John Owings Cockey Jr. was born in 1919 in Maryland. He was the son of John O. Cockey and Mary Reese Arnold Cockey. He enlisted in the service on June 2, 1941. He served in the 787th Bomb Squadron, 466th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Major and Command/ Aircraft Commander of B-24J #42-51331 during World War II.

On September 16, 1944, B-24J Liberator 42-51331 was destroyed in a mid-air collision over Norfolk, England, during a formation practice mission rather than a combat operation. The aircraft was serving as the lead bomber in the 466th Bomb Group's "B" formation and took off at 2:11 p.m. for the training exercise. The formation assembled normally and completed a simulated bombing run before turning toward the rally point near RAF Bodney. During the maneuver, another B-24 from the formation, B-24H 42-95361, "Glad Ta See Ya," made its turn too tightly and came up beneath 42-51331. Its pilot attempted to avoid the lead aircraft by diving away, but the bomber was caught in the propeller wash of 42-51331. The two Liberators collided, with the impact involving their rear sections. The collision was catastrophic for 42-51331. The aircraft broke apart around the waist and tail section and immediately became uncontrollable. The entire tail section separated from the bomber, leaving a large opening in the damaged fuselage.

Because this was a training mission, 42-51331 was carrying additional personnel aboard. The other Liberator involved in the collision, 42-95361, was also destroyed, although three men managed to escape by parachute. Of those aboard both aircraft, only four survived: 1st Lt. Stuart M. Peace Jr. from 42-51331 and three airmen from 42-95361.

Maj Cockey is now buried in the All Saints Episcopal Church Cemetery, Reisterstown, Baltimore County, Maryland, USA.

Sources of information: www.findagrave.com, 453rd.blogspot.com