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Ex-Air Force pilot Kelly Flinn to appeal discharge
November 25, 1997
Flinn
Web posted at: 3:06 p.m. EST (2006 GMT)WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Former Air Force pilot Kelly Flinn, who quit in disgrace rather than face a court-martial for adultery, plans to appeal her general discharge and hopes to rejoin the military.
"I'd love to put on a uniform and serve my country again," Flinn said Monday on CNN's "Larry King Live," adding that she became "very suicidal" after she was relieved of her duties. The 26-year-old was the first female B-52 pilot in the Air Force.
Flinn did not rule out becoming a pilot for a commercial airline if she were unable to resume her military career. She resigned in May and accepted a less-than-honorable discharge for having an affair with a married civilian.
Watch Kelly Flinn's interview with CNN's Larry King
If she had not resigned, she would have faced a court-martial for lying about the adulterous affair and disobeying an order to end it. Flinn told King she lied about the affair after two hours of "invasive questions" about her sex life. She has written a book about her experiences.
Appearing separately on the same program, Air Force Gen. Richard Hawley, commander of Air Force combat units, denied that Flinn was treated differently than male pilots. He said the main issues were the lying and disobedience. "Those are very serious offenses in the military," he told King.
Related stories:
- Larry King Live (transcripts) - November 24, 1997
- CNN Morning News (transcripts) - November 25, 1997
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