Gordon Cochrane (pilot)
Encyclopedia
Alfred William 'Gordon' Cochrane (1916 – 1994) DSO
, DFC
and two bars
was an officer of the Royal New Zealand Air Force
(RNZAF) during the Second World War. He is one of only four New Zealand
born airmen to receive two medal bars to his Distinguished Flying Cross.
. After leaving school, he worked in his uncle's general store
before enlisting in September 1940. By November 1941, he was flying Wellington bombers
with 156 Squadron
and would complete 33 operations including the three thousand-bomber raids
of Cologne. In August 1942, Cochrane was awarded an end-of-tour Distinguished Flying Cross
(DFC).
After attending an instructors' school, he spent the next 18 months teaching others how to fly multi-engined aircraft and was then posted to 156 Squadron
, beginning operations again in June 1944. Over the next 11 months he flew two tours for a total of 55 operations on Lancasters
and was frequently the master bomber
, directing the markers and main force as he circled the target.
At the end of his second tour in late 1944, Cochrane was admitted to the Distinguished Service Order
, for displaying the highest standard of skill and courage, involving attacks on a wide range of enemy targets and throughout has displayed outstanding determination and devotion to duty. In early 1945, Cochrane was awarded a Bar
to his DFC following a daylight raid over Dusseldorf
. He was over the target for seven minutes before the main stream arrived and was hot by flak. A lump of iron burst through the nose of the aircraft and ricoheted around the interior causing damage. Despite this, Cochrane continued to direct the attacking bombers for another 7 minutes before turning for home. His citation read in part that Cochrane was a cool and courageous captain and pilot, who fine qualities of leadership and determination have been well instilled in many operations against the enemy.
Cochrane's third DFC (second bar) was won in even more stressful circumstances. On the night of 7–8 February 1945, he controlled the bombing of two fortified towns staning in the path of British troops massing to cross German frontier. Soon after reaching the target, the port wing
of the aircraft sustained severe damage and part of it fell off. The citation stated that; "Undeterred, Squadron Leader Cochrane, with superb airmanship and courage, continued with his task".
Cochrane ended the war as an acclaimed pathfinder captain
, with 3 tours and 88 operations behind him. He was one among the most highly decorated New Zealander bomber pilots. After the war Cochrane remained in Britain
, joining BOAC
, the forerunner of British Airways
. Cochrane flew Yorks
, Hermes
, Stratocruisers and Comets
before becoming a Boeing 707
captain in 1964. He retired
at the end of 1971 as a senior captain and 25 years service. Cochrane died in Wimborne Minster
, England in 1994 aged 78.
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
and two bars
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
was an officer of the Royal New Zealand Air Force
Royal New Zealand Air Force
The Royal New Zealand Air Force is the air arm of the New Zealand Defence Force...
(RNZAF) during the Second World War. He is one of only four New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
born airmen to receive two medal bars to his Distinguished Flying Cross.
Career
Cochrane was born on 10 October 1916 in Rawene, a remote settlement in the Northland Region of New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. After leaving school, he worked in his uncle's general store
General store
A general store, general merchandise store, or village shop is a rural or small town store that carries a general line of merchandise. It carries a broad selection of merchandise, sometimes in a small space, where people from the town and surrounding rural areas come to purchase all their general...
before enlisting in September 1940. By November 1941, he was flying Wellington bombers
Vickers Wellington
The Vickers Wellington was a British twin-engine, long range medium bomber designed in the mid-1930s at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey, by Vickers-Armstrongs' Chief Designer, R. K. Pierson. It was widely used as a night bomber in the early years of the Second World War, before being displaced as a...
with 156 Squadron
No. 156 Squadron RAF
No. 156 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron that was active as a bomber unit in World War II.-Formation and World War I:No. 156 Squadron Royal Air Force was first formed on 12 October 1918 at RAF Wyton and equipped with DH 9 aircraft, but was disbanded on 9 December 1918 without becoming...
and would complete 33 operations including the three thousand-bomber raids
Bombing of Cologne in World War II
The City of Cologne was bombed in 262 separate air raids by the Allies during World War II, including 31 times by the Royal Air Force . Air raid alarms went off in the winter/spring of 1940 as enemy bombers passed overhead. However, the first actual bombing took place on 12 May 1940...
of Cologne. In August 1942, Cochrane was awarded an end-of-tour Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
(DFC).
After attending an instructors' school, he spent the next 18 months teaching others how to fly multi-engined aircraft and was then posted to 156 Squadron
No. 156 Squadron RAF
No. 156 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron that was active as a bomber unit in World War II.-Formation and World War I:No. 156 Squadron Royal Air Force was first formed on 12 October 1918 at RAF Wyton and equipped with DH 9 aircraft, but was disbanded on 9 December 1918 without becoming...
, beginning operations again in June 1944. Over the next 11 months he flew two tours for a total of 55 operations on Lancasters
Avro Lancaster
The Avro Lancaster is a British four-engined Second World War heavy bomber made initially by Avro for the Royal Air Force . It first saw active service in 1942, and together with the Handley Page Halifax it was one of the main heavy bombers of the RAF, the RCAF, and squadrons from other...
and was frequently the master bomber
Pathfinder (RAF)
The Pathfinders were elite squadrons in RAF Bomber Command during World War II. They located and marked targets with flares, which a main bomber force could aim at, increasing the accuracy of their bombing...
, directing the markers and main force as he circled the target.
At the end of his second tour in late 1944, Cochrane was admitted to the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, for displaying the highest standard of skill and courage, involving attacks on a wide range of enemy targets and throughout has displayed outstanding determination and devotion to duty. In early 1945, Cochrane was awarded a Bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
to his DFC following a daylight raid over Dusseldorf
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
. He was over the target for seven minutes before the main stream arrived and was hot by flak. A lump of iron burst through the nose of the aircraft and ricoheted around the interior causing damage. Despite this, Cochrane continued to direct the attacking bombers for another 7 minutes before turning for home. His citation read in part that Cochrane was a cool and courageous captain and pilot, who fine qualities of leadership and determination have been well instilled in many operations against the enemy.
Cochrane's third DFC (second bar) was won in even more stressful circumstances. On the night of 7–8 February 1945, he controlled the bombing of two fortified towns staning in the path of British troops massing to cross German frontier. Soon after reaching the target, the port wing
Port and starboard
Port and starboard are nautical terms which refer to the left and right sides, respectively, of a ship or aircraft as perceived by a person on board facing the bow . At night, the port side of a vessel is indicated with a red navigation light and the starboard side with a green one.The starboard...
of the aircraft sustained severe damage and part of it fell off. The citation stated that; "Undeterred, Squadron Leader Cochrane, with superb airmanship and courage, continued with his task".
Cochrane ended the war as an acclaimed pathfinder captain
Pathfinder (RAF)
The Pathfinders were elite squadrons in RAF Bomber Command during World War II. They located and marked targets with flares, which a main bomber force could aim at, increasing the accuracy of their bombing...
, with 3 tours and 88 operations behind him. He was one among the most highly decorated New Zealander bomber pilots. After the war Cochrane remained in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, joining BOAC
Boac
Boac may refer to:* Boac, Marinduque, a municipality in the Southern Philippines* Boac , an American rapper* British Overseas Airways Corporation, a former British state-owned airline...
, the forerunner of British Airways
British Airways
British Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
. Cochrane flew Yorks
Avro York
The Avro York was a British transport aircraft that was derived from the Second World War Lancaster heavy bomber, and used in both military and airliner roles between 1943 and 1964.-Design and development:...
, Hermes
Handley Page Hermes
The Handley Page HP 81 Hermes was a British civilian airliner built by Handley Page in the 1940s and 50s. Closely related to Handley Page's Hastings military transport, the Hermes was a low-wing monoplane powered by four piston engines...
, Stratocruisers and Comets
De Havilland Comet
The de Havilland DH 106 Comet was the world's first commercial jet airliner to reach production. Developed and manufactured by de Havilland at the Hatfield, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom headquarters, it first flew in 1949 and was a landmark in aeronautical design...
before becoming a Boeing 707
Boeing 707
The Boeing 707 is a four-engine narrow-body commercial passenger jet airliner developed by Boeing in the early 1950s. Its name is most commonly pronounced as "Seven Oh Seven". The first airline to operate the 707 was Pan American World Airways, inaugurating the type's first commercial flight on...
captain in 1964. He retired
Retirement
Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours.Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions don't allow the person to...
at the end of 1971 as a senior captain and 25 years service. Cochrane died in Wimborne Minster
Wimborne Minster
Wimborne Minster is a market town in the East Dorset district of Dorset in South West England, and the name of the Church of England church in that town...
, England in 1994 aged 78.