Kate Lee Harris Adams

Katherine Lee Harris Adams, also known as Kate Adams, was born on September 5, 1919, and passed away on December 2, 2002. She was an American pilot who served in the Women Airforce Service Pilots during World War II. These women flew planes to help with many important tasks for the war.

In 1977, Kate was honored as a veteran for her valuable work. In 2009, she and all the other members of the Women Airforce Service Pilots received a special award called the Congressional Gold Medal. This award showed how much people appreciated their brave and helpful service during the war.

Early life and education

Katherine Lee Harris, known as Kate Adams, was born on September 5, 1919, in Durham, North Carolina. Her parents were Arthur Miller Harris, a city councilman, and Kate Lee Hundley, a homemaker who used to be a schoolteacher. Kate finished high school at Durham High School in 1937. She later went to Duke University and graduated in 1941 with a degree in fine arts.

Women Airforce Service Pilots

Kate Lee Harris Adams learned to fly during a special program at Duke University. She then joined the Women Airforce Service Pilots in 1943. This group of women pilots helped the United States Air Force during World War II.

These pilots tested planes, flew them to different bases, and taught other pilots. This let male pilots focus on combat missions.

Adams trained in Texas and worked at an air base in Alabama. She flew many types of planes and helped train new pilots.

After the war, in 1977, she and her fellow pilots were recognized as veterans. Many years later, in 2009, she and all members of the Women Airforce Service Pilots received a special award called the Congressional Gold Medal for their important work.

Personal life and death

Kate Adams met Lieutenant Robert Adams, a U.S. Air Force officer, while working at Napier Field. They married and, after World War II, moved to Kansas City. They lived there for eight years, and then moved to Houston, where they stayed for fifty-four years. She was active in her church community.

She liked to travel and even visited China with a special tour group. Adams passed away on December 2, 2002, at a retirement home in Durham. Her funeral was held at her childhood church, Trinity United Methodist Church, and she was buried in Maplewood Cemetery.