asian American, women’s and WWII history books.
In 1932, Hazel Ying Lee, a nineteen-year-old American daughter of Chinese immigrants, sat in on a friend’s flight lesson. It changed her life. In less than a year, the girl with the wicked sense of humor, a newfound love of flying, and a tough can-do attitude earned her pilot’s license and headed for China to help against invading Japanese forces. In time, Hazel would become the first Asian American to fly with the Women Airforce Service Pilots. As thrilling as it may have been, it wasn’t easy.
In America, Hazel felt the oppression and discrimination of the Chinese Exclusion Act. In China’s field of male-dominated aviation, she was dismissed for being a woman, and for being an American. But in service to her country, Hazel refused to be limited by gender, race, or impossible dreams. Frustrated but undeterred, she forged ahead, married Clifford Louie, a devoted and unconventional husband who cheered his wife on, and gave her all for the cause, achieving more in her short, remarkable life than even she had imagined possible.
American Flygirl is the untold account of a spirted fighter and an indomitable hidden figure in American history. She broke through every common belief about women. She challenged every social restriction to endure and to succeed. And against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Hazel Ying Lee reached for the skies and made her mark as a universal and unsung hero whose time has come.
You may also like
Top Trending
Dog Man 14: Dog Man: Big Jim Believes: A Graphic Novel (Dog Man #14)
Sale priceHK$85.00
Regular priceHK$150.00
In stock
Marvel Spidey and his Amazing Friends: Pirate Plunder Blunder Story and Activity
Sale priceHK$29.00
Regular priceHK$79.00
In stock
Dragon Masters #29 (正版) Magic of the Wizard Dragon (Branches) (Tracey West)
Sale priceHK$48.00
Regular priceHK$69.00
In stock
Diary of a Roblox Pro Super Special #1 Treasure Hunt
Sale priceHK$79.00
Regular priceHK$110.00
In stock
Football's Greatest Moments (Ultimate Football Heroes - The No.1 football series): Collect Them All!
Sale priceHK$60.00
Regular priceHK$98.00
In stock
National Geographic Kids Almanac 2026 (International Edition)
Sale priceHK$95.00
Regular priceHK$160.00
In stock
The World’s Worst Superheroes (Full Color)(David Walliams)
Sale priceHK$95.00
Regular priceHK$170.00
In stock