--- title: "Women veterans recreate WWII pin-ups with fighter planes to help hospitalized vets" description: "The real history behind the classic vehicles, aircraft, and veterans in the new 2027 Pin-Ups for Vets calendar is here." date: "2026-08-05" modified: "2026-08-05" authors: - name: "Shannon Corbeil" job_title: "Contributor, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/scorbeil/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/entertainment/pin-ups-for-vets-history-classics-calendar/" categories: - "Entertainment" tags: - "Entertainment" - "Military History" - "Veterans" --- # Women veterans recreate WWII pin-ups with fighter planes to help hospitalized vets ![Pin-Ups for Vets 2027 calendar female veteran]() *(Margaret Clark/Pin-Ups for Vets/Shane Karns)* Pin-Ups for Vets, a non-profit organization that supports hospitalized and deployed service members and their families, has been creating a pin-up calendar for fundraising efforts since 2006, but the 2027 calendar may be their hottest yet. Not only does this edition feature veteran models and founder Gina Elise on each page, it also has a “transportation" theme with classic cars or aircraft with awesome histories. **Also Read: [The real star of David Ayer’s ‘Heart of the Beast’ is Uber (the K9)]()** "Our calendar celebrates women who answered the call to serve our country," Elise said in the official calendar press release. "These veterans prove that strength and femininity can exist side by side. The calendar photos recreate the iconic style of the popular WWII pin-ups—who boosted morale for so many young service members fighting in a war far from home." "We're honoring WWII’s brave troops, who inspired our nonprofit’s mission to care for our current day heroes," the statement continued. the thousands of service members who have served and sacrificed in the many wars following WWII. At the same time, we are shining a spotlight on today's female veterans and the incredible impact they make while serving, and in the years following their service.” Introducing the classics—and the ladies—below, photographed by [Shane Karns](). ### Lindsey, U.S. Army Let’s start with one of my personal favorites (I’m the daughter of a career firefighter): Lindsey Schmidt and the 1913 Christie Front Drive Steam Pumper Fire Engine. Lindsey joined the Army after 9/11, serving with the 20th Special Forces Group as an interrogator and Arabic Linguist. She deployed to Iraq, where she conducted interrogations and accompanied the ODAs on combat missions to conduct tactical questioning. ![pin-ups for vets 2027 calendar lindsay]() *(Pin-Ups For Vets/Shane Karns)* Later she deployed to Djibouti in the Horn of Africa as a strategic debriefer. During her career, she trained throughout the United States, England, and Morocco, and graduated as an Honor Graduate from Airborne school and was among the first groups of women to train in courses previously reserved solely for the Army's Special Forces. Lindsey posed with the 1913 Christie Front Drive Steam Pumper Fire Engine, which was also a first in its time. Christie Front Drive tractor units were produced to replace horses and were sold to fire departments by Walter Christie, who was America's pioneer front drive proponent. This unit was purchased by Somerville, Massachusetts, and was used by the city for over 40 years. It is now on display as part of the [Nethercutt Collection]() in Sylmar, California. ### Jae Lowery, U.S. Army Next up, we’ve got Jae Lowery and a gorgeous Staggerwing aircraft. Jae joined the Army after witnessing her mother struggle with the impact of misdiagnosed lab results; she decided to get into the medical field so she could ensure her patients received the highest standard of medical care. She spent her career entirely dedicated to clinical medicine and research. She originally enlisted as a Medical Laboratory Technician and served as a Bioscience Research Assistant in her first assignment. She was later selected for the historic, final graduating class of the 53-year METC Cytology program, becoming one of only six to graduate and earning her second bachelor’s degree and becoming a nationally certified Cytotechnologist. ![pin-ups for vets 2027 calendar jae]() *(Pin-Ups for Vets/Shane Karns)* Jae spent the remainder of her career forward-stationed at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, the largest American hospital outside the United States and the sole medical evacuation and trauma center for three combatant commands: EUCOM, CENTCOM, and AFRICOM. In the calendar, she is pictured with a Beech Aircraft UC-43B Staggerwing, a five passenger air attaché transport craft. The Staggerwing—named for that forward-placed lower wing—was faster than any military aircraft, with the largest payload of its type and was ideal for rough, short landing strips. During World War II, planes with such desirable characteristics were often commandeered for military use. The civilian D 17S Staggerwing was later built in two versions, the UC-43 for the US Army Air Corps and the GB-2 for the US Navy. This aircraft was acquired by the [Yanks Air Museum]() in 1973 and became the first aircraft of their collection. ### Emily Buelcher, U.S. Navy & U.S. Air Force Emily Buelcher is the daughter of immigrants, people who “came to this country fifty years ago with hope, courage, and a belief in the American dream.” Emily believes military service was her way of continuing what her parents started and honoring their sacrifices by giving back to the nation that gave her family a future. ![pin-ups for vets 2027 calendar emily]() *(Pin-Ups for Vets/Shane Karns)* In the Navy, Emily deployed during Operation Enduring Freedom and earned her Aviation Warfare Specialist (AWS) designation. In the Air Force Reserves, she joined the Chaplain Corps where she was reminded that service isn’t just what you do, it’s who you show up for. Emily is photographed with a 1933 Duesenberg SJ Arlington Torpedo Sedan that was commissioned to be built for the 1933 Chicago World's Fair Century of Progress. It is a one of a kind Duesenberg; It quickly gained the nickname "20 Grand" due to its astonishing asking price in 1933 (the equivalent of over $500,000 today). It is the flagship of the [Nethercutt Collection](), a Pebble Beach best of show winner, and the most famous Duesenberg in the world. ### Margaret Clark, U.S. Marine Corps Is there anything more iconic that a P-51 Mustang? (Sorry, you can take this girl out of the Air Force but… ) U.S. Marine Corps veteran Margaret Clark continued a long family legacy of military service that spans multiple generations. She served as a Combat Correspondent, receiving specialized training in journalism and broadcasting, and was proud to tell the stories of Marines through writing, photography, and television and radio production. ![pin-ups for vets 2027 calendar margaret]() *(Pin-Ups for Vets/Shane Karns)* She was the only Marine in her joint-service broadcast school to become an Honor Graduate and later was stationed with Marine Forces Command in Norfolk, Virginia, and then at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms in California. The [North American P-51D-30 Mustang Fighter]() she’s pictured with was designed and built in 117 days. During World War II, it served as a long range bomber escort and a fast and furious dog fighter against the vicious Luftwaffe. The P-51 qualified 281 Allied pilots as Aces, second only to the Hellcat with 307 Aces. The D model sported a new bubble canopy, six .50 caliber Browning machine guns, and the new Merlin engine improved its high altitude performance. Two other developments improved the capabilities of the P-51: the G-Suit, which applied pressure to the lower body to increase blood flow to the head, and the K-14 gyroscopic gun sight. This P-51 was a well known racer and won a string of victories in the Bendix Air Races. It was procured by Yanks in 1987. And last but not least, our covergirl, Pin-Ups for Vets founder Gina Elise. ### Gina Elise, Pin-Ups for Vets Non-Profit Founder ![pin-ups for vets 2027 calendar gina]() *(Pin-Ups for Vets/Shane Karns)* Gina Elise founded Pin-Ups for Vets in 2006 after seeing news coverage of troops sustaining injuries during post-9/11 conflicts. She wanted to do something to help support them, so she created what she thought would be a one-off fundraising calendar. In the first issue, Gina was the only model. Now in its 21st edition, Gina has expanded not only the calendar but the organization itself. Today, Pin-Ups For Vets is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of America's veterans. Inspired by the iconic pin-up art that boosted troop morale during World War II, the organization raises funds through its annual vintage-style calendar. It then uses the proceeds to support veterans' healthcare, purchase new rehabilitation equipment for VA Hospitals, conduct morale-boosting visits to hospitalized veterans, provide needed household items for homeless veterans programs, send gifts to deployed troops, and serve military families. To date, Pin-Ups for Vets Ambassadors have visited over 25,000 veterans across the country and beyond in VA hospitals and in state veterans homes. The organization has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars of rehabilitation equipment to veterans hospitals. No longer the sole model in the wildly successful calendars, Gina also devotes time and care toward finding veterans from diverse military backgrounds whose stories reflect dedication, resilience, and a lifelong commitment to service. The 2027 edition features 13 female veterans representing every branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. On the cover, Gina models with a 1930 Ruxton Front Drive Sedan. This car is one of only 17 surviving from the original 96 produced. Its original styled paint job was designed to make the car appear longer and taller than it actually is. The company's slogan was "a car so low you can look over it; a car so smart none could overlook it!" Other classics in the calendar include: - 1926 Pierce Arrow Series 33 Runabout - 1932 Auburn 12-160A Convertible Coupe - 1952 Hudson Hornet Convertible Brougham - 1956 Rolls-Royce Phantom IV - 1932 Cadillac 355-B Deluxe Sport Coupe - WWII-era Willys Overland MB& Ford Motor GPW U.S. Army Jeep - 1936 Porterfield Aircraft Model 35 Flyabout - Bell UH-1H Iroquois (Huey) - WWII-era Curtiss P-40E-1 Warhawk (WITH the shark mouth nose art) Oh, and some pretty badass women as well. You can [pre-order the 2027 Pin-Ups for Vets calendar now](), along with an assortment of Americana goods in the Pin-Ups for Vets fundraising store. Every purchase helps service members and their families. **Don’t Miss the Best of We Are The Mighty** **• [Two new Cold War movies spark America’s anti-authoritarian memory]()** **• [Wanna make movies? 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She is an alum of the Writers Guild Foundation Veterans Writing Project, a Finalist in the Disney TV Writing Fellowship, an inaugural fellow for the STARZ/VME #TakeTheLead Program, and has performed at the Geffen Playhouse and Kennedy Center as a writer, dancer, singer, and actor. As a U.S. Air Force Intelligence Officer, Shannon supported the 25th Fighter Squadron at Osan Air Base, South Korea, and conducted Cyber Threat Analysis at the National Security Agency. Her work has been seen in Business Insider, Task & Purpose, Military.com, and various other publications. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()