Cornelius W. Cousland
West Point class of 1924
This biography was gleaned from https://www.westpointaog.org
Cornelius W. Cousland was born August 19, 1900, in Pinos Altos, New Mexico, Cornelius was the eldest of the five children born to Walter and Annie Laurie Campbell Cousland. He attended school in Deming and worked in the copper mines during the summers. When he was about fourteen, the boy, Cornelius, rode with the men of his state to drive Pancho Villa out of the United States. He early learned his way about his native land of rocky cliffs, tall trees and mountains. While he was a senior in high school he first heard of the United States Military Academy. He managed to pass the examinations and get an appointment. In 1924 he graduated and joined the Air Service. He was interested in everything pertaining to aeronautics, astronomy and astronautics. One paper that he kept throughout the years shows that he asked to have his name added to the list of “Dead Reckoning Celestial Navigators.” He was also rated as a Command Pilot with seven thousand hours of flying time credited to him. He spoke three languages and was “at home” anywhere in the world. His early travels took him first to the Philippine Islands, where he piloted Mr. Patrick J. Hurley on an inspection tour. Later he went to Argentina, Panama, the Galapagos Islands, Peru, Egypt, Turkey, Mexico, North Africa, England, Italy, and Spain. He was pleased with the honors that came his way, including the medal conferred on him by the Republic of Argentina, the Distinguished Flying Cross by our government and the mention of his name in General H. H. Arnold’s book, “Global Mission.” He endured many severe injuries and illnesses. He was retired at forty-eight and he died in his fifty-eighth year, June 29th, 1959.
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USAAF WW2
Colonel Cornelius Walter Cousland was the first
Commanding officer 97th Bomb Group from from Feb to July 1942
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross
Awarded for actions during the Peace Time Awards
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Cornelius Walter Cousland, U.S. Army Air Corps, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight while piloting a Douglas amphibian over the Panama Canal Zone, on 31 May 1934. When about 100 yards from the edge of Gatun Lake, at an altitude of approximately 1,400 feet, mechanical failure caused a portion of the right motor to penetrate the pilot's cockpit with such force that the copilot was fatally injured and fell across Lieutenant Cousland and the controls. The plane started to spin but Lieutenant Cousland, disregarding his own serious injuries from flying glass, ordered his passengers to retain their seats and by his courage, presence of mind, and complete mastery of the art of piloting, maneuvered the disabled aircraft to a safe landing on the surface of the stump-studded lake.
General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 3 (1935)
Action Date: May 31, 1934
Service: Army Air Forces Rank: First Lieutenant
Distinguished Flying Cross
Awarded for actions during the World War II
(Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Colonel (Air Corps) Cornelius Walter Cousland, United States Army Air Forces, was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight during World War II.
General Orders: United States Military Academy Register of Graduates
Action Date: World War II Service: Army Air Forces
Rank: Colonel
Company: G-3
Regiment: 12th Fighter Command
West Point class of 1924
This biography was gleaned from https://www.westpointaog.org
Cornelius W. Cousland was born August 19, 1900, in Pinos Altos, New Mexico, Cornelius was the eldest of the five children born to Walter and Annie Laurie Campbell Cousland. He attended school in Deming and worked in the copper mines during the summers. When he was about fourteen, the boy, Cornelius, rode with the men of his state to drive Pancho Villa out of the United States. He early learned his way about his native land of rocky cliffs, tall trees and mountains. While he was a senior in high school he first heard of the United States Military Academy. He managed to pass the examinations and get an appointment. In 1924 he graduated and joined the Air Service. He was interested in everything pertaining to aeronautics, astronomy and astronautics. One paper that he kept throughout the years shows that he asked to have his name added to the list of “Dead Reckoning Celestial Navigators.” He was also rated as a Command Pilot with seven thousand hours of flying time credited to him. He spoke three languages and was “at home” anywhere in the world. His early travels took him first to the Philippine Islands, where he piloted Mr. Patrick J. Hurley on an inspection tour. Later he went to Argentina, Panama, the Galapagos Islands, Peru, Egypt, Turkey, Mexico, North Africa, England, Italy, and Spain. He was pleased with the honors that came his way, including the medal conferred on him by the Republic of Argentina, the Distinguished Flying Cross by our government and the mention of his name in General H. H. Arnold’s book, “Global Mission.” He endured many severe injuries and illnesses. He was retired at forty-eight and he died in his fifty-eighth year, June 29th, 1959.
-----------------------------------------------------------
USAAF WW2
Colonel Cornelius Walter Cousland was the first
Commanding officer 97th Bomb Group from from Feb to July 1942
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross
Awarded for actions during the Peace Time Awards
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Cornelius Walter Cousland, U.S. Army Air Corps, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight while piloting a Douglas amphibian over the Panama Canal Zone, on 31 May 1934. When about 100 yards from the edge of Gatun Lake, at an altitude of approximately 1,400 feet, mechanical failure caused a portion of the right motor to penetrate the pilot's cockpit with such force that the copilot was fatally injured and fell across Lieutenant Cousland and the controls. The plane started to spin but Lieutenant Cousland, disregarding his own serious injuries from flying glass, ordered his passengers to retain their seats and by his courage, presence of mind, and complete mastery of the art of piloting, maneuvered the disabled aircraft to a safe landing on the surface of the stump-studded lake.
General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 3 (1935)
Action Date: May 31, 1934
Service: Army Air Forces Rank: First Lieutenant
Distinguished Flying Cross
Awarded for actions during the World War II
(Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Colonel (Air Corps) Cornelius Walter Cousland, United States Army Air Forces, was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight during World War II.
General Orders: United States Military Academy Register of Graduates
Action Date: World War II Service: Army Air Forces
Rank: Colonel
Company: G-3
Regiment: 12th Fighter Command
Cornelius W. Cousland
West Point class of 1924
This biography was gleaned from https://www.westpointaog.org
Cornelius W. Cousland was born August 19, 1900, in Pinos Altos, New Mexico, Cornelius was the eldest of the five children born to Walter and Annie Laurie Campbell Cousland. He attended school in Deming and worked in the copper mines during the summers. When he was about fourteen, the boy, Cornelius, rode with the men of his state to drive Pancho Villa out of the United States. He early learned his way about his native land of rocky cliffs, tall trees and mountains. While he was a senior in high school he first heard of the United States Military Academy. He managed to pass the examinations and get an appointment. In 1924 he graduated and joined the Air Service. He was interested in everything pertaining to aeronautics, astronomy and astronautics. One paper that he kept throughout the years shows that he asked to have his name added to the list of “Dead Reckoning Celestial Navigators.” He was also rated as a Command Pilot with seven thousand hours of flying time credited to him. He spoke three languages and was “at home” anywhere in the world. His early travels took him first to the Philippine Islands, where he piloted Mr. Patrick J. Hurley on an inspection tour. Later he went to Argentina, Panama, the Galapagos Islands, Peru, Egypt, Turkey, Mexico, North Africa, England, Italy, and Spain. He was pleased with the honors that came his way, including the medal conferred on him by the Republic of Argentina, the Distinguished Flying Cross by our government and the mention of his name in General H. H. Arnold’s book, “Global Mission.” He endured many severe injuries and illnesses. He was retired at forty-eight and he died in his fifty-eighth year, June 29th, 1959.
-----------------------------------------------------------
USAAF WW2
Colonel Cornelius Walter Cousland was the first
Commanding officer 97th Bomb Group from from Feb to July 1942
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross
Awarded for actions during the Peace Time Awards
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Cornelius Walter Cousland, U.S. Army Air Corps, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight while piloting a Douglas amphibian over the Panama Canal Zone, on 31 May 1934. When about 100 yards from the edge of Gatun Lake, at an altitude of approximately 1,400 feet, mechanical failure caused a portion of the right motor to penetrate the pilot's cockpit with such force that the copilot was fatally injured and fell across Lieutenant Cousland and the controls. The plane started to spin but Lieutenant Cousland, disregarding his own serious injuries from flying glass, ordered his passengers to retain their seats and by his courage, presence of mind, and complete mastery of the art of piloting, maneuvered the disabled aircraft to a safe landing on the surface of the stump-studded lake.
General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 3 (1935)
Action Date: May 31, 1934
Service: Army Air Forces Rank: First Lieutenant
Distinguished Flying Cross
Awarded for actions during the World War II
(Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Colonel (Air Corps) Cornelius Walter Cousland, United States Army Air Forces, was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight during World War II.
General Orders: United States Military Academy Register of Graduates
Action Date: World War II Service: Army Air Forces
Rank: Colonel
Company: G-3
Regiment: 12th Fighter Command
West Point class of 1924
This biography was gleaned from https://www.westpointaog.org
Cornelius W. Cousland was born August 19, 1900, in Pinos Altos, New Mexico, Cornelius was the eldest of the five children born to Walter and Annie Laurie Campbell Cousland. He attended school in Deming and worked in the copper mines during the summers. When he was about fourteen, the boy, Cornelius, rode with the men of his state to drive Pancho Villa out of the United States. He early learned his way about his native land of rocky cliffs, tall trees and mountains. While he was a senior in high school he first heard of the United States Military Academy. He managed to pass the examinations and get an appointment. In 1924 he graduated and joined the Air Service. He was interested in everything pertaining to aeronautics, astronomy and astronautics. One paper that he kept throughout the years shows that he asked to have his name added to the list of “Dead Reckoning Celestial Navigators.” He was also rated as a Command Pilot with seven thousand hours of flying time credited to him. He spoke three languages and was “at home” anywhere in the world. His early travels took him first to the Philippine Islands, where he piloted Mr. Patrick J. Hurley on an inspection tour. Later he went to Argentina, Panama, the Galapagos Islands, Peru, Egypt, Turkey, Mexico, North Africa, England, Italy, and Spain. He was pleased with the honors that came his way, including the medal conferred on him by the Republic of Argentina, the Distinguished Flying Cross by our government and the mention of his name in General H. H. Arnold’s book, “Global Mission.” He endured many severe injuries and illnesses. He was retired at forty-eight and he died in his fifty-eighth year, June 29th, 1959.
-----------------------------------------------------------
USAAF WW2
Colonel Cornelius Walter Cousland was the first
Commanding officer 97th Bomb Group from from Feb to July 1942
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross
Awarded for actions during the Peace Time Awards
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Cornelius Walter Cousland, U.S. Army Air Corps, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight while piloting a Douglas amphibian over the Panama Canal Zone, on 31 May 1934. When about 100 yards from the edge of Gatun Lake, at an altitude of approximately 1,400 feet, mechanical failure caused a portion of the right motor to penetrate the pilot's cockpit with such force that the copilot was fatally injured and fell across Lieutenant Cousland and the controls. The plane started to spin but Lieutenant Cousland, disregarding his own serious injuries from flying glass, ordered his passengers to retain their seats and by his courage, presence of mind, and complete mastery of the art of piloting, maneuvered the disabled aircraft to a safe landing on the surface of the stump-studded lake.
General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 3 (1935)
Action Date: May 31, 1934
Service: Army Air Forces Rank: First Lieutenant
Distinguished Flying Cross
Awarded for actions during the World War II
(Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Colonel (Air Corps) Cornelius Walter Cousland, United States Army Air Forces, was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight during World War II.
General Orders: United States Military Academy Register of Graduates
Action Date: World War II Service: Army Air Forces
Rank: Colonel
Company: G-3
Regiment: 12th Fighter Command
Gravesite Details
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