Age of Aces » January 1939 http://www.ageofaces.net The Best in Air-War Fiction Wed, 30 Nov 2011 13:50:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.1 en hourly 1 “They Had What It Takes – Part 24: “Jackie” Cochran” by Alden McWilliams http://www.ageofaces.net/2011/03/%e2%80%9cthey-had-what-it-takes-%e2%80%93-part-24-jackie-cochran%e2%80%9d-by-alden-mcwilliams/ http://www.ageofaces.net/2011/03/%e2%80%9cthey-had-what-it-takes-%e2%80%93-part-24-jackie-cochran%e2%80%9d-by-alden-mcwilliams/#comments Tue, 15 Mar 2011 19:41:01 +0000 David http://www.ageofaces.net/?p=2447 In the late thirties Flying Aces ran Alden McWilliams’ monthly illustrated tribute to the pioneer fliers of the early days of aviation which was called “They Had What it Takes”. In the January 1939 issue they featured Jacqueline “Jackie” Cochran, a pioneering American aviator who was considered to be one of the most gifted racing pilots of her time. Originally working in the cosmetics industry, her husband encouraged her to take up flying as a means to travel more efficiently, Jackie took to it like a duck takes to water and soon realized that flying was her passion, not cosmetics.

A few career highlights beyond McWilliam’s piece: in 1942 Jackie was asked to organize the Women’s Flying Training Detatchment (WFTD) to train women to handle basic military flight support; the following year she was appointed to lead the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots (WASP); in 1953 she became the first woman to break the sound barrier, and set eight more speed records in 1967 when she was over 60 years old!

Jackie kept going until a serious cardiac condition finally grounded her. By the time of her death in 1980, Jackie had recieved more than 200 awards and trophies and set more speed and altitude records than any other pilot.

]]> http://www.ageofaces.net/2011/03/%e2%80%9cthey-had-what-it-takes-%e2%80%93-part-24-jackie-cochran%e2%80%9d-by-alden-mcwilliams/feed/ 0 “Stars for China” by Ralph Oppenheim http://www.ageofaces.net/2008/04/stars-for-china-by-ralph-oppenheim/ http://www.ageofaces.net/2008/04/stars-for-china-by-ralph-oppenheim/#comments Sat, 05 Apr 2008 03:44:27 +0000 Bill http://www.ageofaces.net/blog/?p=374 The Three Mosquitoes spent most of their time in Europe fighting the Kaiser’s worst in WWI. But this and one other of their exploits took place in pre-WWII China where they helped fight the invading Japanese. Author Ralph Oppenheim managed to update the trio for these stories and still keep the spirit of the Mosquitoes intact. An odd fact, Oppenheim wrote all these air tales having never flown.

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