William Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick

William John Charles Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick
Born 25 May 1896
Beith, Ayrshire, Scotland
Died 26 September 1933 (aged 37)
Baragwanath Airport, Johannesburg, South Africa
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
 Royal Air Force
Years of service 1915–1919
Rank Major
Unit

The Rifle Brigade
Royal Flying Corps

Commands held No. 60 Squadron
Awards Distinguished Service Order, Military Cross & Bar
Other work Aerial surveys in South America, Burma, Iraq, and Africa

Major William John Charles Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick DSO, MC & Bar (25 May 1896 – 26 September 1933) was a World War I flying ace credited with 21 aerial victories. He was the leading ace flying the Spad VII fighter, and of No. 23 Squadron.[1] He later flew aerial surveys on three continents.[2]

Early life and service

Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick was born in Beith, Ayrshire, Scotland on 25 May 1896,[1] the only son of Neil James Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick (later Sir Neil) and Eleonora Agnes Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick of Woodside and Ladyland.[2][3] He had three sisters, all younger.[4]

He attended Wellington College in Berkshire and Trinity College, Cambridge[2] before going to Royal Military College Sandhurst.[1]

Flying service

Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick qualified as a pilot in April 1915. He was so skilled a flier that he was assigned as chief test pilot to No. 1 Aeroplane Depot at Saint-Omer, France.[5] He was officially seconded to the Royal Flying Corps from The Rifle Brigade on 11 June 1915.[2][6]

On 17 March 1916, he was promoted from second lieutenant to lieutenant while staying seconded to the RFC.[7] On 26 April, he achieved his first victory despite his test pilot status. He used Nieuport No. 5172 to attack an LVG C-type three times. The LVG crash-landed with a dead crew.[1][8] He was awarded the Military Cross on 16 May 1916, for this capture of an enemy plane.[9]

As a result of his victory and award, he was transferred to No. 70 Squadron to fly Sopwith 1½ Strutters. He scored victories two and three on 14 and 15 September 1916, having his observer killed on both occasions.[8]

SPAD S.VII at the National Museum of the US Air Force

He was promoted to Captain and transferred to No. 23 Squadron in early 1917 to fly Spad VIIs.[8] He shot a double on 22 April to become an ace. He won twice more in April, and again on 2 May. His next victory, on 11 May, would be his most notable; he set afire the Albatros D.III of Jasta 5's triple-ace Offz. Stlvtr. Edmund Nathanael, its fuselage falling away from its wings and plunged in flames to earth.[8][9]

It was also during this stretch that he was entrusted by Major General Hugh Trenchard to evaluate the new Spad XIII at La Bonne Maison Aerodrome. He turned in his report to Trenchard on 1 May 1917.[10]

Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick claimed three more times in May, four times in June, and five in July. After his final victory, on 16 July 1917, he was promoted to acting Major on 22 July,[11] and given command of No. 60 Squadron.[8]

In lieu of a second award, he was awarded a Bar to his Military Cross on 14 August 1917.[12] A month later, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order.[13]

He was Mentioned in Despatches on 7 November 1917 by Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig. He was denoted as a lieutenant doing a job two grades his senior; he was a temporary major.[11]

At the end of 1917 he was transferred back to England to the Training Directorate of the Air Board. From there, he returned to No. 1 AD in 1918.[2][8]

His war time tally was 1 captured, 6 and 4 shared destroyed, 9 and 1 shared 'out of control'.[14]

Postwar life

He resigned his commission on 9 July 1919.[15] He became a major in the General Reserve of Officers the same day.[16]

He married Natalie Bertha Tanner of Larches, Rusherville, Kent on 20 July 1924.[2] They had a single son two years later, Neil Aylmer Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick (later Neil Aylmer Hunter).[4]

He went on to fly a lot of aerial survey work in the postwar years. He carried out surveys in South America, Burma, Iraq, and Africa.[2] He established his own company, The Aircraft Operating Company of South Africa Pty Ltd. He had a contract for a 20,000-square-mile (52,000 km2) air route survey in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia).[17]

He was elected to membership of the Royal Aero Club on 10 December 1930.[18]

Then, on 26 September 1933, he took off from Baragwanath Airport near Johannesburg, South Africa, flying a de Havilland DH.84 Dragon, registration ZS-AEF. He stalled out at 250 feet (76 m) after making a steep turn.[17] The resulting crash killed him and his passenger, Sir Michael Oppenheimer.[1][19]

Honours and awards

Military Cross (MC)

2nd Lt. William John Charles Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick, Rif. Brig, and R.F.C.

For conspicuous skill and determination. He climbed and attacked an enemy machine at 14,000 feet and, although he failed in his first and second attacks, he went for it again a third time, shot both pilot and observer and brought it down. He followed it down and landed alongside.[9]

Military Cross (MC) Bar

Lt. (T./Capt.) William John Charles Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick, M.C., Rif. Bde. and R.F.C.

For conspicuous gallantry in attacking hostile aircraft. Within two months he brought down two hostile machines in flames, and four others completely out of control. In addition, he has driven several others down in a damaged condition.[12]

Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

Lt. (T./Capt.) William John Charles Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick, M.C., Bif. Bde. and R.F.C.

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on numerous occasions in destroying and driving down hostile machines, frequently engaging the enemy with great dash and a fine offensive spirit when encountered in superior numbers. By his cool judgment and splendid fearlessness he has instilled confidence in all around him, his brilliant leadership being chiefly responsible for his numerous successes.[13]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "William John Charles Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick". aerodrome.com. Retrieved 8 September 2009.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Burke's Landed Gentry of Great Britain. p. 1131.
  3. ↑ Stanley Spooner, ed. (5 October 1933). "Deaths". Flight. XXV, No. 40 (1293): xvii.
  4. 1 2 "Hunter Surname DNA Project Worldwide Database - includes others related to Dr. Johnson Calhoun Hunter, born 1787". Rootsweb. ancestry.com. Retrieved 8 September 2009.
  5. ↑ Spad VII Aces of World War I. p. 45.
  6. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 29206. p. 6169. 25 June 1915. Retrieved 2009-09-10.
  7. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 29818. p. 10860. 10 November 1916. Retrieved 2009-09-10.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Spad VII Aces of World War I. p. 46.
  9. 1 2 3 The London Gazette: no. 29584. p. 4930. 16 May 1916. Retrieved 2009-09-10.
  10. ↑ SPAD XII/XIII aces of World War I.
  11. 1 2 "Flight Magazine, 9 August 1917". Flight Global Archive. Retrieved 2009-09-11.
  12. 1 2 The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30234. p. 8355. 14 August 1917. Retrieved 2009-09-10.
  13. 1 2 The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30287. p. 9557. 17 September 1917. Retrieved 2009-09-10.
  14. ↑ Above The Trenches, Shores 1990, page 111
  15. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31441. p. 8684. 8 July 1919. Retrieved 2009-09-11.
  16. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31441. p. 8686. 8 July 1919. Retrieved 2009-09-11.
  17. 1 2 "Prewar Aircraft Register South Africa" (PDF). Air-Britain Information Exchange. Retrieved 2009-09-11.
  18. ↑ "Flight Magazine, 19 December 1930". Flight Global Archive. Retrieved 2009-09-11.
  19. ↑ "ASN Aviation Safety Network Wikibase, 1933". Aviation Safety Network. Flight Safety Foundation. Retrieved 2009-10-11.

References

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