Atatürk and Sabiha Gökçen

If you ask, “Who was the first female fighter (Combat) pilot in the world?” or “Who was the first Turkish female fighter pilot?” the answer is same. She was Sabiha Gökçen born on 22 March 1913.  Sabiha Gökçen was one of the adopted daughters of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk who was founder and first President of Turkey,

Atatürk and Sabiha Gökçen

Sabiha Gökçen enrolled in the Military Aviation Academy in Eskisehir in 1936 and undertook training at the First Aircraft Regiment there. She flew fighter and bomber planes becoming the first Turkish, female aviator and the world´s first, female, combat pilot. During her flying career, she achieved some 8,000 hours, 32 of which were combat missions.

Sabiha Gökçen

Now  in Turkey there is one airport with her name in Istanbul which is Sabiha Gökçen Airport.

Sabiha Gökçen died in 22 March 2001