Scott Air Force Base in St. Clair County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Sir Alan Cobham, KBE, AFC
6 May 1894 - 21 Oct. 1973
Airlift/Tanker Association Hall of Fame - 2016
Photographed by Thomas Smith, October 5, 2021
1. Sir Alan Cobham, KBE, AFC Marker
Inscription.
Sir Alan Cobham, KBE, AFC. 6 May 1894 - 21 Oct. 1973. Sir Alan was an aviator pioneer and a significant contributor to air mobility through his historic aerial refueling experiments. He earned his pilot wings with the RAF during World War I. Following the war, he became the first aviator to successfully conduct a round trip flight to India, this experience convinced him of the value of air to air refueling. In 1934, Cobham founded flight refueling LTD. to develop aerial refueling equipment. By 1939 FRL had perfected the loop hose system that was used to support 16 non-stop transatlantic mail missions. In March 1949, four KC-29M Tankers using FRL refueling equipment supported the first non-stop around the world flight of a B-50 Bomber. In May 1952, KB-29 Tankers refueled 12 F-84E Fighters on the first USAF combat mission to use aerial refueling. Sir Alan's innovative spirit resulted in operational aerial refueling products that fundamentally changed how air power is employed.
Sir Alan was an aviator pioneer and a significant contributor to air mobility through his historic aerial refueling experiments. He earned his pilot wings with the RAF during World War I. Following the war, he became the first aviator to successfully conduct a round trip flight to India, this experience convinced him of the value of air to air refueling. In 1934, Cobham founded flight refueling LTD. to develop aerial refueling equipment. By 1939 FRL had perfected the loop hose system that was used to support 16 non-stop transatlantic mail missions. In March 1949, four KC-29M Tankers using FRL refueling equipment supported the first non-stop around the world flight of a B-50 Bomber. In May 1952, KB-29 Tankers refueled 12 F-84E Fighters on the first USAF combat mission to use aerial refueling. Sir Alan's innovative spirit resulted in operational aerial refueling products that fundamentally changed how air power is employed.
Erected 2016 by Airlift/Tanker Association Hall of Fame.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, Cold • War, Korean • War, World I. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1949.
Location. 38° 32.381′ N, 89° 51.819′ W. Marker is in Scott Air Force Base, Illinois,
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in St. Clair County. It is on Main Street just east of Symington Drive, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 Heritage Dr, Scott Air Force Base IL 62225, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater St. Louis. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Lewis & Clark Corridor, in the Corn Belt, and in the Great River Road Region. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 24, 2021. It was originally submitted on October 24, 2021, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. This page has been viewed 244 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on October 24, 2021, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
