P/O John R.Cock flew with No 87 Squadron and was the first Australian to shoot down an enemy aircraft in WW II. He baled out of his Hurricane I (V7233) safely after being shot down off Portland Bill on the 11th of August 1940 at 10:50hrs by Helmut Wick in a Bf 109. He swam ashore slightly injured. The Hurricane I (V7233) LV-K was recovered in 1983 and was on display at Tangmere Aviation Museum. This tells you that he was the first, it tells you he baled out on the 11th of August. Does anybody have any information whether or not these two events occurred on the same day?
Asked the question on another forum, this was the reply. Cock's first confirmed kill was a He111 on 12 May.
Thought this thread needed to be finished as my usual threads involve those killed. Whilst he was the first Australian to shoot down an enemy aircraft in May 1940 he also survived the war. The latter was possibly his biggest accomplishment. Cheers Geoff
Thought this thread needed to be finished as my usual threads involve those killed. Whilst he was the first Australian to shoot down an enemy aircraft in May 1940 he also survived the war. The latter was possibly his biggest accomplishment. Cheers Geoff Anymore more info on this pilot, Geoff? A list of kills and dates there of?
Peter Clare may be able to gather some info on his "kills". Seems he was back in Australia in 1943 flying spits in Darwin. F01759 - Boys who keep the Spitfires flying Film copyright: Copyright expired - public domain ID numberF01759TitleBoys who keep the Spitfires flyingPlace madeAustralia: Northern Territory, DarwinDate made22 July 1943Physical description35mm/b&w/silentCollectionFilmDescriptionMembers of 54 Fighter Squadron RAF at work and play. 54 Squadron arrived in Darwin area in February 1943 (see film F01796). For most of them it was their first time out of England, but they soon settled in and built their own camp in the Australian bush and made pets of the local wild life. Airman painting a 2 1/2 glass on a piece of a Japanese Zero wing. Identified personnel: Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) John R Cock DFC RAAF, Flt Lt E Weatherhead RAF, Squadron Leader E M Gibbs RAF, Wing Commander Clive 'Killer' Caldwell RAAF.
This is from an interview by Jon Guttman with Dennis David RAF Ace: David: On a Sunday, 11th August 1940, off Portland Bill. There were fuel tanks there and the Germans were trying to bomb them. We went after them and I shot down a Junkers Ju-88A. The Ju-88 could take a lot of punishment, and I had to really hit it. Then Me-109s attacked us and John R. Cock, who had already downed a Ju88, got an Me-109 and two probables before he was shot down. He went to hospital that night because a fragment of his radio went into his arm, but he rejoined us in September. Later on, while they were salvaging his Hurricane from the sea on 30th August, 1983, Cock confirmed that I had shot down another airplane. I didn't know it. I had aimed at one of the 109s trying to shoot Johnny in his parachute-it's awful to see a 109 trying to shoot a man in his parachute. It was hardly a one-second burst, but it must have been deadly, because he saw that chap crash straight into the sea, 10 miles southeast of Portland. The Germans did damage to the port, but not major damage. We'd try to get their leaders if we could, but it was always a matter of getting in a shot or two while you could, then you upped your neck and got in a dogfight with a 109 determined to kill you.
From the Melbourne "Argus" newspaper 26th October 1940. HAS SHOT DOWN SEVEN ENEMY S.A. Pilot Wins DFC LONDON,"Today (A.A.P.). Flying-Officer J. R. Cock, of Renmark (S.A.), has been awarded the DFC. The official citation states that he has shot down seven aircraft. On one occasion, though wounded he escaped by parachute, fell into the sea, and swam ashore. He had shown magnificent courage and initiative against overwhelming odds.
4./LG1 Heinekel He 111 H Shot down by F/O Gore, F/O Weatherill, and P/O Stewart of No.607 Sqn during sortie to bomb airfield near Lille and believed crashed near Kemmel 6.00am. Possibly also that attacked by P/O Cock of No.87 Sqn. Uffz F. Gallina and Fw G. Hantsch killed. Lt W. Fleckenstein and Fw L. Hagedorn captured unhurt. Aircraft a write-off. Interestingly for me: The observer, Ludwig Hagedorn, was killed in an air raid on the night of May 29/30 while onboard ship in Dunkirk harbour en route to captavity in England. The Battle of France - ATB.
4./StG2 Junkers Ju87. Returned damaged in attacks by P/O Cock and P/O Tait of No.87 Squadron east of Brussels 2.00pm. Pilot unhurt, Uffz. Belensenslightly wounded. Aircraft repairable. The Battle of France - ATB.
1.(H)/11 Henschel Hs126. Attacked by ten H-75's of GC II/4 during observation sortie near Le Quesnoy then engaged by F/O Glyde, P/O Cock, F/O Ward, and F/O Allen of No.87 Squadron. Tail broke off and crashed on fire alongside road at Naves, North-East of Cambrai, 6.00am. Obertlt H. Grether and Obergefr K-H. Kramer killed. Aircraft a write off. The Battle of France - ATB.
Hurricane V7233. Shot down in combat with enemy fighters off Portland Bill 10.50am. Pilot Officer J.R. Cock baled out slightly injured and swam ashore. Aircraft lost. The Battle of Britain - ATB
1/KG4 Heinkel He 111H-4 Engaged in mine-laying sortie over the Bristol Channel and belived that enaged by Pilot Officer Cock of No.87 Squadron over East Portishead Point. Crashed at Longfield Farm, Smeatharpe, near Honiton 0.55am. following explosion in the aircraft. Oberfw. Kessler, Uffz. Fommer, Uffz. Hahnel and Gerf. Grabke killed. Uffz. Strickstrock baled out wounded PoW. Aircraft a write-off. The Battle of Britain - ATB.
RAF Upottery The airfield at Smeatharpe was the last of the three airfields to be built and was officially named Upottery. Even before the arrival of the airfield the people of the area had the war brought to them firstly on the night of August 26th 1940 when a Heinkel 111 bomber that had been laying mines in the Bristol Channel was attacked by a Hurricane fighter flown by Pilot Officer J.R. Cock from Exeter who successfully brought the bomber down crashing at Longfield farm
Hurricane P3404. Collided with Pilot Officer Cock during routine patrol. Crashed and burned out. Pilot Officer D.T. Jay baled out but believed to have hit the tailplane as he did not pull his ripcord and killed. Aircraft a write-off. Hurricane - Tail surfaces severely damaged when hit by P3404 during routine patrol. Forced-landed at base. Pilot Officer J.R. Cock unhurt. Aircraft repairable. The Battle of Britain - ATB
