Jerrie Cobb – world record holding pilot – an almost astronaut – a bush pilot in the Amazon for over 40 years.
She passed away recently and the outpouring of news about her life and achievements is wonderful. Jerrie is being celebrated and remembered.
I do wish that had been true more when she was alive.
Read some of the dozens of recent articles about her by clicking on the images at left.
Jerrie Cobb was something.
She followed her dreams despite every obstacle, and there were plenty!
Jerrie was a shy woman, deeply religious, and not great at speaking to crowds or congressman.
But she could fly. She was better at that than many of the male pilots who did become astronauts. She hit that glass ceiling hard. Timing was not on her side. Yet she still followed her dream of being a pilot.
I had not heard of her, nor had any one I knew, when I came across Jerrie Cobb almost ten years ago.
I found her story at a time I felt overlooked – dismissed as an artist. I had started writing about a fictional female astronaut who didn’t get to go up – not knowing anything about Jerrie. While researching, I googled first female astronaut and Jerrie’s name came up. Her story so compelling. I was shocked that I hadn’t heard of Jerrie Cobb before.
I felt driven to tell Jerrie’s story in THEY PROMISED HER THE MOON. Her story and I have now been together for many years and through many drafts and productions. Writing this play pulled me out of my feeling of being dismissed and inspires others. Right now the play is running at the Old Globe Theater in a beautiful production, which is amazing.
I wish Jerrie knew how many people are inspired by her story. Jerrie Cobb had a dream and followed it. And she was a great pilot.
I hope she’s in the stars now – where she always wanted to be.
— Laurel Ollstein