11 November 1955(1955-11-11) (aged 61) Heidelberg, Victoria
Allegiance
Australia
Service/branch
Royal Australian Air Force
Years of service
1912–1946
Rank
Air Commodore
Unit
No. 4 Squadron AFC (1917–18)
Commands held
No. 1 Squadron (1925–26) No. 3 Squadron (1930–31) North-Eastern Area Command (1942–43) First Tactical Air Force (1944–45)
Battles/wars
World War I
Western Front
German spring offensive
Battle of Amiens
World War II
South West Pacific theatre
Philippines campaign
Borneo campaign
Awards
Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Order Distinguished Flying Cross & Two Bars George Medal Mentioned in Despatches Medal of Freedom (United States)
Other work
Department of Civil Aviation
Regional Director (1947–1954)
Director, Flying Operations (1955)
Air Commodore Arthur Henry Cobby, CBE, DSO, DFC & Two Bars, GM (26 August 1894 – 11 November 1955) was an Australian military aviator. He was the leading fighter ace of the Australian Flying Corps (AFC) during World War I, despite seeing active service for less than a year.
Born and educated in Melbourne, Cobby was a bank clerk when war broke out, and was prevented by his employer from enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force until 1916. After completing flight training in England, he served on the Western Front with No. 4 Squadron AFC, operating Sopwith Camels. He was credited with 29 aerial victories, and his achievements were recognised with the Distinguished Service Order, the Distinguished Flying Cross and two bars, and a mention in despatches.
Acclaimed a national hero, Cobby transferred to the newly formed Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in 1921 and rose to the rank of wing commander. He left the Permanent Air Force (PAF) in 1936 to join the Civil Aviation Board, but remained in the RAAF reserve. Re-joining the PAF at the outbreak of World War II in 1939, Cobby held senior posts including Director of Recruiting and Air Officer Commanding North-Eastern Area. In 1943, he was awarded the George Medal for rescuing fellow survivors of an aircraft crash. He was appointed Air Officer Commanding No. 10 Operational Group (later Australian First Tactical Air Force) the following year, but was relieved of his post in the wake of the "Morotai Mutiny" of April 1945. Retiring from the Air Force in 1946, Cobby served with the Department of Civil Aviation until his death on Armistice Day in 1955.
Air Commodore Arthur Henry Cobby, CBE, DSO, DFC & Two Bars, GM (26 August 1894 – 11 November 1955) was an Australian military aviator. He was the leading...
the surname include: Anita Cobby (1959–1986), Australian murder victim Brian Cobby (1929–2012), British actor HarryCobby (1894–1955), Australian air...
Tactical Air Force Headquarters, including the commander, Air Commodore HarryCobby, the Australian Flying Corps' top-scoring ace in World War I, were relieved...
the corps produced 57 flying aces. The highest-scoring AFC pilot was HarryCobby, who was credited with 29 victories. Other leading aces included Roy...
fourth highest-scoring Australian pilot of the war, and second only to HarryCobby in the AFC. A civil pilot and engineer between the wars, he served in...
injured in a jeep accident that August and replaced by Air Commodore HarryCobby. No. 10 OG's name was changed to First Tactical Air Force (No. 1 TAF)...
Steve Cobby is a British producer, musician, composer, and DJ based in Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire. He is best known for being part of Fila Brazillia...
officially. On 22 December 1916, the prototype Camel was first flown by Harry Hawker at Brooklands, Weybridge, Surrey; it was powered by a 110-horsepower...
highest-scoring Australian ace of the war, after Robert Little, Stan Dallas, HarryCobby and Roy King. He was awarded the Military Cross in January 1918 for "conspicuous...
also formed the Australian First Tactical Air Force under Air Commodore HarryCobby in October 1944, and when General Douglas MacArthur became commander...
RAAF formed the Australian First Tactical Air Force under Air Commodore HarryCobby in October 1944, and when MacArthur became commander of all Army forces...
squadron leader on 2 July 1927, and handed over command to Squadron Leader HarryCobby on 13 January 1930. Lukis served as CO of No. 1 Squadron from 1930 to...
Clayson United Kingdom Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force 29 MC, DFC HarryCobby Australia Australian Flying Corps 29 DSO, DFC** Leonard Henry Rochford...
looking to establish an inland training base. Pursuing this, Group Captain HarryCobby (top scoring World War I ace) contacted Wagga resident Hughie Condon...
defuse the situation, and the commander of No. 1 TAF, Air Commodore HarryCobby, was sacked and replaced by Air Commodore Frederick Scherger as preparations...
Kinkead Andrew Edward McKeever Charles Dawson Booker Percy Jack Clayson HarryCobby Leonard Henry Rochford Albert Desbrisay Carter John Everard Gurdon Reginald...
of the base. Among these were Squadron Leaders Frank Lukis (1925–30), HarryCobby (1930–31), and Bill Bostock (1931–33). Headquarters RAAF Station Richmond...
evacuation to Australia for rehabilitation. In his absence, Air Commodore HarryCobby took command of No. 10 OG; two months later the formation was redesignated...
the future Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), including Bill Anderson, HarryCobby, Adrian Cole, Frank McNamara, Lawrence Wackett, and Henry Wrigley. The...
flight lieutenant; the Air Officer Commanding No. 1 TAF, Air Commodore HarryCobby, himself shortly to be dismissed over the "mutiny", restored Gibbes to...
Commodore HarryCobby and the Officer Commanding 78 Wing Group Captain W. D. Brookes to develop the plan for the Wing to target these positions. HarryCobby did...
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