Douglas Graham Cooke facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Douglas Graham Cooke
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 26 July 1895 Wimbledon, Surrey, England |
| Died | 1955 (aged 59–60) Surrey, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
British Army Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1917–1919 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | No. 20 Squadron RAF |
| Awards | Military Cross |
Captain Douglas Graham Cooke (1895–1955) was a brave British pilot during World War I. He was known as a "flying ace" because he shot down many enemy planes. He earned a special award called the Military Cross for his courage and bravery.
Contents
Douglas Graham Cooke's Life
Douglas Graham Cooke was born in Wimbledon, London, England, in 1895. He joined the British Army in 1917. He was assigned to the Royal Flying Corps, which was the air force branch at that time. This group later became the Royal Air Force.
Becoming a Pilot
Cooke began his pilot training in May 1917. He quickly learned to fly and received his pilot's certificate in June. This certificate showed he was skilled enough to fly an airplane by himself.
Fighting in the Skies
After his training, Cooke joined No. 20 Squadron. This squadron flew Bristol F.2 Fighter planes. These were two-seater planes. One person flew the plane, and another person sat behind them to operate the machine gun.
Cooke's first victory was in January 1918. He continued to be successful until May of that year. He worked with other brave airmen like Henry Crowe and James Scaramanga. These men were his observers, helping him spot enemy planes and firing the rear gun.
Cooke was officially credited with 13 aerial victories. This means he helped to destroy or force down 13 enemy aircraft. Five of these planes were completely destroyed. The other eight were forced to land out of control.
Promotions and Awards
Because of his success, Douglas Graham Cooke was promoted. In April 1918, he became a temporary captain and a flight commander. This meant he was in charge of a group of planes.
In July, he received the Military Cross. This is a very important award given for bravery during battle. He left the military in July 1919 after the war ended.
Military Cross Award
Douglas Graham Cooke received the Military Cross for his outstanding bravery. The award recognized his courage during many dangerous missions.
- He flew very low to the ground to gather important information.
- On one mission, he flew for ten miles at only 100 feet high. Enemy fire was constant, but he kept going.
- Later that same day, he flew another twelve miles at 300 feet.
- Each time, he returned with the information needed, even though his plane was often hit by enemy fire.
- He also destroyed several enemy planes in air battles.
- His actions always showed great courage and a strong fighting spirit.
