Images of Old Hawaiʻi

  • Home
  • About
  • Categories
    • Ali’i / Chiefs / Governance
    • American Protestant Mission
    • Buildings
    • Collections
    • Economy
    • Missionaries / Churches / Religious Buildings
    • General
    • Hawaiian Traditions
    • Other Summaries
    • Mayflower Summaries
    • Mayflower Full Summaries
    • Military
    • Place Names
    • Prominent People
    • Schools
    • Sailing, Shipping & Shipwrecks
    • Voyage of the Thaddeus
  • Collections
  • Contact
  • Follow

December 18, 2015 by Peter T Young 3 Comments

Soaring of Nighthawk

A little before 8 am, radar informed the Air Warning Service at Nielson Field that at least 30 Japanese aircraft were flying south over Luzon apparently headed for Clark Field. (Gough)

Ten hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor, ‘another Pearl Harbor’ occurred in the Philippines, 4,500-miles to the west. On December 8, 1941, at 12:35 pm, 196 Japanese bombers and fighters crippled the largest force of B-17 four-engine bombers outside the US and also decimated their protective P-40 interceptors. (Bartsch)

Fifty minutes after the first bombs fell on Clark, the Japanese flew back to Formosa, leaving Americans confronting death and wounds, destruction and damage, fire and smoke, and demoralization.

When the Japanese flew away, half the B-17s and one-third of the P-40s were destroyed, and two of the four P-40-equipped pursuit squadrons were eliminated as combat units. (Gough)

One of those killed at Clark Air Base was Lt William Alexander Cocke, Jr, a pilot.

“In May, 1941, 2nd Lt Cocke and the 19th Bombardment Group (H) GHQ AF, left California to ferry B17s first to Hawaiʻi, and then, in October, to Clark Field in the Philippines.”

“Due to his role under the adverse conditions encountered on these historic and dangerous trans-Pacific flights, Cocke was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for the San Francisco to Hawaiʻi leg, and the Air Medal for the Hawaiʻi to Clark Field leg.” (Blacksten)

It was these events, as well as an event about 10-years prior that Cocke is remembered. In the Islands in 1931, he didn’t just fly airplanes, he also soared.

Gliding/Soaring is a generic term for the art of flying a heavier than air craft similar to an airplane, but not provided with an engine.

In gliding, the apparatus loses altitude continually throughout its course, never rising above its starting point. In soaring flight, however, the machine is carried aloft by the rising air currents and is capable of completing maneuvers, high above the point of departure. (VinDaj)

Because of prohibitions imposed on military aircraft by the Treaty of Versailles of 1919, Germany embraced gliding and was the first to use them in the subsequent invasions leading to and part of WWII.

But it wasn’t military aviation activity that Cocke is known for in the Islands, it was an “off duty time” flight, December 17-18, 1931, that brought Cocke national, as well as international fame.

Reportedly, an International Glider Meet was held November 22 to December 19, 1931. LT Cocke, with the help of his BOQ roommate, Jack Norton (and others, including Lts Crain and WJ Scott) designed and built a ‘pretty good’ sailplane glider – called ‘Nighthawk.’ (WestPointAOG)

Based in Wheeler, Cocke and his support crew set up on the windward side of Oʻahu, at what was referred to as John Galt Gliderport (some related references also note the ‘Kaneohe experimental grounds.’) Cocke attempted to break the endurance record.

Launching on December 17, 1931 and flying along Oahu’s Nuʻuanu Pali, he flew his homebuilt sailplane glider through the night and set the World and US Duration Record of sustained powerless flight at 21 hours, 34 minutes, 25 seconds and traveled an estimated 600 miles. (hawaii-gov)

This broke the previous record of approximately 14-hours set by Germany in 1927. (WestPointAOG) Although the World mark was subsequently broken, the Nighthawk still holds the official US Duration Record. (Blacksten)

Illuminating the path for Cocke and his Nighthawk along the cliff face during the night was the US Army’s 64th Coast Artillery Battery. (Soaring Museum)

A memorial plaque was placed at the Nuʻuanu Pali lookout, dedicated to the people of Hawaiʻi who helped make this flight possible and to the thousands of glider pilots inspired by this feat. (National Soaring Museum Marker)

Follow Peter T Young on Facebook 

Follow Peter T Young on Google+ 

Follow Peter T Young on LinkedIn  

Follow Peter T Young on Blogger

© 2015 Hoʻokuleana LLC

Lt. William A. Cocke of Wheeler's 19th Pursuit Squadron by "Nighthawk" glider in which he broke the official world record of 14 hours & 7 min. Note unofficial 19th Pursuit Squadron insignia on tail of glider.
Lt. William A. Cocke of Wheeler’s 19th Pursuit Squadron by “Nighthawk” glider in which he broke the official world record of 14 hours & 7 min. Note unofficial 19th Pursuit Squadron insignia on tail of glider.
Launching Nighthawk
Launching Nighthawk
2nd Lt William A. Cocke of Wheeler Field broke the world's record for glider flight (both endurance & distance) by remaining in the air for 21 hrs, 34 min, 25 sec. and traveled an estimated 600 miles. Nov 22 to Dec 19, 1931.
2nd Lt William A. Cocke of Wheeler Field broke the world’s record for glider flight (both endurance & distance) by remaining in the air for 21 hrs, 34 min, 25 sec. and traveled an estimated 600 miles. Nov 22 to Dec 19, 1931.
FAI letter congratulating Lieutenant William A Cocke and accepting his duration flight of 21 hrs, 34 mins as a new World Duration Record
FAI letter congratulating Lieutenant William A Cocke and accepting his duration flight of 21 hrs, 34 mins as a new World Duration Record
William A. Cocke-World Gliding envelope
William A. Cocke-World Gliding envelope
National Soaring Museum Marker
National Soaring Museum Marker
National Soaring Museum Marker
National Soaring Museum Marker

Filed Under: General, Military, Prominent People Tagged With: Hawaii, William Alexander Cocke Jr, Soaring

Images of Old Hawaiʻi

People, places, and events in Hawaiʻi’s past come alive through text and media in “Images of Old Hawaiʻi.” These posts are informal historic summaries presented for personal, non-commercial, and educational purposes.

Info@Hookuleana.com

Connect with Us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent Posts

  • Raising the United States Flag
  • Kamehameha III’s Secret Agreement of US Annexation
  • Daguerreotype
  • Wahiawā
  • Math’s Life Lessons
  • The Great Ocean
  • French and Indian War

Categories

  • General
  • Ali'i / Chiefs / Governance
  • Buildings
  • Missionaries / Churches / Religious Buildings
  • Hawaiian Traditions
  • Military
  • Place Names
  • Prominent People
  • Schools
  • Sailing, Shipping & Shipwrecks
  • Economy
  • Voyage of the Thaddeus
  • Mayflower Summaries
  • American Revolution

Tags

August Hering Charles Sheldon Judd Chief D-Day Dentistry DOE Dredging Ephraim Weston Clark Floating Island Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Hawaii Invasive Species Council HECO Henry AP Carter Henry Martyn Whitney John Webber Joseph Boyd Poindexter Kalaniopuu Kanaina Ka Wai O Pele Keei Kini Popo Lava Tube Liliuokalani Educational Society Makai Arterial Makanau Makaweli Molokai Oklahoma Paia High School PASH Patricia Jennings Pohaku O Lanai Ponoholo Ranch Puuhonua Richard Boone Robert Boyd St Catherine's St John Vianney Termite Palace Territorial Hospital Waikiki Roughwater Swim Waikolu Yale Yokohama Specie Bank Zephaniah Swift Spalding

Hoʻokuleana LLC

Hoʻokuleana LLC is a Planning and Consulting firm assisting property owners with Land Use Planning efforts, including Environmental Review, Entitlement Process, Permitting, Community Outreach, etc. We are uniquely positioned to assist you in a variety of needs.

Info@Hookuleana.com

Copyright © 2012-2021 Peter T Young, Hoʻokuleana LLC

 

Loading Comments...