Squadron Leader Squadron leader (Sqn Ldr or S/L) is a senior officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. Squadron leader is immediatel ...

Edwin Stuart Travis Cole (26 December 1895 – 1984) was a British World War I

flying ace A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviation, military aviator credited with shooting down a certain minimum number of enemy aircraft during aerial combat; the exact number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ...

credited with eight aerial victories. He returned to military service in 1939 for the Second World War.

Early life

Edwin Stuart Travis Cole was born in

Bristol Bristol () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, the most populous city in the region. Built around the River Avon, Bristol, River Avon, it is bordered by t ...

, England on 26 December 1895, to Ruben and Jessie Cole. He became a

mechanical engineer Mechanical may refer to: Machine * Machine (mechanical), a system of mechanisms that shape the actuator input to achieve a specific application of output forces and movement * Mechanical calculator, a device used to perform the basic operations o ...

World War I service

Cole was awarded Aviator's Certificate No. 2160 on

Caudron The Société des Avions Caudron was a French aircraft company founded in 1909 as the Association Aéroplanes Caudron Frères by brothers Gaston and René Caudron. It was one of the earliest aircraft manufacturers in France and produced planes for ...

biplanes at the Ruffy-Baumann School at

Hendon Hendon is an urban area in the London Borough of Barnet, northwest London northwest of Charing Cross. Hendon was an ancient Manorialism, manor and parish in the county of Middlesex and a former borough, the Municipal Borough of Hendon; it has ...

. He was commissioned as a probationary second lieutenant in the

Royal Flying Corps The Royal Flying Corps (RFC) was the air arm of the British Army before and during the First World War until it merged with the Royal Naval Air Service on 1 April 1918 to form the Royal Air Force. During the early part of the war, the RFC sup ...

on 29 April 1916, was appointed a flying officer on 21 July, and was confirmed in his rank in August. On 15 September 1916, having been assigned to No. 60 Squadron RFC to fly a

Nieuport Nieuport, later Nieuport-Delage, was a French aeroplane company that primarily built racing aircraft before World War I and fighter aircraft during World War I and between the wars. History Beginnings Originally formed as Nieuport-Duplex in ...

fighter, he scored his first victory.Franks (2000), p. 10. Reassigned to

No. 1 Squadron RFC Number 1 Squadron, also known as No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron, is a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It was the first squadron to fly a VTOL aircraft. It currently operates Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth. The squadron motto, '' ...

, he once again flew a Nieuport. He triumphed twice in March 1917, and four times during

Bloody April Bloody April was the (largely successful) British air support operation during the Battle of Arras (1917), Battle of Arras in April 1917, during which particularly heavy casualties were suffered by the Royal Flying Corps at the hands of the Germ ...

, including two observation balloons. On 1 May 1917, he and fellow ace Frank Sharpe captured a German

Albatros D.III The Albatros D.III was a biplane fighter aircraft used by the Imperial German Army Air Service () during World War I. A modified licensed version was built by Oeffag for the Austro-Hungarian Air Service (''Luftfahrtruppen''). The D.III was flown ...

fighter at

Roulers Roeselare (; ; ) is a Belgian city and municipality in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Roeselare proper and the towns of Beveren, Oekene and Rumbeke. The name of the city is derived from two Germ ...

- Elverdinghe, receiving promotion to lieutenant the same day. Following this, Cole was withdrawn from action. On 6 July 1918 he was promoted to the temporary rank of captain.

World War II service

His record lapses until 1939, when he agreed to let a

garage A garage is a covered structure built for the purpose of parking, storing, protecting, maintaining, and/or repairing vehicles. Specific applications include: *Garage (residential), a building or part of a building for storing one or more vehicl ...

in Downend be used for a first aid post and air raid shelter. On 21 March 1939, he was commissioned as a

pilot officer Pilot officer (Plt Off or P/O) is a junior officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. Pilot officer is the lowest ran ...

on probation in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. On 31 August 1939, he was confirmed as a pilot officer and promoted to

flying officer Flying officer (Fg Offr or F/O) is a junior officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. Flying officer is immediately ...

. Apparently unfit for flight duty, on 27 May 1940 he was transferred to General Duties. On 27 May 1941, he was promoted to flight lieutenant. On 1 July 1944, he was once again promoted, this time to temporary

squadron leader Squadron leader (Sqn Ldr or S/L) is a senior officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. Squadron leader is immediatel ...

Post World War II

On 10 February 1954, Cole relinquished his reserve commission, with permission to retain the rank of squadron leader. Edwin Stuart Travis Cole died in 1984 in

Wiltshire Wiltshire (; abbreviated to Wilts) is a ceremonial county in South West England. It borders Gloucestershire to the north, Oxfordshire to the north-east, Berkshire to the east, Hampshire to the south-east, Dorset to the south, and Somerset to ...

, England.

Honours and awards

;Military Cross : 2nd Lt. Edwin Stewart Travis Cole, Royal Flying Corps (Special Reserve) : For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On one occasion he, in a scout, attacked and brought down an enemy two-seater biplane. He has brought down two hostile balloons. He has at all times set a splendid example of courage and initiative.

References

;Notes ;Bibliography * {{DEFAULTSORT:Cole, Edwin 1895 births 1984 deaths Military personnel from Bristol Royal Flying Corps officers British World War I flying aces Recipients of the Military Cross Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve personnel of World War II British Army personnel of World War I Royal Air Force squadron leaders