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 Sabiha
Gokcen was born in 1913, in Bursa. Young Sabiha, who became
the first female combat pilot of the world, was adopted by
Ataturk in 1925 and given the surname of "Gokcen".
Sabiha Gokcen, completing her education at Çankaya Primary
School and Istanbul Üsküdar Girl's College, was enrolled to
the Civil Aviation School "Türk Kusu" (Turkish Bird)
of Turkish Aeronautical Association in 1935 and was awarded
with High Glider brevets in Ankara. Gokcen was sent to Crimea,
Russia with 7 male students, and completed her education in
gliders. She enrolled to Eskişehir Military Aviation School
in 1936 and became a military pilot upon the special training
she received. She completed her apprenticeship period at the
Eskisehir 1st Airplane Regiment and flew with hunter and bomber
aircrafts. She was involved in the Dersim operation with the
Thrace and Aegean maneuvers. Gokcen, who completed a Balkan
tour with her airplane as a guest of the Balkan states in
1938 , was appointed as the chief lecturer to Türkkuşu of
Turkish Aeronautical Association. She continued this duty
until 1955 in a successful manner. She has flied with a total
of 22 different bomber and acrobatics aircrafts throughout
her life. Sabiha Gokcen died at the age of 88, one day after
her birthday, on 22 March 2001. Sabiha Gokcen is a source
of inspiration for all female pilots of the world and her
legend will continue to live with us.
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