Geoffrey Hornblower Cock

Who was Geoffrey Hornblower Cock?

Group Captain Geoffrey Hornblower Cock MC was a World War I flying ace credited with thirteen aerial victories. He was the highest scoring ace to fly the Sopwith 1½ Strutter.

Cock joined the 28th Battalion of The Artists Rifles Officers Training Corps in December 1915. He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in June 1916. He trained with 25 Squadron until receiving Pilot's Certificate No. 2157 in September; then he was forwarded to 45 Squadron. The unit moved to France on 14 October 1916 to operate Sopwith 1½ Strutters.

Cock's first victories came on 6 April 1917, when he destroyed an Albatros D.III and drove another down out of control. He then used his two-seater for a string of successful combats lasting through 22 July; he flew with no fewer than seven different observers manning his guns, the most notable of whom was Victor White. On 22 July, on his 97th combat sortie, he set an Albatros D.V afire, then was himself shot down by Hauptmann Wilhelm Reinhard of Jasta 11 to start Reinhard's career. Cock was the last survivor of the 45 Squadron pilots who had come to France nine months prior. He also survived being shot down, becoming a prisoner of war. His attempt to escape was unsuccessful, and he was not repatriated until December 1918. The final tally of his victories was five Albatros D.Vs destroyed, including one shared with fellow ace William Wright and his observer Edward Caufield-Kelly, and eight driven down out of control.