Female Pilot Wants Honorable Discharge Or Trial She Won’t Accept General Discharge After Accusations Of Adultery

The nation’s first female B-52 pilot said Sunday that if she is not granted an honorable discharge from the Air Force, she will take her chances with a court-martial on lying and adultery charges.

1st Lt. Kelly Flinn said in a brief interview on CBS’ “60 Minutes” that she will not settle for a general discharge if offered to her. The 26-year-old pilot’s trial is set to begin Tuesday at Minot Air Force Base.

Flinn said her decision Saturday to seek a resignation with an honorable discharge was a painful one.

“This was one of the most difficult choices I have had to make,” she said, her voice breaking with emotion. “I’ve dedicated my entire life and pursuit of my dreams to flying in the Air Force and it’s difficult to walk away from something.”

But, Flinn added, her request seems the best way to resolve the case for both sides.

“I think this will give both myself and the Air Force the opportunity to come to some kind of reconciliation between the two of us and to come to some peaceful agreement,” she said.

Flinn’s comments came as Frank Spinner, her civilian attorney, assembled a package to present today to the Air Force supporting the resignation request that will include letters from the pilot and captains who have flown with her as well as her performance reviews.

“It’s just all the things that say, ‘This is the right thing to do,”’ Spinner said.

The last-minute maneuver comes as preparations proceed for the trial that has attracted national attention and stirred debate over military rules. The presiding judge, Col. Dennis Kansala, has denied two defense requests to delay the trial.

“The judge has already sent a pretty clear message that he wants to press on unless there’s a real good reason not to,” said Capt. Mark Phillips, an Air Force spokesman.

Flinn, who is single, faces trial on charges including adultery and lying in connection with two affairs the Air Force says she had over the past year.

Though Flinn is insisting on an honorable discharge, Air Force officials say privately they are very rare in lieu of courts-martial. None has been granted in the last three years.

But Spinner said he’s optimistic Flinn’s record and the circumstances will bolster her request as it is routed through several commanders before getting to Air Force Secretary Sheila Widnall. In an unusual move last week, Widnall said she would consider letting the pilot resign with an honorable discharge.