Jacqueline Cochran

On 18 May 1953, Jacqueline Cochran became the first woman to break the sound barrier. This milestone underscored a career defined by rapid ascent, from her origins in Pensacola to a position as one of the most decorated pilots in United States history, ultimately securing her a place in the National Aviation Hall of Fame.

Professional Origins

Born Bessie Lee Pittman in 1906, she eventually adopted the name Jacqueline Cochran. Following a period working as a hairdresser in Pensacola and later at a Saks Fifth Avenue salon in New York City, she met financier Floyd Bostwick Odlum. Supported by Odlum, she launched a cosmetics line, Wings to Beauty. Seeking to expand her brand's profile, she began aviation lessons at Roosevelt Airfield in the early 1930s, obtaining a commercial pilot's license within two years.

THE FREE TEST

How high is yours?

Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.

Take the IQ test →

Aviation Records and Recognition

Cochran established herself as a elite aviator throughout the 1930s. She competed in the 1934 MacRobertson Air Race and became the only woman to enter the 1938 Bendix race, which she won. By the time of her death in 1980, she held more aviation speed, distance, and altitude records than any other pilot. Her competitive spirit earned her five Harmon Trophies, cementing her reputation as a dominant force in international flight.

Wartime Leadership

During World War II, Cochran expanded her influence into military logistics. She served with the British Air Transport Auxiliary and later headed the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) between 1943 and 1944. Tasked with ferrying aircraft from factories to port cities, she managed a force of approximately 1,000 civilian American women. Her administrative efforts successfully integrated female pilots into non-combat roles, a mission she championed through her involvement with the Ninety-Nines and the Civil Air Patrol.

Political and Post-War Activity

Cochran held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and continued her public life after the war. Her influence extended into politics and aerospace policy, although her stances were not always consistent; she initially sponsored the Mercury 13 program before testifying against it in a congressional subcommittee. She spent her final years in Indio, California, and was buried at the Coachella Valley Public Cemetery.