Stanley Cockerell
Encyclopedia
Captain Stanley Cockerell (9 February 1895–29 November 1940) was a World War I flying ace
credited with seven aerial victories.
Pilot's Certificate No. 3271 on 21 July 1916. He was originally a sergeant with 24 Squadron. He used an Airco DH.2
on 14 September 1916 to share a victory with Arthur Gerald Knight
, when they set a Fokker D.II aflame. He scored again on 30 September, again setting his enemy afire. Cockerell was wounded on 10 October. By the time he recovered and rejoined the squadron, he was commissioned. He then took a break until 4 February 1917, when he shared in the fiery destruction of a reconnaissance plane. Two days later, he was the sole arsonist of another recce plane. On 2 April 1917, he burned an Albatros D.III
for his fifth victory. He upgraded to an Airco DH.5
on 25 May for his sixth kill, when he burned another Albatros D.III. Cockerell was then withdrawn to England to serve in Home Defence squadrons. He returned to France in July 1918 with 151 Squadron. On 4 August, while flying a Sopwith Camel
in the squadron's night intruder role, he bombed the German aerodrome at Guizancourt
. A Gotha
bomber subsequently attempted a recovery at the field, and Cockerell bushwhacked it for his seventh consecutive flaming victory.
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
credited with seven aerial victories.
World War I aerial success
Cockerell was granted his Royal Aero ClubRoyal Aero Club
The Royal Aero Club is the national co-ordinating body for Air Sport in the United Kingdom.The Aero Club was founded in 1901 by Frank Hedges Butler, his daughter Vera and the Hon Charles Rolls , partly inspired by the Aero Club of France...
Pilot's Certificate No. 3271 on 21 July 1916. He was originally a sergeant with 24 Squadron. He used an Airco DH.2
Airco DH.2
|-DH.2 aces:Distinguished pilots of the DH.2 included Victoria Cross winner Lanoe Hawker , who was the first commander of No 24 Squadron and ace Alan Wilkinson. The commander of No. 32 Squadron, Lionel Rees won the Victoria Cross flying the D.H.2 for single handedly attacking a formation of 10...
on 14 September 1916 to share a victory with Arthur Gerald Knight
Arthur Gerald Knight
Captain Arthur Gerald Knight DSO MC was a British-born Canadian World War I flying ace credited with eight aerial victories. He was under attack by Oswald Boelcke and Erwin Böhme when they collided, causing Boelcke's death...
, when they set a Fokker D.II aflame. He scored again on 30 September, again setting his enemy afire. Cockerell was wounded on 10 October. By the time he recovered and rejoined the squadron, he was commissioned. He then took a break until 4 February 1917, when he shared in the fiery destruction of a reconnaissance plane. Two days later, he was the sole arsonist of another recce plane. On 2 April 1917, he burned an Albatros D.III
Albatros D.III
The Albatros D.III was a biplane fighter aircraft used by the Imperial German Army Air Service and the Austro-Hungarian Air Service during World War I. The D.III was flown by many top German aces, including Manfred von Richthofen, Ernst Udet, Erich Löwenhardt, Kurt Wolff, and Karl Emil Schäfer...
for his fifth victory. He upgraded to an Airco DH.5
Airco DH.5
-Bibliography:* Bruce, J.M. Warplanes of the First World War, Vol. 1. London: MacDonald, 1965, pp. 128–132.* Jackson, A.J. De Havilland Aircraft since 1915. London: Putnam, 1962....
on 25 May for his sixth kill, when he burned another Albatros D.III. Cockerell was then withdrawn to England to serve in Home Defence squadrons. He returned to France in July 1918 with 151 Squadron. On 4 August, while flying a Sopwith Camel
Sopwith Camel
The Sopwith Camel was a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter introduced on the Western Front in 1917. Manufactured by Sopwith Aviation Company, it had a short-coupled fuselage, heavy, powerful rotary engine, and concentrated fire from twin synchronized machine guns. Though difficult...
in the squadron's night intruder role, he bombed the German aerodrome at Guizancourt
Guizancourt
Guizancourt is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Guizancourt is situated on the D94 road, some southwest of Amiens.-Population:-External links:*...
. A Gotha
Gothaer Waggonfabrik
Gothaer Waggonfabrik was a German manufacturer of rolling stock established in the late nineteenth century at Gotha. During the two world wars, the company expanded into aircraft building.-World War I:...
bomber subsequently attempted a recovery at the field, and Cockerell bushwhacked it for his seventh consecutive flaming victory.