57 Facts About Jacqueline Cochran

Jacqueline Cochran was an American pilot and business executive.

Jacqueline Cochran pioneered women's aviation as one of the most prominent racing pilots of her generation.

Jacqueline Cochran set numerous records and was the first woman to break the sound barrier on 18 May 1953.

Jacqueline Cochran was later a sponsor of the Mercury 13 women astronaut program.

Jacqueline Cochran, born Bessie Lee Pittman, in Pensacola, in the Florida Panhandle, was the youngest of the five children of Mary and Ira Pittman, a skilled millwright who frequently relocated setting up and reworking sawmills.

Jacqueline Cochran then became a hairdresser and got a job in Pensacola, eventually moving to New York City.

Jacqueline Cochran apparently wanted to hide from the public the early chapters of her life and was successful in doing so until after her death.

Later Jacqueline Cochran met Floyd Bostwick Odlum, founder of Atlas Corp and CEO of RKO in Hollywood.

Odlum became enamored of Jacqueline Cochran and offered to help her establish a cosmetics business.

Jacqueline Cochran then soloed and within two years obtained her commercial pilot's license.

Jacqueline Cochran had won the Bendix and set a new transcontinental speed record as well as altitude records.

Jacqueline Cochran was the first woman to fly a bomber across the Atlantic.

Jacqueline Cochran attained the rank of Flight Captain in the ATA.

In September, 1939, Jacqueline Cochran wrote to Eleanor Roosevelt to introduce the proposal of starting a women's flying division in the Army Air Forces.

Jacqueline Cochran felt that qualified women pilots could do all of the domestic, noncombat aviation jobs necessary to release more male pilots for combat.

Jacqueline Cochran pictured herself in command of these women, with the same standings as Colonel Oveta Culp Hobby, who was then the director of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps.

That same year, Jacqueline Cochran wrote a letter to Lieutenant Colonel Robert Olds, who was helping to organize the Air Corps Ferrying Command for the Air Corps at the time.

In early 1941, Olds asked Jacqueline Cochran to find out how many women pilots there were in the United States, what their flying times were, their skills, their interest in flying for the country, and personal information about them.

Jacqueline Cochran used records from the Civil Aeronautics Administration to gather the data.

Jacqueline Cochran knew that women were being used successfully in the ATA in England so Arnold suggested that Cochran take a group of qualified female pilots to see how the British were doing.

Jacqueline Cochran promised her that no decisions regarding women flying for the USAAF would be made until she returned.

At war's end, Jacqueline Cochran was hired by a magazine to report on global postwar events.

On September 9,1948, Jacqueline Cochran joined the US Air Force Reserve as a lieutenant colonel.

Jacqueline Cochran was promoted to colonel in 1969 and retired in 1970.

Jacqueline Cochran was, quite probably, the first woman pilot in the United States Air Force.

Postwar, Jacqueline Cochran began flying the new jet aircraft, setting numerous records.

Jacqueline Cochran became the first woman pilot to "go supersonic".

Jacqueline Cochran tried to borrow an F-86 from the US Air Force, but was refused.

Jacqueline Cochran was introduced to an Air Vice-Marshal of the Royal Canadian Air Force who, with the permission of the Canadian Minister of Defence, arranged for her to borrow 19200, the sole Sabre 3.

Jacqueline Cochran still holds more distance and speed records than any pilot living or dead, male or female.

Jacqueline Cochran herself argued against bringing women into the space program, saying that time was of the essence, and moving forward as planned was the only way to beat the Soviets in the Space Race.

The rally was documented on film and Jacqueline Cochran personally flew the film to France for a special showing at Eisenhower's headquarters.

Jacqueline Cochran's efforts proved a major factor in convincing Eisenhower to run for President of the United States in 1952 and she played a major role in his successful campaign.

Politically ambitious, Jacqueline Cochran ran for Congress in 1956 from California's 29th Congressional District as the candidate of the Republican Party.

Jacqueline Cochran's name appeared throughout the campaign and on the ballot as Jacqueline Cochran-Odlum.

Those who knew Jacqueline Cochran have said that the loss bothered her for the rest of her life.

Jacqueline Cochran died on August 9,1980, at the home in Indio, California, she had shared with her husband until his death four years earlier.

Jacqueline Cochran was a long-time resident of the Coachella Valley and is buried in Coachella Valley Public Cemetery.

Jacqueline Cochran regularly utilized Thermal Airport over the course of her long aviation career.

Jacqueline Cochran served on the Board of Trustees for the George Washington University from 1962 until her passing in 1980.

Jacqueline Cochran directed the planning, programming and administration of all women pilot activities of the Army Air Forces, including the organization, training and operation of the Women Airforce Service Pilots.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2,1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Colonel Jacqueline Cochran, United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight from 1947 to 1951.

At Coachella Valley, California, flying a closed-circuit 100-kilometer course, Colonel Jacqueline Cochran established a new speed record of 469.549 miles per hour.

In other flights from Thermal, Indio, and Palm Springs, CA, Colonel Jacqueline Cochran established world speed records for the 3-, 15-, 500-, 1000-, and 2000-kilometer courses.

The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Colonel Jacqueline Cochran reflect great credit upon herself and the United States Air Force.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2,1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Colonel Jacqueline Cochran, United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight during April 1962.

The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Colonel Jacqueline Cochran reflect great credit upon herself and the United States Air Force.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2,1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Colonel Jacqueline Cochran, United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight during May and June 1964.

Jacqueline Cochran established a record for the 100-kilometer course by flying at 1302 miles per hour.

Colonel Jacqueline Cochran established a third world's speed record by achieving 1135 miles per hour over a 500-kilometer course.

The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Colonel Jacqueline Cochran reflect great credit upon herself and the United States Air Force.

From many countries around the world, Jacqueline Cochran received citations and awards.

Jacqueline Cochran is the only woman to ever receive the Gold Medal from the Federation Aeronautique Internationale.

Jacqueline Cochran went on to be elected to that body's board of directors and director of Northwest Airlines in the US At home, the Air Force awarded her the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Legion of Merit.

In 1949, Jacqueline Cochran became the fourth US recipient of the Turk Hava Kurumu's highest award, the Murassa Brovesi.

An annual air show called the Jacqueline Cochran Air Show is named in her honor and takes place at the Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport.

Jacqueline Cochran became the first woman to be honored with a permanent display of her achievements at the United States Air Force Academy.