A pioneer aviator, Jacqueline Cochran (1906-1980) was a legendary racing pilot. After a friend offered her a ride in an aircraft, she began taking flying lessons in 1932 and was a natural, obtaining her pilot's license in just three weeks. Within two years, she obtained her commercial pilot's license and in 1934 entered her first air race. She was also a successful business executive with her own line of cosmetics called "Wings to Beauty" and she flew her own aircraft around the country promoting her products.
Known by her friends as "Jackie", she had many "firsts", being the first woman to (1) fly in the Bendix Trophy Race in 1935; (2) make a blind instrument landing in 1937; (3) win the Bendix Transcontinental Air Race in 1938; (4) pilot a bomber across the Atlantic Ocean in 1941; (5) break the sound barrier in 1953; (6) fly a jet on a transatlantic flight; (7) land and take off from an aircraft carrier; and (8) set the standing woman's record for world speed in 1964. She set an altitude record of 56,071 feet in a Northrop T-38 Talon. At the time of her death, she held more speed, altitude, and distance records than any other pilot, male or female, in American history.
During WWII, she served abroad with the British Air Transport Auxiliary as a flight captain. Returning to the US, she ran the Women's Air Force Service Pilot's (WASP) program training female pilots. For her work in support of the war, she received the Distinguished Service Medal in 1945. She retired from the Air Force Reserves as a colonel in 1970. Through the years, she received various military and other awards, including being inducted into the International Aerospace Hall of Fame in 1965 and the U.S. Aviation Hall of Fame in 1971. She was the first woman to be so honored. Her cosmetics business was lucrative as well and she was named "Woman of the Year in Business" by the Associated Press in the early 1950's.
She was a long-time resident of the Coachella Valley and is buried in the Coachella Valley Public Cemetery. She regularly utilized the Thermal Airport over the course of her long aviation career. It has been renamed as the "Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport" in her honor.
"I have found adventure in flying, in world travel, in business, and even close at hand... Adventure is a state of mind - and spirit." Jacqueline Cochran
In order to log this virtual: (1) Post a photo of yourself or something uniquely identifiable of yours by the memorial along with your geocaching name and date showing on a piece of paper. (2) Tell us in your log if you were aware of Jackie and all of her accomplishments prior to doing this virtual. These items are required for your log to be acceptable and not deleted.
Virtual Rewards 4.0 - 2024-2025
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between January 17, 2024 and January 17, 2025. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 4.0 on the Geocaching Blog.