SABIHA GOKCEN

Sabiha Gökçen was born on 21 March 1913. She enrolled in the Military Aviation Academy in Eskisehir in 1936 and got her training at the First Aircraft Regiment there. She flew fighter and bomber planes and became the first Turkish, female aviator when she was 23 years old. She was an unconventional woman and a pioneer in the Turkish War of Independence.

Sabiha Gökçen was one of the eight adopted daughters of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder and first President of Turkey. Just after the introduction of the surname act, Atatürk gave her the family name Gökçen on 19 December 1934.  However, she was not an aviator at that time, and it was only six months later that Sabiha developed a passion for flying.

Atatürk gave great importance to aviation so he founded the Turkish Aeronautical Association in 1925. Many gliders and parachutists were invited from foreign countries and there were crowds of people.

During the airshow, Sabiha was very excited. As it was impossible to accept girls to the school in those years, Atatürk ordered a personalized uniform and in the academic year 1936-1937, Sabiha attended a special education programme. After receiving her flight diploma, she trained to become a war pilot at the 1st Airplane Regiment in Eskişehir for six months. Years later, she said “I love flying and all kinds of planes. They are both exciting and convenient. I think, they remind me of Atatürk and the freedom he gave women.”

Sabiha improved her skills by flying bomber and fighter planes at the 1st Aircraft Regiment in the Eskişehir Airbase. In that same year, she took part in the military operation against a rebellion. She was also awarded the Turkish Aeronautical Association's first “Jewelled Medal" for her superior performance in this operation.

Sabiha Gökçen flew around the world for a period of 28 years until 1964. Her book entitled "A Life Along the Path of Atatürk" was published in 1981 by the Turkish Aeronautical Association. During her flying career in the Turkish Air Force, Gökçen flew 22 different types of aircraft for more than 8,000 hours. She also became the world´s first female, combat pilot.