Ayfer Gök (b. 1977, Bucak – d. 9 February 2001, Karaman/Ermenek) was a Turkish Air Force combat pilot. She is remembered as Turkey’s first female martyr pilot. She was killed during a training flight in an F-5A aircraft while serving at the 3rd Main Jet Base Command.

Youth and Education

Ayfer Gök was born in 1977 in the district of Bucak, Burdur, as the fourth daughter of Ümmü Gülsüm Gök and Halit Gök. She lost her father at the age of one and was raised by her mother. During her childhood she worked at a carpet loom.

She began her primary education at Bucak Atatürk Primary School and completed her middle and high school education in Bucak. She graduated from high school with excellent grades. It is noted that during her high school years she watched aircraft flying from Antalya Airport over Bucak and expressed her dream of becoming a pilot.^【1】

Although she passed the university entrance exam and was accepted into the Mathematics Department of Middle East Technical University, she chose to pursue military education in line with her aviation goals. In 1994 she entered the Air Force Academy as a cadet and completed her four-year training, graduating in 1998 with the rank of second lieutenant. After graduation she underwent flight training for two years at the Çiğli Main Jet Base and began her assignment on 3 November 2000 at the Konya 3rd Main Jet Base Command. After completing her flight training, Ayfer Gök served as a combat pilot in the F-5 class.

Martyrdom

On 9 February 2001 she took off from the Konya 3rd Main Jet Base Command in an F-5A aircraft for a training flight. The aircraft crashed near the village of Daran in the vicinity of Ermenek district, Karaman. As a result of the crash, Ayfer Gök lost her life at the age of 23 and became a martyr. Her funeral was held with a military ceremony at the Konya 3rd Main Jet Base and she was buried in her hometown of Bucak.

Her Legacy and the Preservation of Her Name

Ayfer Gök’s name is commemorated through various institutions and activities. The name of her former high school has been changed to Martyr Ayfer Gök Anatolian High School. Memorial ceremonies are held annually in Bucak on the anniversary of her martyrdom. Additionally, efforts have been made to transfer a retired F-4 Phantom combat aircraft from the Turkish Armed Forces inventory to Burdur, where it will be named in her honor and put on display.