William C. Ocker

William Charles Ocker
Ocker circa 1910–1915
Born	(1880-06-18)June 18, 1880 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Died	September 15, 1942(1942-09-15) (aged 62) Walter Reed Hospital Washington, D.C.

Colonel William Charles Ocker (June 18, 1880 – September 15, 1942) was an American aviation pioneer. He was known as the "Father of Instrument Flying".

He was born on June 18, 1880 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Ocker was one of seven children born to parents of German descent. He was educated in Philadelphia's public school system.

Ocker entered the U.S. Army on 25 June 1898, serving with the cavalry and artillery during the Spanish–American War and the Philippine–American War.

In 1909 Corporal Ocker was serving guard duty at Fort Myer when the Wright Brothers' biplane was being assembled for its first Army demonstration. He became consumed with the desire to become a pilot, but when he applied for permission to begin flight training, he was told:

However, he was emboldened by the successful efforts of Vernon L. Burge, who was taking flying lessons from Lt. Frank P. Lahm at Fort William McKinley. Burge would become the first FAI-certified enlisted pilot, on 14 June 1912. Corporal William A. Lamkey, who entered the US Army Signal Corps on 17 May 1913, had already received pilot training from the Moisant Flying School (1912), and thereby became the second FAI-certified enlisted pilot. In 1912 Ocker (by then Sgt. Ocker) requested a transfer to Aeronautical Division. His commander, Captain Billy Mitchell, approved the transfer, remarking, "I've been thinking of transferring myself." (Mitchell later would head the Air Service American Expeditionary Force in France during World War I). Ocker made the transfer on 23 September 1912, being assigned as aeroplane mechanician at the Army Aviation School at North Island, San Diego, California.