John Cock RAF officer

• • Squadron Leader Alex George Cock: A Summary**

Alex George Cock was born in 1920 in England and joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1940. He initially served with No. 87 Squadron, flying Hurricanes during World War II. His notable experience included surviving a mid-air collision with a German plane during the Battle of Britain, leading to a bailout and eventual retrieval of his Hurricane's parts decades later.

Cock's RAF career spanned various roles, including night fighting, training as a flight instructor, and postings to squadrons like 453 Squadron, where he led flights in Spitfires. He was promoted to Flight Lieutenant in 1943 and later engaged in operations in Africa and the Pacific, focusing on improving gunnery skills.

By 1945, he was testing Hawker Tempests in Khartoum, ending the war with credits for destroying 10 German planes. Post-war, Cock commanded No. 72 Squadron in Austria until his RAF service ended in 1948. He then settled in Australia, operating a supermarket until retirement in 1983.

Cock's decorations included the DFC, among others. He died in 1988, with parts of his historic Hurricane retrieved before his passing.