Jackie Cochran

Cochran Timeline

1906 Born in Florida as Bessie Lee Pittman.

1916 Began career as a beautician at age 10.

1929 Moved to New York City & works at Antoine’s Beauty Salon in Saks Fifth Avenue.

1932 Took flying lessons and earned pilot’s license.

1935 Competed in major competitions, and ran a multi-million dollar beauty products business. First woman to compete in the Bendix Transcontinental Air Race; came in third in 1937 and won in 1938.

1936 Married Floyd Odlum, CEO of RKO in Hollywood, one of world’s wealthiest men. Became friends with fellow aviator Amelia Earhart.

1938 Won Women‘s National Aviation Association outstanding pilot award. Won again in ‘39, ‘40, and ‘41.

1940 Broke both national 100 kilometer and international 2,000 kilometer speed records.

1943 Appointed to General Staff of U.S. Army Air Forces, directed all phases of WASP program.

1945 Became first woman civilian to be awarded the U.S. Distinguished Service Medal.

1948 Commissioned as lieutenant colonel in Air Force Reserve.

1953 Became first woman to breach sound barrier, held more speed and distance records than any flier in history.

1960 Sponsor of Mercury 13 Program to train women astronauts.

1964 Set women’s world speed record, which still stands.

1965 Inducted into International Aerospace Hall of Fame and into U.S. Aviation Hall of Fame in 1971.

1969 Promoted to Colonel in Air Force Reserve. Retired in 1970.

1980 Died at home in Indio, CA. To this day, she still holds the most records in aviation than any other pilot in history.