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Archives at The Museum of Flight


Cochran, Jacqueline, 1906-1980

 Person

Biographical Note

Jacqueline "Jackie" Cochran (May 11, 1906 – August 9, 1980) was an American pilot. She set many records and was the first woman to break the sound barrier on May 18, 1953. Cochran was a pioneer in the field of women in aviation and one of the most prominent racing pilots of her generation. She is best known as the wartime head of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) (1943-44) in which about 1000 civilian American women ferried planes from factories to port cities in non-combat roles.

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