Photograph above: Courtesy of DoDLive.mil
Conclusion
Women Military Aviators Digital Archive
Before Cochran, women pilots did not get the same pay, benefits, or appreciation as men, but Cochran set the precedent through her actions and leadership skills, leaving a legacy that has greatly improved the concept of women's abilities today. "The fundamental question has shifted from 'Why women?' to 'Why not women?" (Admiral James Winnefeld in an article on women in the military, Adm. Winnefeld's remarks at the joint women's leadership symposium)