Born in 1898, Zinaida Kokorina grew up in poverty, spending her childhood in the basement of a house. Becoming a pilot was never part of the life she was expected to dream of. As the child of a poor family, she went to school during the winters and worked throughout the summers. Her diligence quickly reflected in her education; she was recognized as an intelligent and hardworking student and was encouraged to continue through secondary school.
Kokorina’s commitment to learning led her to begin university studies in Petrograd in 1916, and she earned her teaching diploma in 1921. While witnessing the great revolutions of her era, a defining turning point in her life came in Kyiv.
An aircraft gliding across the sky over Kyiv, captivating both women and men in the streets, ignited a deep passion in Kokorina. At a time when flying was considered a man’s profession, she began researching how men became aviators. This search eventually led her to enroll in the Military Aviation School in Yegoryevsk.
Being a female aviator, let alone a military pilot, seemed impossible under the conditions of the time. Kokorina faced direct resistance and was even at risk of dismissal by a commanding officer. However, she managed to secure support from the Soviet head of state at the time, Mikhail Ivanovich Kalinin. In 1923, she became the first woman admitted to the Red Army Aviation School, before being integrated into the Higher Artillery and Bombing School and awarded the rank of First Class Airman.
Despite numerous obstacles, she persevered. Kokorina completed her first solo flight on May 3, 1924, graduated in 1925, and officially earned her license as the world’s first female military pilot.
Known for her discipline and dedication, Kokorina was invited to remain at the school as an instructor. Although she aspired to become a combat pilot, she accepted the role and began training other pilots. She played a pioneering role in educating the women combat pilots who would go on to serve during World War II.
After the war, she devoted 30 years of her life to education, serving as a school principal in the village of Cholpon-Ata in Kyrgyzstan. As the world’s first female military pilot, she stated that she was proud to have served her country, both in aviation and through a lifetime dedicated to education.