Sabiha Gökçen

First Turkish female combat pilot (1913–2001)

Fame59.9
Momentum15.1
Turkey rank#229

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Fame59.9
Momentum15.1
Turkey rank#229
Journalists rank#245
Wikipedia31.3K

Lived 1913–2001, aged 88Turkey

Turkey JournalistsJournalist

Wikipedia
55 languages
Cross-language footprint
Rank in Turkey
#229
Journalists
Era
1913–2001
Aged 88
Awards
1
recognised work

Summary

Updated 2026-06-09

Turkey's first female combat pilot—and the world's—flew 8,000 hours and 32 military operations before most air forces let women near a cockpit. An orphan adopted by Atatürk, she made fighter aviation a fact before it was a debate.

Biography

About

Born Ćorović on 22 March 1913, she was orphaned young and became one of nine children adopted by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Turkish Republic. At 23, she earned her combat wings and flew into a category that didn't yet exist: the world's first female fighter pilot. Over her career she logged some 8,000 flight hours and participated in 32 military operations. The Guinness Book of World Records later certified her as the first female combat pilot in history, and in 1996 the United States Air Force named her the sole woman on its poster of the 20 greatest aviators. She died on her 88th…

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