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Harvey Weir Cook
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Harvey Weir Cook
Harvey Weir Cook (June 30, 1892 – March 24, 1943) was an American fighter ace in World War I and Distinguished Service Cross recipient. He was also a pioneer in civilian commercial aviation and a leading figure in the development of aviation in the United States and in the state of Indiana. The Indianapolis International Airport terminal building and entrance road are named in his honor.
Cook was born in Wilkinson, Indiana, to Dr. B. H. Cook of Wilkinson, Indiana, who had moved to Anderson, Indiana when Harvey Weir Cook was very young. He graduated from Anderson High School and attended college at both DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, and Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania. At DePauw he was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity.
"Weir", as he was known, left Washington and Jefferson University to drive an ambulance in France early in 1917. When the U. S. entered the war, Cook enlisted in the aviation section of the Army Signal Corps. After flight training, he was assigned to Captain Eddie Rickenbacker's famous "Hat in the Ring" 94th Aero Squadron. Incredibly aggressive in combat, he was twice cited for singly attacking formations of multiple German fighters. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster. His citations read as follows:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Harvey Weir Cook, Captain (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Bois-de-Dole, France, August 1, 1918. Sighting six enemy mono- place planes at an altitude of 3,500 meters, Captain Cook, attacked them despite their numerical superiority, shooting down one and driving off the others.
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Harvey Weir Cook, Captain (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Crepion, France, October 30, 1918. Captain Cook attacked three enemy bi-place planes at an altitude of 1,000 meters. After a few minutes of severe fighting his guns jammed, but after clearing the jam he returned to the attack, shot down one of his adversaries in flames, and forced the other two to retire to their own lines.
Captain Weir Cook was credited with seven victories, including four enemy balloons, and he was promoted to captain in 1919. He was honorably discharged from the 94th Aero Squadron on 2 Jun 1919 and assumed command of the 147th Aero Squadron on 18 Sep 1919. On 26 Dec 1919 Cook was relieved of command of 147th Aero Squadron and honorably discharged.
Cook and Rickenbacker became friends, known to each other as "Weird" and "Rick". Both were strong proponents of more adequate training for rookie combat pilots, having themselves benefited from aerial combat training by Lafayette Escadrille veteran Raoul Lufbery and others.
After World War I, Cook helped to form the U.S. Army's U.S. Air Mail Service and was one of the first transcontinental airmail pilots. Cook spent only a few months (from August 23, 1920, until December 8, 1920) in the airmail service. During that time, he was assigned for three months to the Western Division. After flying the Rock Springs to Salt Lake City route, he called those 150 miles "the rottenest stretch of territory in the country."
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Harvey Weir Cook
Harvey Weir Cook (June 30, 1892 – March 24, 1943) was an American fighter ace in World War I and Distinguished Service Cross recipient. He was also a pioneer in civilian commercial aviation and a leading figure in the development of aviation in the United States and in the state of Indiana. The Indianapolis International Airport terminal building and entrance road are named in his honor.
Cook was born in Wilkinson, Indiana, to Dr. B. H. Cook of Wilkinson, Indiana, who had moved to Anderson, Indiana when Harvey Weir Cook was very young. He graduated from Anderson High School and attended college at both DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, and Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania. At DePauw he was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity.
"Weir", as he was known, left Washington and Jefferson University to drive an ambulance in France early in 1917. When the U. S. entered the war, Cook enlisted in the aviation section of the Army Signal Corps. After flight training, he was assigned to Captain Eddie Rickenbacker's famous "Hat in the Ring" 94th Aero Squadron. Incredibly aggressive in combat, he was twice cited for singly attacking formations of multiple German fighters. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster. His citations read as follows:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Harvey Weir Cook, Captain (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Bois-de-Dole, France, August 1, 1918. Sighting six enemy mono- place planes at an altitude of 3,500 meters, Captain Cook, attacked them despite their numerical superiority, shooting down one and driving off the others.
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Harvey Weir Cook, Captain (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Crepion, France, October 30, 1918. Captain Cook attacked three enemy bi-place planes at an altitude of 1,000 meters. After a few minutes of severe fighting his guns jammed, but after clearing the jam he returned to the attack, shot down one of his adversaries in flames, and forced the other two to retire to their own lines.
Captain Weir Cook was credited with seven victories, including four enemy balloons, and he was promoted to captain in 1919. He was honorably discharged from the 94th Aero Squadron on 2 Jun 1919 and assumed command of the 147th Aero Squadron on 18 Sep 1919. On 26 Dec 1919 Cook was relieved of command of 147th Aero Squadron and honorably discharged.
Cook and Rickenbacker became friends, known to each other as "Weird" and "Rick". Both were strong proponents of more adequate training for rookie combat pilots, having themselves benefited from aerial combat training by Lafayette Escadrille veteran Raoul Lufbery and others.
After World War I, Cook helped to form the U.S. Army's U.S. Air Mail Service and was one of the first transcontinental airmail pilots. Cook spent only a few months (from August 23, 1920, until December 8, 1920) in the airmail service. During that time, he was assigned for three months to the Western Division. After flying the Rock Springs to Salt Lake City route, he called those 150 miles "the rottenest stretch of territory in the country."
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