Jacqueline Cochran: Biography of a Pioneer Aviator

by Rhonda Smith-Daugherty

Although Amelia Earhart remains the best-known female pilot of the 1930s, Jacqueline Cochran stood as the more important aviation pioneer and America’s top woman pilot. Among her many accomplishments, Cochran was the first female aviator to win the Bendix Air Race, to fly a bomber, to break the speed of sound, and to participate in astronaut training. This revealing biography explores Cochran’s childhood in an impoverished Florida mill town, her early career as a pilot, and her role in creating and leading the WASPs during World War II. It also chronicles her postwar exploits, including her participation in the NASA space program, her unsuccessful 1956 bid for Congress, and her surprising reluctance to crusade for the advancement of women. This detailed profile, removing Cochran from Earhart’s shadow, firmly establishes the aviatrix as a pivotal figure in the history of women in aviation and in war.

221 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 27, 2012

Reviews

[Rob Weinhold · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Great Roll Model for Young Women

She was an awesome lady. As a retired Air Force officer, I appreciate her service and her contributions to aviation and women pilots. Her legacy will be forever a tribute to aviation and historical flight. She was a visionary and ahead of her time. Bless her and her wonderful life.

[Holly Hansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is really difficult to read, as though a robot wrote it. I really want to learn about Jacqueline Cochran but I'll probably search out something she wrote instead. Dissertations don't make good reading. This had potential but fell short, in my opinion.