Zinaida Kokorina facts for kids
Zinaida Petrovna Kokorina (Russian: Зинаида Петровна Кокорина; 1898–1980) was a brave Russian schoolteacher and pilot. In 1925, she made history by becoming the world's first female military pilot. She achieved this after graduating from the Military Aviation School in Yegoryevsk, near Moscow.
Even though Zinaida wanted to become a fighter pilot, her amazing skills meant she was asked to stay at the school. She became an instructor, teaching many pilots, including some of Russia's most successful female pilots from World War II, like Nina Raspopova. Later in her life, she worked for 30 years as the headmistress of a village school in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan. After she retired, she moved back to Moscow.
Early Life and Dream to Fly
Zinaida Kokorina was born around the year 1900. Her father was a gold prospector in the Ural Mountains. She grew up in Perm in a family that didn't have much money. However, Zinaida was a very smart child and was able to go to secondary school. In 1916, she moved to Petrograd to study at university. She finished her studies in 1921 and became a teacher.
Soon after, while she was in Kiev, Zinaida saw an airplane flying for the very first time. She was so amazed that she immediately decided she wanted to learn to fly herself! She found a job as a librarian at a flying school in Kacha, Crimea. There, she began to learn about planes and flying.
Becoming a Pilot
At the flying school, Zinaida was trained by a pilot named Albert Poel. Sadly, Albert died in a plane crash. After this sad event, the people at the school supported Zinaida's dream. They agreed that she could train to become a military pilot at the school in Yegoryevsk, near Moscow.
Zinaida faced a challenge when a commander almost dismissed her from the program. But she didn't give up! She asked for help from Mikhail Kalinin, who was a very important leader in the Soviet Union at the time. With his support, she was able to continue her training.
On May 3, 1924, Zinaida flew a plane by herself for the first time. Soon after, she earned her military pilot's license. She really wanted to become a fighter pilot, but because she was so skilled, she was asked to stay at the school as an instructor instead.
Training Future Pilots
As an instructor, Zinaida Kokorina played a very important role. During World War II, she trained many pilots, including several women. Her teaching helped prepare them for the challenges of flying during wartime.
Later Life
After her career in aviation, Zinaida Kokorina dedicated 30 years of her life to education. She worked as a schoolteacher and later as the headmistress of a school in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan. When she retired, she returned to Moscow, where she had started her amazing journey as a pilot.
