Ralph Cochrane

Infobox Military Person
name= Ralph Alexander Cochrane
lived= 24 February 1895–17 December 1977
placeofbirth=Springfield, Fife, Scotland
placeofdeath=


caption= Cochrane in the uniform of an air-vice marshal
nickname=
allegiance=flag|United Kingdom
serviceyears= 1912–1952
rank= Air Chief Marshal
branch= air force|United Kingdom
commands=
unit=
battles= World War I
World War II
awards=Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Air Force Cross
Mention in Despatches (4)
laterwork= Director of Rolls Royce

Air Chief Marshal Sir Ralph Alexander Cochrane GBE KCB AFC RAF (24 February 1895–17 December 1977) was a British pilot and Royal Air Force officer, perhaps best known for his role in Operation Chastise–the famous "Dambusters" raid.

Early life

Ralph Cochrane was born on 24 February 1895, the youngest son of Thomas Cochrane, 1st Baron Cochrane of Cults, in the Scottish village of Springfield. Although not certain, it is likely that he attended the Royal Naval College at Osborne in 1908. On 15 September 1912, Cochrane entered the Royal Navy proper as a midshipman.

World War I

During the First World War, Cochrane served in the Royal Naval Air Service piloting airships. He also completed a tour as a staff officer in the Admiralty's Airship Department.

Between the wars

In January 1920, he was removed from the Navy List and awarded a commission in the RAF. During the interbellum, Cochrane served in various staff positions and commanded no. 3 Squadron and no. 8 Squadron. He attended the RAF Staff College in 1925 and the Imperial Defence College in 1935.

In 1936 Cochrane was sent to New Zealand to assist with the establishment of the Royal New Zealand Air Force as an independent service from the Army. On April 1, 1937, Cochrane was appointed Chief of the Air Staff of the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

World War II and the post-war years

During the Second World War, Cochrane commanded No. 7 Group, No. 3 Group and from 1943 to 1945 No. 5 Group, all in RAF Bomber Command. Cochrane's outstanding virtue as a Bomber Group Commander was his receptivness to new ideas and innovations, from whatever source they came. He could be arrogant, but had no professional conceit. 5 Group became the most efficient and elite Main Force bomber group, second only to 8 Group, the 'Pathfinders'. There was intense, sometimes openly hostile, rivalry between Cochrane and Air Vice Marshal Donald Bennett, who saw Cochrane's experimentation with low-level target marking in 1944 as a direct threat to his specialist squadron's reputation. Cochrane had good claim to be not only the most outstanding group AOC of the war, but the best bomber commander in the RAF.

In February 1945, Cochrane became commanding officer of RAF Transport Command, a position he held until 1947 when he became commanding officer Flying Training Command. During which time he managed the Berlin Airlift. In 1950 Cochrane was appointed Vice Chief of the Air Staff. Ralph Cochrane retired from the service in 1952. Following his retirement, Cochrane entered the business world notably as director of Rolls Royce. He was also chairman of RJM exports which manufactured scientific models. Now known as Cochrans of Oxford.

References

* [http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Cochrane.htm Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - Air Chf Mshl Cochrane]
* [http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/scotgaz/people/famousfirst117.html Sir Ralph Alexander Cochrane]

-
-
-
-

ee also

*Cochrane