Nicholas Gresham Cooke
| Nicholas Gresham Cooke | |
|---|---|
"Lanky" Cooke (2nd from left), Phil Hunter DSO (3rd left) standing, with No. 264 Squadron
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| Birth name | Nicholas Gresham Cooke |
| Nickname(s) | Lanky |
| Born |
26 August 1913 Norfolk, England |
| Died | 31 May 1940 (aged 26) Dunkirk, France |
| Commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial |
Missing (Unknown) |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1936–1940 |
| Rank | Flight Lieutenant |
| Service number | 37652 |
| Unit | No. 264 Squadron RAF |
| Battles/wars | Second World War |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross |
Flight Lieutenant Nicholas Gresham Cooke, DFC (26 August 1913 – 31 May 1940), nicknamed "Lanky", was a Royal Air Force pilot and Second World War flying ace most notable as an ace in a day. He was killed in action over the Dunkirk evacuation beaches.
Cooke was the son of Arthur and Lucy Vivien Cooke of Up Hall, Cherry Hinton, Cambridge. His father was Dr Arthur Cooke, F.R.C.S., senior surgeon to Addenbrooke's Hospital, and a brother was Roger Gresham Cooke, MP.
He was educated at Marlborough College and Trinity College, Cambridge. Following this, he became an aeronautical engineer and learned to fly with Air Service Training Limited gaining a Civil Pilot's Licence (No. 12947) on 15 July 1935.
The following year, Cooke joined the Royal Air Force and passed out from the Royal Air Force College Cranwell as an acting pilot officer on 23 March 1936. On 10 January 1937, he joined No. 46 Squadron RAF, a recently re-formed fighter squadron, flying Gloster Gauntlet Mark II aircraft, from RAF Digby in Lincolnshire. On 24 February 1937, he was confirmed as a pilot officer. On 15 August 1938, he was posted to No. 23 Group RAF based at Grantham, Lincolnshire, as personal assistant to the commander, Air Vice Marshal Lawrence Pattinson, and was promoted to flying officer on 27 August 1940.
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