Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry
The Honourable Sir Ralph Alexander Cochrane was born in Springfield, Fife, in February 1895, and was the youngest son of Thomas Cochrane, 1st Baron of Cults. Cochrane was educated at Osborne and Dartmouth before being commissioned Midshipman in the Royal Navy, 15 September 1912. He advanced to Flight Sub-Lieutenant and transferred to the newly formed Airship branch in 1915. Having carried out the relevant training, Cochrane served as an Airship Pilot at Folkestone, Kingsnorth and Pulham during the Great War.
Cochrane advanced to Flight Commander in June 1917, and transferred as Temporary Captain in the Royal Air Force in April 1918. He served as Acting Major, before receiving a permanent commission in the rank of Flight Lieutenant in September 1919. Cochrane stayed on Airships until 1921, when he met Trenchard, with the latter advising him:
“Young man, you’re wasting your time. Go and learn to fly an aeroplane.”
Cochrane served in Egypt and Iraq, 1920-23, and was employed as a Flight Commander with 45 Squadron (Vimys and Vernons) in Helwan, Iraq, from January 1922. He was appointed to serve as Officer Commanding 3 Squadron, Boy’s Wing, R.A.F. Cranwell in January 1924 (M.I.D. and advanced to Squadron Leader in July the following year). Cochrane attended R.A.F. Staff College, and was appointed Staff Officer at HQ No. 7 Group in 1926. He served on the Air Staff, HQ Aden Command, 1928-29, before being appointed to the command of 8 Squadron in February 1929. The latter were employed on patrol duties in Aden, and Cochrane remained with them until the end of the year when he returned to the UK.
Over the next four years, Cochrane advanced to Wing Commander and was employed on the Directing Staff at Andover, the Air Ministry, and attended the Imperial Defence College. He was seconded to the New Zealand Government to advise on air defence and became the first Chief of Air Staff of the Royal New Zealand Air Force in April 1937. Having advanced to Group Captain, Cochrane served as ADC to the King, September 1939 - December 1940. He was appointed Temporary Air Commodore, and served as AOC No. 7 (Bomber) Group, Operational Training Units from July 1940. Cochrane was appointed Director of Flying Training in October of the same year, and advanced to Temporary Air Vice-Marshal in December 1941 (M.I.D.).
Cochrane served as AOC No. 3 (Bomber) Group from September 1942, and as AOC No. 5 (Bomber) Group from February 1943. Cochrane had built up a reputation as a perfectionist and was a keen advocate of precision bombing. One of his first tasks in his new role with No. 5 Group was the planning and execution of Operation Chastise - the Dams Raid.
Operation Chastise - the Dams Raid
Despite being initially unpopular with R.A.F. command, the concept of the raid was accepted after the success of the first trials held at Chesil Beach in January 1943. The work of Barnes Wallis was viewed on film by Air Chief Marshal Charles Portal, and orders for Sir Arthur Harris to provide 30 Lancasters from his command were given. The mission date was set for May:
‘At his headquarters in the wood Sir Arthur Harris (’Bert’ to his friends and ‘Bomber’ to the public) had been pondering how the attack should be made - and who should make it. On 15 March he sent for Air Vice-Marshal the Honourable Ralph Cochrane, who two days before had become Air Officer Commanding No. 5 (Bomber) Group.
‘I’ve got a job for you, Cocky,’ Harris said and told him about Wallis’s weird bomb and what he proposed to do with it. At the end he said: ‘I know it sounds far-fetched, but I think it has a good chance.’
Cochrane said: ‘Well, sir, I’ve known Wallis for twenty-five years. He’s a wonderful engineer and I’ve never known him not to produce what he says he will.’
‘I hope he does it again now,’ Harris said. ‘You know how he works. I want you to organise the raid. Ask for anything you want, as long as it’s reasonable.’
Cochrane thought for a moment.
‘It’s going to need some good aircrews,’ he said. ‘I think I’d better screen one of my squadrons right away and start them on intensive training.’
‘I don’t want to do that,’ Harris said. ‘I don’t want to take a single squadron out of the line if I can help it, or interfere with any of the main force. What I have in mind is a new squadron, say, of experienced people who’re just finishing a tour. Some of the keen chaps won’t mind doing another trip. Can you find enough in your group?’
‘Yes, sir.’ Cochrane asked Harris if he wanted anyone in particular to command the new squadron, and Harris said: ‘Yes, Gibson.’
Cochrane nodded in satisfaction, and ten minutes later, deep in thought, he was driving back to the old Victorian mansion outside Grantham that was 5 Group Headquarters. There probably could have been no better choice than Cochrane for planning the raid. A spare man with a lean face, his manner was crisp and decisive, perfectly reflecting his mind. The third son of a noble Scottish family, he was climbing to the top on his own ability; he had perhaps the most incisive brain in the RAF - and that is no diplomatic exaggeration. His god was efficiency and he sought it so uncompromisingly - almost ruthlessly according to some of his men, who were afraid of him, but his aircrews would do anything he asked, knowing that it would be meticulously planned.
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