At the age of 98, Anna Mae Krier from Levittown is celebrating the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, France, honoring the vital roles women played during World War II, write Sylvie Corbet and John Leicester for the Associated Press.
Krier, who worked as a riveter on B-17 and B-29 bombers, ensured that one of these aircraft carried a special message by signing her name on it.
During the war, Krier was one of the millions of women who took on defense-industry jobs, replacing men who went off to fight in various theaters of war.
Known as “Rosie the Riveters,” these women worked tirelessly to produce the weaponry and equipment necessary for the war effort.
“After Pearl Harbor, every man, woman, and child just went to work,” Krier recalled during her visit to Pegasus Bridge, a significant D-Day battle site.
She began her riveting career in 1943 at the age of 17, contributing to the construction of more than 6,000 aircrafts.
Women also played significant roles in aviation. The Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) carried out noncombat missions, including transporting planes from factories to the front lines, thereby allowing male pilots to engage in combat.
Read more about Levittown’s Rosie the Riveter in PBS NewsHour.
World War II veterans from Pennsylvania, New Jersey return to Normandy for D-Day anniversary
