The Aerodrome Home Page
Aces of WWI
Aircraft of WWI
Books and Videos
The Aerodrome Forum
Help
Medals & Decorations
Search The Aerodrome
Today in History



Name: William John Charles Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Military Cross (MC) and Bar
William Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick
Country: Scotland
Rank: Major
Service: Royal Flying Corps
Units: 1 AD, 23, 60, 70
Victories: 21
Born: 25 May 1896
Place of Birth: Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
Died: 26 September 1933 Killed In Flying Accident
Place of Death: Baragwanath, Johannesburg South, Gauteng, South Africa
 
 
The son of Sir Neil James Kennedy and Eleanora Agnes Cochran-Patrick, William John Charles Kennedy's name was legally changed to William John Charles Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick in 1900. He was educated at Wellington College, Berkshire; Tinity College, Cambridge; and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. Commissioned in the Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own), he was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps on 11 June 1915. In December 1915, he was posted to No. 1 Aircraft Depot in France. Here he claimed his first victory flying a Nieuport scout. Flying the Sopwith 1½ Strutter with 70 Squadron in September 1916, he scored his second and third victories but, on each occasion, his observer was killed. Promoted to Captain and posted to 23 Squadron in early 1917, he became his squadron's highest scoring ace and the highest scoring SPAD VII ace of the war, shooting down eighteen enemy aircraft in four months. On 22 July 1917, he was promoted to Major and assumed command of 60 Squadron. Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick left the Royal Air Force in 1919.

Post-war he was an aerial surveyor in South America, Burma, Africa and Iraq. Flying a DH.84 Dragon, Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick, founder of The Aircraft Operating Company of South Africa, took off from Baragwanath Airport near Johannesburg on 26 September 1933. Following a steep turn after takeoff, the plane stalled and fell to the ground from a height of 250 feet. Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick and his passenger, Sir Michael Oppenheimer, were killed.
Great Britain, Royal Aero Club Aviators' Certificates, 1910-1950
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
Opponents
#9 Edmund NathanaelGermany
 
Victories
Date Time Unit Aircraft Opponent Location
1 26 Apr 1916 1AD Nieuport (5172) LVG C (CAP) Hazebrouck
2 14 Sep 1916 70 Sopwith 1½ Strutter 1 EA (OOC) Bapaume
3 15 Sep 1916 0715 70 Sopwith 1½ Strutter (A1912) 2 Scout (DES) Equancourt-Epehy
4 22 Apr 1917 1830 23 SPAD VII (B1524) Albatros D.III (OOC) Fontaine Notre Dame
5 22 Apr 1917 1900 23 SPAD VII (B1524) Albatros D.III (OOC) Flesquires
6 26 Apr 1917 1905 23 SPAD VII (B1524) C (OOC) Baralle
7 30 Apr 1917 1640 23 SPAD VII (B1527) Albatros D.III (DESF) Inchy en Artois
8 02 May 1917 1715 23 SPAD VII (B1527) Albatros D.III (OOC) Brebieres
9 11 May 1917 1905 23 SPAD VII (B1580) Albatros D.III (DESF) W of Bourlon Wood
10 13 May 1917 1905 23 SPAD VII (B1580) Albatros D.III (OOC) 3 Etaing
11 13 May 1917 1910 23 SPAD VII (B1580) Albatros D.III (DESF) 4 Roucourt
12 20 May 1917 23 SPAD VII Albatros D.III (DES)  
13 08 Jun 1917 0600 23 SPAD VII (B1580) Albatros D.III (OOC) Roulers
14 13 Jun 1917 1730 23 SPAD VII (B1580) Albatros D.III (OOC) Menin-Ypres
15 16 Jun 1917 p.m. 23 SPAD VII Albatros C (OOC)  
16 24 Jun 1917 1630 23 SPAD VII (B1580) Albatros D.V (DESF) 5 St. Jean
17 06 Jul 1917 1415 23 SPAD VII (B1580) Albatros D.III (DES) Passchendaele
18 06 Jul 1917 1430 23 SPAD VII (B1580) C (DES) 6 Zandvoorde
19 07 Jul 1917 1850 23 SPAD VII (B1580) Albatros D.V (OOC) Roulers
20 07 Jul 1917 1940 23 SPAD VII (B1580) C (DESF) 7 Houthoulst Wood
21 16 Jul 1917 23 SPAD VII Albatros D.V (DES) Roulers

1 Observer 2Lt E W Burke
2 Observer Capt F G Glenday
3 Shared with 2Lt Robert Farquhar
4 Shared with 2Lt George Christopher Stead (B1527)
5 Shared with 2Lt Conn Standish O'Grady, 2Lt George Marks
6 Shared with 2Lt George Marks, 2Lt Douglas McGregor
7 Shared with 2Lt Douglas McGregor
 
Aces · Aircraft · Books · Forum · Help · Medals · Search · Today