Jacqueline Cochran (May 11, 1906 – August 9, 1980) was a pioneer American aviator, considered to be one of the most gifted racing pilots of her generation. She was an important contributor to the formation of the wartime Women's Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC) and Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP).
Bessie Lee Pittman was born near Mobile, Alabama, the youngest of the five children of Mary (Grant) and Ira Pittman, a skilled millwright who moved fro...
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Jacqueline Cochran (May 11, 1906 – August 9, 1980) was a pioneer American aviator, considered to be one of the most gifted racing pilots of her generation. She was an important contributor to the formation of the wartime Women's Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC) and Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP).
Bessie Lee Pittman was born near Mobile, Alabama, the youngest of the five children of Mary (Grant) and Ira Pittman, a skilled millwright who moved from town to town setting up and reworking saw mills. While not rich, Jackie's childhood living in small-town Florida was similar to most other families of that time and place. Contrary to some accounts, there was always food on the table and she was not adopted, as she often claimed.
Jackie married Robert Cochran, a young aircraft mechanic from the nearby naval base at Pensacola, at a young age. They were married in Blakeley, Georgia on November 13, 1920. Jackie gave birth to Robert Cochran Jr. four months later. The couple and child moved to...
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