Douglas Graham Cooke

Captain Douglas Graham Cooke MC (26 July 1895 – 1955) was a British World War I flying ace credited with thirteen aerial victories.[1][2]

Douglas Graham Cooke
Born(1895-07-26)26 July 1895
Wimbledon, Surrey, England
Died1955 (aged 59–60)
Surrey, England
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army
Royal Air Force
Years of service1917–1919
RankCaptain
UnitNo. 20 Squadron RAF
AwardsMilitary Cross

Biography
See also: Aerial victory standards of World War I

Cooke commissioned as a probationary second lieutenant on the General List, assigned to the Royal Flying Corps on 24 May 1917,[3] and received the Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate No. 4825 at the Military School at Ruislip on 16 June after soloing in a Maurice Farman biplane.[2] He was confirmed in his rank on 10 September.[4]

Assigned to No. 20 Squadron, Cooke's string of victories began on 22 January 1918 and extended until 19 May. His observers manning the guns in the rear seat of his Bristol F.2 Fighter included fellow aces Henry Crowe, James Scaramanga 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.[1][2] Cooke's successes earned him the post of flight commander with its concomitant promotion to temporary captain on 11 April,[5] as well as the award of the Military Cross in July. He was transferred to the unemployed list on 26 July 1919.[6]

Honours and awards
Military Cross
Temporary Lieutenant Douglas Graham Cooke, RAF.
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.[7]

References
  1. Shores et.al. (1997), p. 119.
  2. "Douglas Graham Cooke". The Aerodrome. 2014. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  3. "No. 30141". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 June 1917. p. 6148.
  4. "No. 30323". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 October 1917. p. 10268.
  5. "No. 30668". The London Gazette. 3 May 1918. p. 5366.
  6. "No. 31554". The London Gazette. 16 September 1919. p. 11590.
  7. "No. 30813". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 July 1918. p. 8788.

Bibliography
  • Shores, Christopher F.; Franks, Norman & Guest, Russell (1990). Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920. London, UK: Grub Street. ISBN 0-948817-19-4.
  • Guttman, Jon (2007). Bristol F 2 Fighter Aces of World War I. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-201-1.
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