FIRST WOMAN TO PILOT BOMBER

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 167, 17 July 1941, Page 12

FIRST WOMAN TO PILOT BOMBER

Jacqueline Cochran Belittles Own Feat

(By JOAN LITTLEFIELD) LONDON, June 20. In a suite at the Savoy overlooking the Thames, where film stars were fond of staying in the days before the war, I talked to-day with slim, fair-haired Jacqueline Cochran, the first woman to pilot a bomber across the Atlantic.

Miss Cochran, the wife of Floyd Odium, utilities executive in private life, and holder of the United States women's speed, altitude and transcontinental records, arrived here only this morning, but is completely unperturbed. In fact, she thinks "a routine job of this sort" is not worthy of publicity.

"I was the first officer in a Hudson twin-engined bomber," she said. "There were a captain and navigator with me, but I did the piloting. I'm afraid I must say nothing about the flight, however. I didn't find the bomber very different to fly from the heavy planes I am used to piloting in the United States. I was very proud to be allowed to do the job."

Miss Cochran is most interested in the women here who ferry planes from the factories to the aerodromes and hopes to meet them and study their work. She was very cool in a flowered silk frock.

"I had to choose my wardrobe with care," she said. "As I could bring only a few pounds' weight of clothes with me. I brought three dinner gowns, one of sheer wool two silk day dresses, one of wool with a coatee, one suit, three silk blouses and a short fur coat.

"It's lucky I am slim, as the less one weighs the more baggage one can bring. My flying suit is very

lightweight, too. Would you like to see it?" She fetched the suit, which was made of very light, windproof material lined with brown plush. Miss Cochran confessed that, hearing of a shortage of silk stockings in Britain, she brought 12 pairs. "I only wish I could have brought lipsticks for all you girls," she said. "How you must be feeling the shortage." Miss Cochran said she flies heavy planes all over the United States on business connected with her cosmetics firm. She also has a light plane on her California ranch with which she commutes, when necessary, the 230 miles to Los Angeles. "It is so small it almost flies itself," she said. "In fact, I do knitting or read a book and just keep it on its course with my knees. I do a great deal of knitting or fancy work and love cooking and all feminine things. My brother-in-law has a big farm in England and I hope to visit him before returning home."— "Auckland Star" and N.A.N.A.