Cook Cleland
Encyclopedia
Cook Cleland was a World War II
United States Navy
and civilian air race pilot. He participated in the Battle of Coral Sea and the Battle of the Philippine Sea
. Cleland won the 1947 and 1949 Thompson Trophy
Air Races.
, in 1916, and graduated from the University of Missouri
in 1940.
. He married Ora Lee Cleland during his flight training. After graduation he was assigned to the aircraft carrier
USS Wasp
flying the Vought
SB2U Vindicator
and Douglas SBD dive bombers, providing close air support for the initial Guadalcanal
landings. Cleland was on the Wasp when she was sunk in September 1942, spending over 4 hours in the water, waiting for rescue.
Cleland was then assigned to the USS Lexington
, becoming a plank owner. During his service onboard the "Gray Ghost", he became and air ace
, shooting down five Japan
ese aircraft, unusual for a dive bomber pilot. He and his wingman were also credited with severely crippling the Japanese aircraft carrier Junyō
during the Battle of the Philippine Sea
in June 1943. For his valor in action, he received the Navy Cross
and many other commendations. On return to the States, he evaluated captured enemy aircraft as a Navy test pilot.
. As a fixed-base operator, he offered flying lessons, banner towing, and air charters.
Cleland bought a surplus Vought FG-1D Corsair
, modified it for air racing, named it "Lucky Gallon" and flew it in the 1946 Thompson Trophy Race at an average of 357 miles per hour (160 m/s), finishing second.
Cleland next obtained four Goodyear F2G-1 Super Corsairs with a hefty 28-cylinder Pratt & Whitney
Wasp Major rated at more than 3000 hp. He modified these similarly to his FG-1D, additionally clipping the wingspan a few feet. He flew one of these, Race 74, to win the 1947 Thompson Trophy with a speed of 396 miles per hour (177 m/s).
The 1948 Thompson saw Cleland return with more modifications to the previous years plane, but the experimental fuel, rated at 200 octane
, proved too volatile and caused the induction scoops to be blown loose, taking him out of the race.
Cleland returned in 1949, winning the Thompson for the second time flying Race 94, with a speed of 397 miles per hour (177 m/s).
Wanting to expand his air charter service, Cleland and his partner purchased three surplus PBY Catalina
Flying Boats with the intent to modify them for the Alaska
hunting and fishing trade. The modifications proved too costly and the planes were sold. The field closed in the latter part of 1952 after Cleland had gone back into Navy active service.
.
In 1967, Cook retired from the Navy in Kodiak, Alaska
and moved to Pensacola, Florida
, where he opened Cleland Antiques.
In 2000, Cook was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America
in Detroit, Michigan
.
Cleland lost his right leg to diabetes, but did manage to attend the final reunion of his Air Group 16 at the dedication of the National World War II Memorial
on May 29, 2004.
Cleland died June 13, 2007, leaving a daughter, two sons, two grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
and civilian air race pilot. He participated in the Battle of Coral Sea and the Battle of the Philippine Sea
Battle of the Philippine Sea
The Battle of the Philippine Sea was a decisive naval battle of World War II which effectively eliminated the Imperial Japanese Navy's ability to conduct large-scale carrier actions. It took place during the United States' amphibious invasion of the Mariana Islands during the Pacific War...
. Cleland won the 1947 and 1949 Thompson Trophy
Thompson trophy
The Thompson Trophy race was one of the National Air Races of the heyday of early airplane racing in the 1930s. Established in 1929, the last race was held in 1961. The race was long with pylons marking the turns, and emphasized low altitude flying and maneuverability at high speeds...
Air Races.
Early life
Cook Cleland was born in Cleveland, OhioCleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, in 1916, and graduated from the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
in 1940.
Navy service
Cleland joined the Navy and became a naval aviator shortly before the attack on Pearl HarborAttack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
. He married Ora Lee Cleland during his flight training. After graduation he was assigned to the aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
USS Wasp
USS Wasp (CV-7)
USS Wasp was a United States Navy aircraft carrier. The eighth Navy ship of that name, she was the sole ship of her class. Built to use up the remaining tonnage allowed to the U.S. for aircraft carriers under the treaties of the time, she was built on a reduced-size version of the Yorktown-class...
flying the Vought
Vought
Vought is the name of several related aerospace firms. These have included, in the past, Lewis and Vought Corporation, Chance Vought, Vought Sikorsky, LTV Aerospace , Vought Aircraft Companies, and the current Vought Aircraft Industries. The first incarnation of Vought was established by Chance M...
SB2U Vindicator
SB2U Vindicator
The Vought SB2U Vindicator was a carrier-based dive bomber developed for the United States Navy in the 1930s, the first monoplane in this role. Obsolescent at the outbreak of World War II, Vindicators still remained in service at the time of the Battle of Midway, but by 1943, all had been withdrawn...
and Douglas SBD dive bombers, providing close air support for the initial Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal is a tropical island in the South-Western Pacific. The largest island in the Solomons, it was discovered by the Spanish expedition of Alvaro de Mendaña in 1568...
landings. Cleland was on the Wasp when she was sunk in September 1942, spending over 4 hours in the water, waiting for rescue.
Cleland was then assigned to the USS Lexington
USS Lexington (CV-16)
USS Lexington , known as "The Blue Ghost", is one of 24 s built during World War II for the United States Navy. The ship, the fifth US Navy ship to bear the name, is named in honor of the Revolutionary War Battle of Lexington...
, becoming a plank owner. During his service onboard the "Gray Ghost", he became and air ace
Ace
An ace is a playing card. In the standard French deck, an ace has a single suit symbol located in the middle of the card, sometimes large and decorated, especially in the case of the Ace of Spades...
, shooting down five Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese aircraft, unusual for a dive bomber pilot. He and his wingman were also credited with severely crippling the Japanese aircraft carrier Junyō
Japanese aircraft carrier Junyo
was a of the Imperial Japanese Navy. She was laid down at Nagasaki as the passenger liner Kashiwara Maru, but was purchased by the Japanese Navy in 1941 and converted to an aircraft carrier. Completed in May 1942, the ship participated in the invasion of the Aleutian Islands the following month...
during the Battle of the Philippine Sea
Battle of the Philippine Sea
The Battle of the Philippine Sea was a decisive naval battle of World War II which effectively eliminated the Imperial Japanese Navy's ability to conduct large-scale carrier actions. It took place during the United States' amphibious invasion of the Mariana Islands during the Pacific War...
in June 1943. For his valor in action, he received the Navy Cross
Navy Cross
The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
and many other commendations. On return to the States, he evaluated captured enemy aircraft as a Navy test pilot.
Post WWII
Following WWII, Cleland acquired the Euclid Avenue Airport small airport in suburban Willoughby, OhioWilloughby, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 22,621 people, 10,265 households, and 5,892 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,225.3 people per square mile . There were 10,700 housing units at an average density of 1,052.6 per square mile...
. As a fixed-base operator, he offered flying lessons, banner towing, and air charters.
Cleland bought a surplus Vought FG-1D Corsair
F4U Corsair
The Vought F4U Corsair was a carrier-capable fighter aircraft that saw service primarily in World War II and the Korean War. Demand for the aircraft soon overwhelmed Vought's manufacturing capability, resulting in production by Goodyear and Brewster: Goodyear-built Corsairs were designated FG and...
, modified it for air racing, named it "Lucky Gallon" and flew it in the 1946 Thompson Trophy Race at an average of 357 miles per hour (160 m/s), finishing second.
Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney is a U.S.-based aerospace manufacturer with global service operations. It is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation . Pratt & Whitney's aircraft engines are widely used in both civil aviation and military aviation. Its headquarters are in East Hartford, Connecticut, USA...
Wasp Major rated at more than 3000 hp. He modified these similarly to his FG-1D, additionally clipping the wingspan a few feet. He flew one of these, Race 74, to win the 1947 Thompson Trophy with a speed of 396 miles per hour (177 m/s).
The 1948 Thompson saw Cleland return with more modifications to the previous years plane, but the experimental fuel, rated at 200 octane
Octane
Octane is a hydrocarbon and an alkane with the chemical formula C8H18, and the condensed structural formula CH36CH3. Octane has many structural isomers that differ by the amount and location of branching in the carbon chain...
, proved too volatile and caused the induction scoops to be blown loose, taking him out of the race.
Cleland returned in 1949, winning the Thompson for the second time flying Race 94, with a speed of 397 miles per hour (177 m/s).
Wanting to expand his air charter service, Cleland and his partner purchased three surplus PBY Catalina
PBY Catalina
The Consolidated PBY Catalina was an American flying boat of the 1930s and 1940s produced by Consolidated Aircraft. It was one of the most widely used multi-role aircraft of World War II. PBYs served with every branch of the United States Armed Forces and in the air forces and navies of many other...
Flying Boats with the intent to modify them for the Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
hunting and fishing trade. The modifications proved too costly and the planes were sold. The field closed in the latter part of 1952 after Cleland had gone back into Navy active service.
Korean War
In February 1951, he returned to active duty as commanding officer of carrier-based Fighting Squadron 653 and flew the Chance-Vought F4U Corsair in 67 combat missions over North Korea. In May 1952, he was shot down by enemy ground fire during an interdiction mission in North Korea and was rescued later the same day.Later life
Cleland held numerous U.S. Navy staff positions after the Korean War and played a key role in establishing the Defense Intelligence AgencyDefense Intelligence Agency
The Defense Intelligence Agency is a member of the Intelligence Community of the United States, and is the central producer and manager of military intelligence for the United States Department of Defense, employing over 16,500 U.S. military and civilian employees worldwide...
.
In 1967, Cook retired from the Navy in Kodiak, Alaska
Kodiak, Alaska
Kodiak is one of 7 communities and the main city on Kodiak Island, Kodiak Island Borough, in the U.S. state of Alaska. All commercial transportation between the entire island and the outside world goes through this city either via ferryboat or airline...
and moved to Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
, where he opened Cleland Antiques.
In 2000, Cook was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America
Motorsports Hall of Fame of America
The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America is a Hall of Fame and museum for American motorsports legends. It was originally located in Novi, Michigan and it moved to the Detroit Science Center in 2009.-Museum:...
in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
.
Cleland lost his right leg to diabetes, but did manage to attend the final reunion of his Air Group 16 at the dedication of the National World War II Memorial
National World War II Memorial
The U.S. National World War II Memorial is a National Memorial dedicated to Americans who served in the armed forces and as civilians during World War II...
on May 29, 2004.
Cleland died June 13, 2007, leaving a daughter, two sons, two grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.