Jacqueline Cochran

Jacqueline Cochran – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Jacqueline Cochran (May 11, 1906 – August 9, 1980) was a pioneering American aviator who broke speed, distance, and altitude records, led the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) during WWII, and became the first woman to break the sound barrier. Discover her life, achievements, famous quotes, and enduring legacy.

Introduction

Jacqueline Cochran is widely recognized as one of the greatest female aviators in history. Over a career spanning from the 1930s through the jet age, she set more aviation records—speed, distance, altitude—than any other pilot male or female. She also directed the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) in World War II, advocated for women in aviation, and ventured into business and politics. Her daring exploits and tenacious spirit make her a powerful symbol of breaking barriers and transcending limits.

Even decades after her death, her name resonates among aviation historians, women’s advocates, and those who look to her as an icon of courage, ambition, and excellence.

Early Life and Family

Jacqueline Cochran was born Bessie Lee Pittman (sometimes the name Bessie Lee “Pittman” is given) on May 11, 1906 in Florida—commonly cited as Pensacola, though some sources give Muscogee, Florida—or near the Florida–Alabama line.

Her early life was marked by poverty, uncertainty, and gaps in documentation. Cochran later claimed that she was orphaned and adopted, and that her early family history was shrouded or intentionally obscured.

Her family lived in modest circumstances; she worked from a young age. According to some accounts, she left formal schooling at age 9 to help support her family, working in cotton mills and as a domestic helper.

In her autobiography The Stars at Noon (1954), Cochran described rising “from sawdust to stardust”—a metaphor for her transformative journey from humble origins to high-altitude flight.

Her early years ingrained in her a fighter’s mentality. She would later remark:

“I might have been born in a hovel, but I determined to travel with the wind and stars.”

That spirit, forged in struggle, propelled her toward achievements few could imagine.

Youth and Education

Because of her challenging circumstances, Cochran’s formal education was minimal. She was largely self-educated, reading voraciously and learning through experience.

In her twenties, Cochran moved to New York, worked as a beautician, and began to build her independence. Her path shifted when she became acquainted with the cosmetics industry, eventually launching her own line of beauty products. In doing so, she combined her flair for publicity with entrepreneurship—a skill she leveraged later in promoting her aviation career.

It was also in New York that she encountered aviation. After a friend gave her a ride in an airplane, she was immediately captivated and decided to learn to fly. She took lessons at Roosevelt Airfield, Long Island, and learned to fly in a remarkably short time—reportedly within three weeks she could solo.

Within a couple of years, Cochran obtained her commercial pilot’s license and began to pursue aviation in earnest.

Career and Achievements

Early Flying and Air Races

Cochran’s early flying years saw her participate in air races—a domain then dominated by men. She was one of just three women participants in the 1934 MacRobertson Air Race, an intercontinental air race from England to Australia.

In 1937, she became the only woman to compete in the prestigious Bendix Race, a transcontinental cross-country race in the United States. That same year she set a new women’s world speed record.

By 1938, she was widely hailed as one of the best female pilots in the U.S., having secured transcontinental speed records and altitude records, and winning the Bendix.

Because she insured her own publicity, Cochran sometimes used her airplane to promote her cosmetics brand (“Wings to Beauty”), flying around the country as a marketing ploy.

Wartime and the WASP Program

When World War II began, Cochran was a vocal advocate for putting women into noncombat aviation roles to free male pilots for combat. In 1939 she lobbied Eleanor Roosevelt and others for creating a women’s flying corps.

Before U.S. entry into the war, she volunteered with Britain’s Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA), recruiting women in the U.S. to ferry American aircraft to Britain and herself flying some missions. She earned a rank equivalent to Flight Captain in the ATA.

In the U.S., Cochran spearheaded the formation of women’s ferrying units. The Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS) and the Women’s Flying Training Detachment (WFTD) were merged in August 1943 to form the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). Cochran became the director. Under her leadership, hundreds of civilian women pilots were trained at Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas, to fly military aircraft in non-combat roles—ferrying, testing, target towing, and more.

For her wartime service, Cochran in 1945 was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, making her the first woman civilian to receive that medal (though some earlier civilian women had been recipients in World War I).

Postwar Record Flights and Supersonic Flight

After WWII, Cochran continued to push aviation limits. She transitioned into the jet age and set numerous records in speed, altitude, and distance.

On May 18, 1953, she became the first woman to break the sound barrier, flying a borrowed Canadair Sabre 3 jet at an average speed of 652.337 mph (about 1,050 km/h).

Cochran didn’t stop there. In 1961, as a consultant to Northrop, she flew a Northrop T-38A Talon jet and set altitude records—55,253 feet in sustained flight and a peak of 56,073 feet.

She was also the first woman to:

• take off from and land on an aircraft carrier

• fly a jet aircraft across the Atlantic

• make a blind (instrument) landing

• preside over the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) (1958–1961)

By the time of her death in 1980, Cochran held more aviation records—speed, altitude, distance—than any other pilot, living or dead, female or male.

Business, Politics & Other Ventures

Cochran was more than a pilot; she was a savvy businessperson. She invested in cosmetics and had her “Wings to Beauty” line. Her husband, wealthy businessman Floyd Bostwick Odlum, helped to expand and market the brand.

In 1956, she ran for the U.S. Congress from California’s 29th District, securing the Republican nomination in a race against five male opponents. However, she lost narrowly in the general election to Dalip Singh Saund (51.5% to 48.5%). That defeat reportedly stung her deeply, and she never again pursued political office.

Later, she served in the U.S. Air Force Reserve: commissioned in 1948 as a lieutenant colonel, later promoted to colonel in 1969, and served until 1970. She also received multiple Distinguished Flying Cross awards for various feats between 1947 and 1964.

She also was involved with the Mercury 13 program—an early private effort to test women’s ability to become astronauts. While initially a supporter, she later expressed reservations about how the program was administered, and some letters she wrote may have contributed to the cancellation of further phases.

Throughout her life, Cochran accumulated numerous honors: induction into aviation halls of fame, awards from foreign governments, and more.

Historical Milestones & Context

• The interwar and war periods saw aviation evolve rapidly; women were generally excluded from military aviation roles. Cochran’s advocacy and organizing helped open doors for women in wartime aviation support roles.

• The WASP program was controversial: those pilots were classified as civilians (not military) and weren’t granted military status until decades later.

• The breakage of the sound barrier by women in the 1950s came during the early jet age; Cochran’s success in that domain challenged prevailing gender assumptions in high-performance flight.

• The Cold War era added prestige to aviation records and test pilots. Cochran’s record-setting flights were internationally visible achievements that bolstered U.S. aviation prestige.

• The Mercury 13 episode highlighted gender tensions in the emerging space race. Cochran’s involvement reflects both her ambition and the complexity of institutional resistance to women in aerospace.

Legacy and Influence

Jacqueline Cochran’s legacy remains powerful in aviation and women’s history.

• The Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport in California is named in her honor.

• She was inducted into multiple halls of fame: National Aviation Hall of Fame, International Aerospace Hall of Fame, National Women’s Hall of Fame, and posthumous honors continue.

• In 1985, a crater on Venus was named Cochran in tribute to her achievements.

• The annual Jacqueline Cochran Air Show celebrates her contributions and inspires new generations.

• Her life has been dramatized; for example, the play The Fastest Woman Alive explores her story.

• In academic and popular aviation histories, she remains a central figure in discussions of women pilots, gender barriers, and aviation firsts.

• Her example continues to inspire women in STEM, aviation, aerospace, and leadership roles.

Her life also generated controversy—some have questioned aspects of her personal narrative, her political stances, and her actions regarding the Mercury 13 program. Nonetheless, her influence is undeniable—she not only broke records, but broke molds.

Personality and Talents

Cochran was known for her charisma, ambition, and boldness. She was adept at publicity and self-promotion—skills that allowed her to attract attention and resources to her aviation goals in an era when women pilots were often dismissed.

She combined risk-taking with discipline: pushing aircraft performance to its limit, but doing so with precision skill. Her many test flights and record attempts reflect confidence and meticulous preparation.

Her competitive nature was evident: she sought records, raced in challenging courses, and engaged with other top pilots. Her friendship with famed test pilot Chuck Yeager was mutual respect—Yeager encouraged her and she earned admiration in return.

She could also be demanding and forceful in pursuing her goals. Some critics suggest that she was strategic in shaping her public image and controlling narratives about her background.

In her writing and speeches, she often expressed poetic reflections on flight, ambition, and destiny—seeing aviation partly as a transcendence of earthly constraints.

Famous Quotes of Jacqueline Cochran

Here are several memorable quotes that reflect her mindset, ambitions, and love of flight:

• “I might have been born in a hovel, but I determined to travel with the wind and stars.”

• “Flying got into my soul instantly…”

• “I’d have given my right eye to be an astronaut.”

• “Whatever I am is elemental and the beginnings of it all have their roots in Sawdust Road.”

• “Let us put on the girls.” (a rallying call sometimes attributed to her)

These quotes reveal a blend of humility (acknowledging humble origins), aspiration (reaching for the stars), and steely resolve.

Lessons from Jacqueline Cochran

1. Dream big, starting small. Cochran began in poverty and overcame enormous odds to soar to the edge of the jet era.

2. Persist through rejection. She faced societal, institutional, and personal obstacles, yet pushed forward.

3. Leverage multiple skills. She didn’t just fly—she marketed, lobbied, fundraised, and built networks.

4. Break barriers by doing. Rather than waiting for permission, she demonstrated capability—ferry flights, test flights, record flights.

5. Cultivate a public voice. She used visibility to promote women’s aviation causes and to shape her legacy.

6. Embrace risk with preparation. Her attempts were bold, but grounded in training, planning, and technical skill.

7. Leave a legacy beyond records. Her impact includes inspiring others, institutional change, and symbolizing possibility.

Conclusion

Jacqueline Cochran’s life is a testament to human aspiration, courage, and tenacity. From a childhood of uncertainty to shattering speed records and leading women in wartime aviation, she charted a course few ever dared.

Her influence lives on in the hangars, the airshows, the female pilots pushing limits, and the historical memory of those who break barriers. If you’re inspired by her journey, delve deeper—read her autobiography The Stars at Noon, explore WASP history, or browse archives of her flight records. Her life invites us all to look upward and ask: What limits am I destined to break?