1980day.year
Jacqueline Cochran
(1906 - 1980)
American pilot
American pilot
Pioneering American aviator and record-setter, she led the Women Airforce Service Pilots during World War II.
She was the first woman to break the sound barrier.
Born in 1906 in Pensacola, Florida, Cochran began flying in the 1930s and quickly rose to prominence in air races.
In 1942, she formed and commanded the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), overseeing over a thousand female pilots in support roles for the U.S. Army Air Forces.
Cochran set numerous world records, including altitude and speed records, and became the first woman to break the sound barrier in 1953.
After the war, she advocated for women's roles in aviation and served as a consultant to NASA's space program.
Her achievements earned her the Distinguished Service Medal and induction into multiple aviation halls of fame.
She passed away in 1980, leaving a legacy as one of history's most accomplished aviators.
1980
Jacqueline Cochran