Garry G. Cooper

Garry G. Cooper was born in Adelaide, South Australia on 21 January 1938. After completing secondary education in 1954 he worked for three years with the Royal Aero Club of South Australia as an aircraft mechanic. At the same time he was learning to fly on gliders and then powered aircraft gaining his commercial pilot license at the age of 19 years. He then flew for the Flying Doctor Service in outback Australia before taking up a position in New Guinea with Gibbes Sepik Airways in 1957. He accumulated 3500 hours on light and medium aircraft, including the Junker 52, in New Guinea before joining the Royal Australian Air Force in early 1960. On graduation as top officer pilot in 1961 he went, in turn, to the following assignments: School of Air Navigation, Pilot C47, RAAF Antarctic Flight, Seaplane pilot, 77 & 79 Squadrons, Fighter pilot F86, 75 & 76 Squadrons , Fighter pilot Mirage. Cooper arrived in Vietnam in April 1968 and was assigned to the 19th TASS, USAF where he served as a forward air controller with the 3rd Brigade, 9th Infantry Division, USA, flying the Birddog O-1. During his tour he was recommended for the CMH and the DSC but processing was blocked by the Australian government. He returned to Australia in January 1969 where he was assigned to ground attack duties on the Mirage before resigning in October 1969. Military service was followed by a career of international airline flying. Based in various countries around the world he operated numerous types, including the B747 for ten years. On retirement in 2000, Cooper continued flying war-bird aircraft at air-shows. This renewed his acquaintance with the Bird-dog including the O-2, Avenger, Focke-Wulf 149, Zero and A26. He has flown over 25000 hours on 41 different types of aircraft. In the mean time he works diligently on the restoration of a Spitfire Mk XIV.