Retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Merryl Tengesdal is the first and only Black Woman to fly the U-2, the classis Cold War spy plane, still on missions today: Used for specialized high-altitude reconnaissance missions. Tengesdal, a retired U.S.A.F. , served in the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan. Tengesdal is a graduate from the University of New Haven with a Science Degree in electrical engineering. She was one of three women to make it through the program. After Officer Candidate School Commissioning, she began a career as a Naval Aviator by flying the SH-60B Seahawk Helicopter at Naval Station Mayport, Florida. Following, she held an impressive career in the Military. From aviatrix99.