Douglas Graham Cooke

Douglas Graham Cooke
Douglas Graham Cooke
Born 26 July 1895
London, England
Died Unknown
Allegiance England
Service/branch Aviation
Rank Captain
Unit No. 20 Squadron RAF
Awards Military Cross

Captain Douglas Graham Cooke (born 26 July 1895, date of death unknown) was a World War I flying ace credited with thirteen aerial victories.[1][2]

Cooke's string of victories began on 22 January 1918 and extended through 19 May 1918. His observers manning the guns in the rear seat of his Bristol F.2 Fighter included fellow aces Henry Crowe and Ernest Hardcastle. His final tally was five enemy fighter planes destroyed and eight driven down out of control, with nine enemy planes falling to his pilot's gun. Cooke's successes earned him the post of Flight Commander with its concomitant promotion to Temporary Captain, as well as a Military Cross.[1][2]

Honors and awards

Military Cross (MC)

T./Lt. Douglas Graham Cooke, R.A.F.

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when engaged in many low bombing patrols and low reconnaissances. On one occasion, when important information was required, he flew along a front of ten miles at 100 feet, being subjected the whole way to heavy fire from the ground, and on the same day along another front of twelve miles at 300 feet, each time returning with the information and his machine much shot about. He has destroyed several hostile machines in air combats, and has invariably displayed the highest courage and a splendid fighting spirit.[3]

Sources of information

  1. ^ a b Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. p. 119. 
  2. ^ a b http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/cooke.php Retrieved 11 March 2010.
  3. ^ (Supplement to the London Gazette, 26 July 1918) (30813/8788) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30813/supplements/8788 Retrieved 11 March 2010.

Reference

  • Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920 Christopher F. Shores, Norman L. R. Franks, Russell Guest. Grub Street, 1990. ISBN 0-948817-19-4, 9780948817199.


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