Jacqueline Cochran – USA
Born Bessie Lee Pittman, she married Robert Cochran, a young aircraft mechanic at a young age. A few years later, Bessie Lee Cochran (1906 – 1980) filed for divorce and […]
Hanna Reitsch – Germany
Although her father wanted her to become a doctor, Hanna Reitsch (1912 – 1979) was interested in aviation and thought she might become a flying doctor in North Africa and […]
Sabiha Gökçen – Turkey
Sabiha Gökçen (1913 – 2001) was one of the eight adopted children of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk the founder and first president of Turkey. Her family name, Gökçen, means ‘belonging or […]
Beryl Markham – England
Born in England, Beryl Markham (1902 – 1986) moved to Kenya when she was four years old. As a young adult, she became the first licensed female horse trainer in […]
Jean Batten – New Zealand
Born in Rotorua, New Zealand, Jean Batten (1909 – 1982) was a gifted pianist. At the age of 18, she decided to become a pilot. In 1929, she moved to […]
Marina Mikhailovna Raskova – Russia
Marina Mikhailovna Raskova (1912 – 1943) became a famous aviator as both a pilot and a navigator for Russia in the 1930s. She was the first woman to become a […]
Hélène Boucher – France
The daughter of a Parisian architect, Hélène Boucher (1908 – 1934) received the nickname “Léno” which she kept throughout her life. She went on an introductory flight in July of […]
Maryse Hilsz – France
Born in 1903, Maryse “Marie-Louise” Hilsz (1903 – 1946) became interested in flying. She made parachute jumps and performed stunts by standing on the wings of airplanes to raise money […]
Amelia Earhart – USA
Born in Kansas, Amelia Earhart (1897 – 1937) decided to study nursing after she met four wounded World War I veterans on the street. During the war, Amelia worked as […]