Lane Knox: Jet Engine Mechanic

By Al Rodriguez, Honor Flight Chicago Veteran Interview Volunteer

The interview with Lane Knox began with her saying quietly, “I don’t understand why you’re interviewing me. I’m not that interesting.” When I read that she was a jet engine mechanic in the Air Force, in the 1970’s, that seemed pretty interesting. Her service to our country made for an interesting civilian life afterwards as well.

Lane grew up in Chicago and has ten siblings but grew up with only four. Coming from a big family, she was a shy girl. Her father was a WWII Navy veteran. Six of her older brothers were in the military during the Vietnam War, one in the Marines, four in the Army and one in the Air Force. She attended Holy Angels Catholic School and later went to an all girl high school, Josephinum Academy of the Sacred Heart. Lane thought she wanted to be a teacher so she went to Chicago Teachers College, now called Chicago State University. After attending college for two years, she decided she needed a change. She had never been outside of Chicago and had never been on a plane. She chose to join the Air Force where she could accomplish both, hoping to be assigned to a warm climate.   

At 23 years old, she arrived at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas for Basic Training in October, 1973. Arriving late from Chicago she was placed with an existing squad. The discipline, rising early and the rigid rules of Basic Training were the exact opposite of how she lived as a college student. This was her first exposure to people from all around the country. As she explained, she considered herself more mature than the other “giggly” girls in her squad who were mostly 18 and 19 year olds.  A couple of Tennessee girls told her that she talked funny. 

When Basic ended, to Lane’s surprise she was assigned to be a mechanic. Lane found herself  back in Illinois attending classes at Rantoul/Chanute Air Force Base. There were eight blocks of classes to pass in order to get a mechanical certification. Her male civilian instructor for Block 1 was upset when he found nine women in his class. He told them that he would never pass a woman and once they flunked out he would send them to cook school.  She was determined to prove him wrong and passed his class and became a “Rope” in her barracks. A “Rope” is the person in charge of marching the women trainees to classes. In order to become a “Rope” you must excel in classes. Her first sergeant picked her and said she was the first “Black Rope” they had ever had. She passed all eight blocks and became a certified mechanic.

After training, she was assigned to Travis Air Force Base, 60th Military Airlift Wing, in California near San Francisco. It wasn’t as warm as she hoped but better than Chicago weather. Travis was a huge base that she said was a city within a city. She was assigned to work as a jet engine mechanic on C-5 transport planes. The C-5 was considered one of the largest military transport planes with each engine nearly 27 feet long, weighing 7,900 pounds and an air intake diameter of more than 8 1/2 feet. Before she reported to her duty station, she was issued fatigues to wear because of her job as a mechanic. Fatigues are stiff khaki pants and shirts that were fitted for men’s bodies. She said they never fitted her correctly and she was uncomfortable wearing them. At that time, women in the Air Force (WAF), mostly had office jobs and wore more formal dress uniforms of fitted skirts, pants and blouses. When she reported to her duty station, an airplane hanger, she found out she was the only female mechanic. Her first sergeant pointed to her toolbox. It weighed over 100 pounds. She said she couldn’t lift it, but one of the other mechanics told her to get a chain so she could pull it across the hanger floor to her work station.  She was told since she was the new kid on the block, her first assignment was to paint the men’s bathroom.  When she began working on the C-5 jet engines it was very physically and mentally stressful. It was physically exhausting carrying the heavy tools and tightening screws on the engine. Also it was mentally challenging because if she made a mistake with the repair the plane could crash. Eventually she became ill and was hospitalized. She was sent to Lakeside Hospital and then was assigned to Scott Air Force Base. After completing her service, she received an honorable/medical discharge with a disability from the Air Force. 

Lane went back to college, receiving a teaching degree from Chicago State University. She wasn’t content with teaching so she went to the Illinois Department of Employment, Veteran Employment Security. The Veteran Representative wasn’t very helpful and she asked him, “how do I get your job?” He said to get the job you must be a disabled veteran, and had to pass the qualification test with an A which he doubted she could do. Always up for a challenge, she aced the test and became a Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Specialist. This position develops job and training opportunities for veterans, with special emphasis on veterans with service-connected disabilities.   When the Senior DVOP job became available, the other representatives openly discussed that they did not want Lane to get the promotion. She told them that she didn’t want that job. She aspired for the “big job” as the Statewide Veteran’s Program Manager that oversaw all the DVOP offices. She got it. She was the first woman in that position, sadly the first and as of today the last. In the 1980’s she testified before Congress to advocate for a separate health clinic strictly for women veterans within the V.A.

Lane retired in 2013. Throughout her career she was and is still an advocate for women veterans’ rights. After retiring, she went to work for the Harvey Park District as a Summer Camp Director and enjoys working with children. Lane is a member and one time Vice President of the National Women Veteran’s United Organization. She is registered at the Military Women’s Memorial at the Ceremonial Entrance to Arlington National Cemetery. 

In her personal life she has two children, a son, Julian and a daughter, Torian.  

Lane has been to D.C. to see the memorials but loves the idea of having a day to recognize women in the military and is looking forward to the flight. She hopes she’ll know a couple of the other women.

Throughout her life, Lane had people creating obstacles to her success but she persevered and overcame them. She told me her passion in life is helping veterans. They are lucky to have her championing their cause.  Lane should be commended for a lifetime dedicated to the betterment of veterans’ lives. 

Thank you Lane for your service to your country and for your work on behalf of veterans. Enjoy your well-deserved day of honor as part of “Operation Her Story.”