Sabiha Gokcen

Sabiha Gökçen, who acquired pilot training by being sent overseas thanks to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Turkish Republic, and the value she placed on women, became the world’s and Turkey’s first female fighter pilot. At the age of 12, she was adopted by Atatürk. Here is Sabiha Gökçen’s biography…

Sabiha Gökçen’s name was given to several schools, streets, roads, and campuses across the country after she flew for over 8,000 hours and participated in 32 different military operations during her flying career. Sabiha Gökçen was named after Istanbul’s second airport, which opened in 2001.

SABIHA GÖKÇEN’S LIFE STORY

Sabiha Gökçen was born in Bursa on March 22, 1913, the daughter of Bursa Provincial Chief Clerk Hafz Mustafa zzet Bey and Hayriye Hanm. Sabiha Gökçen is a native of Bursa.

His father, Hafız İzzet Bey, who was the Treasurer of Edirne, was deported to Bursa on the grounds that he was a ‘Young Turk’.

Sabiha Gökçen, who was raised by her older brother Neşet after losing her parents at a young age, expressed a desire to study with President Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who lived at the Hünkar Mansion near their home in 1925, when she was just 12 years old, during her visit to Bursa.
With the approval of his brother, Atatürk adopted Sabiha, who was living in tough circumstances, and brought her to Ankara.

Sabiha attended ankaya Primary School, Arnavutköy American Girls College, and Üsküdar American High School.

Due to her condition, she had to discontinue her schooling and seek treatment in Heybeliada and Vienna. She had gone to Paris to practice her French.

Mustafa Kemal granted Sabiha the surname “Gökçen” after the Surname Law was passed in 1934. Sabiha Gökçen became interested in flying after seeing glider performances at the Türkkuşu inauguration ceremony in 1935. In 1935, she enrolled in the Turkish Bird Civil Aviation School of the Turkish Aeronautical Association with the patronage of Atatürk and got his high gliding credentials in Ankara.
Gökçen was transferred to Crimea with seven other male students, where he finished a six-month high glider training course at Koktebel High Glider School. she intended to attend the motor aircraft school in Moscow.

When she learned of the death of his adopted sister Zehra, she abandoned this concept and went to her homeland.

Sabiha, who had been outraged by the world for a time, began working again at the request of Atatürk.

At Eskişehir Aviation School, she received specialized flight training from Savmi Uçan and Muhittin Bey.

On February 25, 1936, she took his first flight in a powered airplane.

Atatürk commented to himself after Gökçen’s accomplishment in flying training, “You made me extremely happy… Now I can tell you what I have in store for you… Perhaps you will be the world’s first female military pilot… What an honor for a Turkish girl to be the world’s first female military pilot. You guessed it, it’s an event, right I will take urgent action and send you to the Eskişehir Aircraft School. You will receive special schooling there.”

FIRST MILITARY WOMAN PILOT

Because girls were not admitted to military schools during those years, they wore a special uniform and got special training at Eskişehir Flight School for 11 months in 1936-1937. she was joined by Nüveyre Uyguç, a primary school teacher, during this training. After getting his badge, Gökçen served for six months in the 1st Air Regiment in Eskişehir, where she took part in the Thrace and Aegean maneuvers.

Sabiha Gökçen participated as an airplane pilot in the military operation to put down the Tunceli revolt in 1937.

A large American tour was prepared for Gökçen, who visited the United States twice, in 1953 and 1959, to introduce Turkish society and Turkish ladies.

She took her final flight with the Falcon 2000 in 1996, at the age of 83, accompanied by French pilot Daniel Acton.

In 1996, he won the greatest honor in his aviation career.

Sabiha was named “one of the 20 aviators who made their stamp in global history” at a ceremony at Maxwell Air Base, where he was an honored guest at the “Meeting of the Eagles” held for the American Air Staff College’s graduation ceremony.

She was the first and only female aviator to be honored with this honor.

She listened to the classical rock opera style music made for him at the ceremony presented in his honor by the Sovereignty of Law Association two years before his death.

Sabiha Gökçen died of heart failure on March 22, 2001, at the age of 88, at the Gülhane Military Medical Academy.

SABIHA GÖKÇEN AWARDS AND MEDALS 

* Turkish Aeronautical Association’s number one Praise (Murassa) Medal and certificate,

* Order of the White Eagle and army badge, the highest decoration of the Yugoslav Army ,

* Romanian Army Aviation Badge,

* Commemorative medals awarded for the Thrace and Aegean maneuvers ,

* Plaque of leading women in their professions, given at the ceremony in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey on the 50th anniversary of Turkish women’s right to vote and be elected ,

* Honorary doctorate degree from Selcuk University ,

* Gold medal awarded by THK in 1989 ,

* FAI gold medal given to aviators who excel in all branches of aviation by the International Aviation Federation in 1991 ,

* In 1996, the title of “one of the 20 aviators who wrote his name in world history” at the ceremony at Maxwell Air Base, USA ,

* 28 plaques given by Ordu, various associations and organizations 

Sabiha Gokcen Airport

Turkey received a new symbol in the first week of the twenty-first century. With its strategic position, functional architecture, transportation options, and utilization areas, Sabiha Gökçen Airport is constructing a bridge to Turkey’s future. Sabiha Gökçen Airport is distinguished from its contemporaries by its magnificent architecture that suits its name, in addition to its sophisticated equipment and cutting-edge technology. Metal and gray tones take on new meaning when combined with bright sunshine and sky blue.

Sabiha Gökçen Airport, like a caring mother, greets its guests as they descend from the sky.

Sabiha Gökçen Airport, named after Turkey’s first female fighter pilot, offers up new opportunities for the country.

The airport, which is the first phase in the “Advanced Technology Industrial Park” project, will help the country in many areas such as transportation, foreign trade, aviation, and technology in the future, and will lead the region to become a technology base.

Years ago, Sabiha Gökçen urged Turkish women to adopt equal responsibilities with men in all aspects of economic life.