Jacqueline Cochran is an American pilot and businessperson. As one of the most prominent racing pilots of her generation, she pioneered women's aviation. She broke many records and became the first woman to break the sound barrier on May 18, 1953.
She was born on May 11, 1906 in Florida.
She is America's first female pilot.
She was named Business Woman of the Year in 1953 and 1954.
Jacqueline Cochran (May 11, 1906 – August 9, 1980) was an American pilot and business executive. She pioneered women's aviation as one of the most prominent racing pilots of her generation. She set numerous records and was the first woman to break the sound barrier on 18 May 1953. Cochran (along with Nancy Love) was the wartime head of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) (1943–1944), which employed about 1000 civilian American women in a non-combat role to ferry planes from factories to port cities. Cochran was later a sponsor of the Mercury 13 women astronaut program.
She passed away on August 9, 1980.
Cochran served as wartime president (with Nancy Love) of the Women's Air Force Service Pilots (WASP) (1943–1944), which employed nearly 1,000 civilian American women and women in a non-combat role to fly aircraft from factories to port cities.
Cochran later became a sponsor of Mercury's 13 female astronaut program.