Jacqueline Cochran: Pilot, Leader, Myth
Explore the storied and complicated career of pioneering pilot Jackie Cochran
A contemporary, competitor, and friend of Amelia Earhart, Jacqueline Cochran was one of the most outstanding women of the 20th century. Jackie stubbornly reinvented herself from a child of dire poverty to a successful businesswoman and one of the greatest pilots ever. She won speed records and air races in the 1930s, led the Women Airforce Service Pilots during World War II, ran for Congress and broke the speed of sound in the 1950s, and held the title of fastest woman in the world in the 1960s. Friend of generals and presidents, she supported women in aviation and space – except when she didn’t.
In this lecture, Dr. Katherine Sharp Landdeck will explore the story of the complicated Jacqueline Cochran and her impact on five decades of aviation history.
Dr. Katherine Sharp Landdeck is a professor of history and director of the Pioneers Oral History Project at Texas Woman’s University and author of The Women with Silver Wings: The Inspiring True Story of the Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II.
This program will be presented in-person at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, and will be streamed on YouTube.
ASL Interpretation will be provided and live captioning on YouTube. If you require another access service to fully participate or have any questions about accessibility, please contact NASMPublicLectures@si.edu. To ensure the best experience, please try to contact us at your soonest convenience.
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
14390 Air and Space Museum Parkway Chantilly, VA 20151
We rely on the generous support of donors, sponsors, members, and other benefactors to share the history and impact of aviation and spaceflight, educate the public, and inspire future generations. With your help, we can continue to preserve and safeguard the world’s most comprehensive collection of artifacts representing the great achievements of flight and space exploration.