Stanley Cockerell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Stanley Cockerell
Frank Crossley Griffiths Broome (left) and Stanley Cockerell before their start in Vickers Vimy Commercial G-EAAV in 1920 to fly the Cope.
Born	9 February 1895 Wood Green, Middlesex, England
Died	29 November 1940(1940-11-29) (aged 45) Sunbury on Thames, England
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Flying Corps Royal Air Force
Rank	Captain
Unit	No. 24 Squadron RFC, No. 50 (Home Defence) Squadron RFC, No. 112 Squadron RAF, No. 78 (Home Defence) Squadron RAF, No. 151 Squadron RAF
Awards	Air Force Cross Belgian Order of the Crown and Croix de Guerre

Captain Stanley Cockerell AFC (born February 9, 1895 – died November 29, 1940) was a British pilot. He was known as a "flying ace" in World War I, meaning he shot down seven enemy aircraft. Later, he became a test pilot for a company called Vickers. He also tried to be the first person to fly from Cairo, Egypt, all the way to Cape Town, South Africa.

Early Life and Start in Aviation

Stanley Cockerell was born in Wood Green, a part of London, England. After finishing school, he became a motor engineer, working with engines and cars.

When World War I began, Stanley joined the Royal Flying Corps right away. He started as a despatch rider, delivering messages. In 1915, he became an air mechanic, helping to fix planes.

Becoming a World War I Flying Ace

Stanley earned his pilot's license in July 1916. He then became a sergeant pilot with 24 Squadron. He flew an Airco DH.2 plane.

• On September 14, 1916, he helped shoot down a Fokker D.II plane, which caught fire.
• On September 30, he shot down another enemy plane, also setting it on fire.
• On October 10, he was wounded in the hip during a fight.
• He became a second lieutenant in October 1916.
• After recovering, he returned to flying in February 1917.
• He helped destroy a reconnaissance plane on February 4.
• Two days later, he destroyed another reconnaissance plane by himself.
• On April 2, 1917, he destroyed an Albatros D.III plane. This was his fifth victory, making him a "flying ace."
• He got his sixth victory on May 25, flying an Airco DH.5 and destroying another Albatros D.III.

After these victories, Stanley was sent back to England. He worked in squadrons that defended the home country. He became a temporary captain in September 1917. In July 1918, he returned to France with 151 Squadron. On August 4, he bombed a German airfield while flying a Sopwith Camel at night. A German Gotha bomber tried to land there, and Stanley destroyed it. This was his seventh victory.

For his bravery, Stanley received two awards from Belgium: the Chevalier of the Order of the Crown in August 1917 and the Croix de guerre in March 1918.

Adventures After the War

After the war, Stanley continued his exciting career in aviation.

Flying Newspapers to Amsterdam

On August 21, 1919, Stanley flew a Vickers Vimy plane from London to Amsterdam. He carried copies of The Times newspaper. These newspapers were then sold to help local charities.

The Cairo to Cape Town Flight Attempt

On January 24, 1920, Stanley took off from Brooklands in a Vickers Vimy. He was trying to make a historic flight to South Africa. The goal was to test a new air route from Cairo to the Cape of Good Hope.

He flew with:

• Another pilot, Captain Frank Broome DFC
• Mechanic Sergeant-Major James Wyatt MSM
• Rigger Claude Corby (a rigger helps with the plane's structure)
• Passenger Peter Chalmers Mitchell, a famous animal expert and reporter for The Times. The newspaper helped pay for the flight.

Their journey was long and full of challenges:

• They flew across the English Channel and reached Lyon, France.
• They continued through Europe, stopping in Rome and Malta.
• They flew over North Africa, stopping in Tripoli and Benghazi.
• On February 3, they arrived near Cairo, Egypt.
• The main flight to South Africa began on February 6.
• They faced many problems, including engine trouble and forced landings.
• They made repairs in places like Khartoum and Mongalla in Sudan.
• On February 24, they reached Kisumu in Kenya.
• On February 26, they arrived in Tabora in Tanganyika Territory (now Tanzania).
• However, on February 27, their plane crashed during take-off. The plane was completely damaged, and the flight ended. Stanley and Corby had minor injuries.

Even though they didn't finish the flight by air, Stanley and Broome eventually reached Cape Town. They were welcomed by other pilots who had successfully completed the journey. On July 12, 1920, Stanley and Broome received the Air Force Cross (AFC) for their efforts.

Test Pilot for Vickers

Stanley continued to work as a test pilot for Vickers.

• In March 1921, he tested a new Vickers Valentia flying boat over the Solent sea.
• On March 17, 1921, he even landed a flying boat on the River Thames near the Palace of Westminster in London.
• On March 15, 1922, his flying boat had to land in the English Channel during a test flight. He and his two companions, Broome and Wyatt, were rescued from the water.

The Vickers Viking Maiden Flight

On April 13, 1922, Stanley was the pilot for the very first flight of the Vickers Viking plane. Later that same day, the plane crashed at Brooklands while being flown by another famous pilot, Sir Ross Macpherson Smith. Sadly, Sir Ross and his co-pilot were killed in the accident. Stanley had been a passenger on that flight earlier and told the investigation that the plane seemed to be working perfectly. The jury decided it was an accidental death.

Later Life and Passing

Stanley Cockerell and his six-year-old daughter, Kathleen, died during World War II. They were killed in a German bombing raid on Sunbury on Thames on November 29, 1940. His six other children became orphans.