1910 - 1980
Overview:
Cochrane was one of the pioneers for women in aviation. She broke more records than any of the men in her time and proceeded to become one of the world’s greatest pilots. While she was inspiring many women, she was challenging men to their extremes.
Country:
United States of America
Type
of hero: Trailblazer
Attributes:
Aviator,Outstanding performance, Advancement of women
Biography:
Jacqueline was born in Pensacola, Florida and was adopted by a poor family. She led a harsh life as a child, working in cotton mills before getting work as a hairdresser. She was successful in this area, and became one of the first to introduce the permanent wave to a generation of American women.
A friend noted her skill and tried to convince her she was wasting her time as a hairdresser and urged her to train for a more important job. She enrolled in a nursing course – but in her own words, she never quite got used to the sight of blood or some of the more difficult situations that one needed to work in. After a particular instance when she had delivered a child in circumstances that reminded her of her earlier days in poverty, she resolved to return to the type of work that made her feel good about herself.
She returned to work in the beauty field and began work at Antoine's in New York's Saks Fifth Avenue.
In 1932, she decided to learn to fly after meeting aviator Floyd Odlum whom later became her husband. While he had suggested this skill would help her to get on the cosmetics field, Jacqueline was soon less of a cosmetician and more of an aviator. She began an assault on many challenges that were waiting in the aviation field, setting not only new standards for women, but tackling areas in a direct challenge to men at the time.
By 1935 she had her pilot’s licence and a booming cosmetics firm.
Possibly one of her biggest challenges was the attempt during the second world war to convince authorities that women were capable of flying military aircraft on support missions, releasing men for combat duty. She was one of the prime movers behind the establishment of the Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs). While this group demonstrated their ability, with performance rates often better than that of their male counterparts, the war ended before they were able to fully demonstrate their skills. Certainly, male pilots had argued that they were not needed. She received a Distinguished Service Medal for her efforts during the war.
In 1954 her autobiography was published, “The Stars At Noon” and sold well within the aviation community. After the war, she continued her assault of records and broke many more. Her work served as an inspiration to many males and females in the industry.
Citations
& References:
Links:
http://www.greatwomen.org/cochrn.htm
http://www.wasp-wwii.org/wasp/jacqueline_cochran.htm
http://www.nationalaviation.org/enshrinee/cochran.html
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/flygirls/peopleevents/pandeAMEX01.html
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