Alfred Tyrone Cooke
Encyclopedia
Flight Lieutenant Alfred Tyrone Cooke VrC was a hero of the Indo-Pakistani wars. He was honoured with the Vir Chakra
in September 1965. He received the award for shooting down a Sabre jet
whilst flying a Hawker Hunter
, whilst they were under anti-aircraft fire.
It has been said that, "Flt Lt Alfred Tyrone Cooke is the only pilot in the Indian Air Force
, who could claim to have engaged multiple enemy aircraft in the air and got the better of them."
attended La Martiniere Lucknow
. He left service as a Flight Lieutenant and settled down in Australia.
Vir Chakra
Vir Chakra is an Indian gallantry award presented for acts of bravery in the battlefield. Award of the decoration carried with it the right to use Vr.C. as a postnominal abbreviation Vir Chakra is an Indian gallantry award presented for acts of bravery in the battlefield. Award of the decoration...
in September 1965. He received the award for shooting down a Sabre jet
F-86 Sabre
The North American F-86 Sabre was a transonic jet fighter aircraft. Produced by North American Aviation, the Sabre is best known as America's first swept wing fighter which could counter the similarly-winged Soviet MiG-15 in high speed dogfights over the skies of the Korean War...
whilst flying a Hawker Hunter
Hawker Hunter
The Hawker Hunter is a subsonic British jet aircraft developed in the 1950s. The single-seat Hunter entered service as a manoeuvrable fighter aircraft, and later operated in fighter-bomber and reconnaissance roles in numerous conflicts. Two-seat variants remained in use for training and secondary...
, whilst they were under anti-aircraft fire.
It has been said that, "Flt Lt Alfred Tyrone Cooke is the only pilot in the Indian Air Force
Indian Air Force
The Indian Air Force is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict...
, who could claim to have engaged multiple enemy aircraft in the air and got the better of them."
Biography
Alfred Cooke VrCVir Chakra
Vir Chakra is an Indian gallantry award presented for acts of bravery in the battlefield. Award of the decoration carried with it the right to use Vr.C. as a postnominal abbreviation Vir Chakra is an Indian gallantry award presented for acts of bravery in the battlefield. Award of the decoration...
attended La Martiniere Lucknow
La Martiniere Lucknow
La Martinière College is an educational institution located in Lucknow, the capital of the Indian State of Uttar Pradesh. The college consists of two schools on different campuses for boys and girls. La Martinière Boys' College was founded in 1845 and La Martinière Girls' College was established...
. He left service as a Flight Lieutenant and settled down in Australia.