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
|
| Commands held | No. 60 Squadron |
| Battles/wars | First World War |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Order, Military Cross & Bar |
| Other work | Aerial surveys in South America, Burma, Iraq, and Africa |
The Rifle Brigade
Royal Flying Corps
Major William John Charles Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick DSO, MC & Bar (25 May 1896 – 26 September 1933) was a First World War flying ace, credited with 21 aerial victories. He was the leading ace flying the Spad VII fighter, and of No. 23 Squadron. He later flew aerial surveys on three continents.
Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick was born in Beith, Ayrshire, Scotland on 25 May 1896, the only son of Neil James Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick (later Sir Neil) and Eleonora Agnes Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick of Woodside and Ladyland. He had three sisters, all younger.
He attended Wellington College in Berkshire and Trinity College, Cambridge before training at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.
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. He was officially seconded to the Royal Flying Corps from The Rifle Brigade on 11 June 1915.
On 17 March 1916, he was promoted from second lieutenant to lieutenant while staying seconded to the RFC. 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. He was awarded the Military Cross on 16 May 1916, for this capture of an enemy plane.
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