America's first female fighter pilot is laid to rest after her death from cancer at 65 - as an all-woman flyover passes overhead and her daughter is presented with folded flag

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The United States Navy conducted its first-ever all-female flyover on Saturday to honor Captain Rosemary Bryant Mariner, the first woman naval aviator in the service.

Mariner, who died on January 24 from ovarian cancer, was laid to rest on Saturday during her funeral service in Maynardville, Tennessee.

She was 65 years old.

An all-female squadron performed the ‘missing man formation’ during her funeral service.

The United States Navy conducted its first-ever all-female flyover on Saturday to honor Captain Rosemary Bryant Mariner, the first woman naval aviator in the service

Three of the four fighter jets fly above a graveside service for Mariner at New Loyston Cemetery in Maynardville, Tennessee

Mariner, who died on January 24 from ovarian cancer, was laid to rest on Saturday during her funeral service in Maynardville, Tennessee. She was 65 years old

The flyover featured four F/A-18E/F ‘Super Hornets’ based at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia flying in formation.

The four jets flew in formation before one of the planes left the group and climbed vertically toward the sky.

The aircraft which does the ‘pull-up’ honors the person who has died since it represents their departure.

During the December 6 funeral of former President George H.W. Bush, the Navy performed a 21-aircraft missing man formation, the largest flyover ever.

Pallbearers carry Mariner's casket during a funeral service at Norris United Methodist Church in Norris, Tennessee on Saturday

Mariner's daughter, Emmalee Mariner, carries the burial flag as her father, Tommy Mariner, is seen in the background at the graveside service

From left: Emmalee Mariner; her father, Tommy Mariner; and Libby Merims, Rosemary's sister. Rosemary's casket is seen in the foreground during the graveside service at New Loyston Cemetery on Saturday

Emmalee Mariner is comforted by family friend Evan Mitchell while carrying the burial flag

Bush, like Mariner, was a naval aviator during his military service.

‘She knew women could fly airplanes,’ her husband, Tommy Mariner, himself a retired Navy commander, said on Saturday.

‘But to have the job of a naval aviator and a professional naval officer went beyond that.

‘And Rosemary understood that. That’s why she didn’t want to be looked at as exceptional.

‘She wanted the door to open and other people to march through.’

Two women who ‘marched through’ also attended the funeral to pay homage to Rosemary Mariner, according to the Knoxville News Sentinel.

Chris Giza, the second female fighter pilot in the Navy, and Joellen Drag Oslund, the first female helicopter pilot, attended the funeral service on Saturday.

In comments to the press, Giza recalled how there were many in the military who did not want Mariner to break the gender barrier.

‘It didn't bother her,’ Giza said. ‘She was very focused on what she wanted to do.

‘It's like, “If you are in my way, I'll just go around you”.’

Oslund was Mariner’s classmate and her maid of honor.

‘I never saw Rosie get discouraged,’ Oslund said.

The hearse carrying Rosemary Mariner arrives to the graveside service at New Loyston Cemetery in Maynardville, Tennessee on Saturday

Retired U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander Tammie Jo Shults hugs Tommy Mariner during the funeral service

‘She knew women could fly airplanes,’ her husband, Tommy Mariner, himself a retired Navy commander, said on Saturday. ‘But to have the job of a naval aviator and a professional naval officer went beyond that'

Chris Giza (right), the second female fighter pilot in the Navy, and Joellen Drag Oslund (left), the first female helicopter pilot, attended the funeral service on Saturday

‘Even though she spent 24 years fighting for what she was fighting for, there was never any doubt in her mind she was going to prevail eventually…

‘I'm sure a lot of people thought it was crazy. We didn't.’

Giza and Oslund were surprised that the Navy approved an all-female flyover.

‘This is unheard of,’ Giza said.

‘Four-star admirals get recognition like this.

‘This is way beyond anything any of us ever dreamed could happen... Never underestimate what a group of women all over the country (can do).’ 

Tommy Mariner told NBC News: 'It's wonderful that the Navy can do that and it's good that they have that many women where they can fill out all the cockpits with women.

'But that would not be a requirement for Rosemary.'

Despite her small stature, Mariner was a woman of steel who was able to keep up with her male counterparts upon entry to the Navy.

Despite her small stature, Rosemary (seen in the above undated file photo) was a woman of steel who was able to keep up with her male counterparts upon entry to the Navy

Rosemary Mariner was selected for the Navy in 1973 with seven other women and became the first female jet pilot flying the A-4C and the A-7E Corsair II in 1974

According to the Naval Air Forces Atlantic, the fighter pilot had also logged 17 aircraft carrier landings and completed more than 3,500 flight hours in 15 different aircraft. 

Mariner was one of the first eight women chosen to fly military aircraft before going on to become the first woman to command a military aviation squadron in 1990. 

Mariner was selected for the Navy in 1973 with seven other women and became the first female jet pilot flying the A-4C and the A-7E Corsair II in 1974.

The young aviator then reported for duty onboard the U.S. Navy warship the USS Lexington where she qualified as a Surface Warfare Officer.

In 1990, she commanded a military aviation squadron, VAQ-34, in California and became the first woman to do so.

She finally retired in 1997 after her final military assignment.

A tweet on the U.S. Naval Air Forces Twitter page read: 'A huge loss for out nation. Rosemary was a remarkable person, an incomparable aviator and a badass.

'RIP Captain. We stand on the shoulders of giants like Rosemary Mariner.'