First Woman Breaks Sound Barrier - On this day, 18 May 1953

On this day in 1953, American aviator Jacqueline Cochran became the first woman to break the sound barrier. Cochran achieved this feat while flying an F-86 Sabrejet over Rogers Dry Lake in California, reaching speeds of over 652 miles per hour. Cochran was a pioneering pilot, breaking multiple aviation records throughout her career and becoming the first woman to fly in a supersonic jet in 1953. Her contributions to aviation paved the way for future generations of female pilots.