Aerial Gunner In 2002, Air Force Airman Vanessa Dobos became the first female aerial gunner, a combat duty that had previously been closed to women. Dobos went on to serve with distinction in Iraq and Afghanistan. National Archives photo SHARE IMAGE: Download Image: Full Size (0.17 MB) Tags: women, history Photo By: National Archives VIRIN: 160308-F-ZZ999-001.JPG Photo Gallery