Cook Cleland Cook Cleland ( Dec 24 , 1916 – June 13 , 2007 ) was a World War II United States Navy and civilian air race pilot . He participated in the Battle of Coral Sea and the Battle of the Philippine Sea . Cleland won the 1947 and 1949 Thompson Trophy Air Races . Early life . Cook Cleland was born in Cleveland , Ohio , in 1916 , and graduated from the University of Missouri in 1940 . Navy service . Cleland joined the Navy and became a naval aviator shortly before the attack on Pearl Harbor . He married Ora Lee Cleland during his flight training . After graduation he was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS " Wasp " flying the Vought SB2U Vindicator and Douglas SBD dive bombers , providing close air support for the initial Guadalcanal landings . Cleland was on the " Wasp " when she was sunk in September 1942 , spending over 4 hours in the water , waiting for rescue . Cleland was then assigned to the USS " Lexington " , becoming a plank owner . During his service on board the " Gray Ghost " , he became and air ace , shooting down five Japan ese aircraft , unusual for a dive bomber pilot . He and his wingman were also credited with severely crippling the Japanese aircraft carrier Junyō during the Battle of the Philippine Sea in June 1943 . For his valor in action , he received the Navy Cross and many other commendations . After returning to the United States , he evaluated captured enemy aircraft as a Navy test pilot . Post - World War II . Following World War II , Cleland acquired the Euclid Avenue Airport small airport in suburban Willoughby , Ohio . As a fixed - base operator , he offered flying lessons , banner towing , and air charters . Cleland bought a surplus Vought FG - 1D Corsair , modified it for air racing , named it " Lucky Gallon " and flew it in the 1946 Thompson Trophy Race at an average of , finishing sixth . Cleland next obtained four Goodyear F2G - 1 Super Corsairs with a hefty 28 - cylinder Pratt & Whitney Wasp Major rated at more than . He modified these similarly to his FG - 1D , additionally clipping the wingspan a few feet . He flew one of these , Race 74 , to win the 1947 Thompson Trophy with a speed of . The 1948 Thompson saw Cleland return with more modifications to the previous years plane , but the experimental fuel , rated at 200 octane , proved too volatile and caused the induction scoops to be blown loose , taking him out of the race . Cleland returned in 1949 , winning the Thompson for the second time flying Race 94 , with a speed of . Wanting to expand his air charter service , Cleland and his partner purchased three surplus PBY Catalina Flying Boats with the intent to modify them for the Alaska hunting and fishing trade . The modifications proved too costly and the planes were sold . The field closed in the latter part of 1952 after Cleland had gone back into Navy active service . Korean War . In February 1951 , he returned to active duty as commanding officer of carrier - based Fighting Squadron 653 and flew the Chance - Vought F4U Corsair in 67 combat missions over North Korea . In May 1952 , he was shot down by enemy ground fire during an interdiction mission in North Korea , but was rescued later the same day . Later life . Cleland held numerous U . S . Navy staff positions after the Korean War and played a key role in establishing the Defense Intelligence Agency . In 1967 , Cook retired from the Navy in Kodiak , Alaska and moved to Pensacola , Florida , where he opened Cleland Antiques . In 2000 , Cook was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in Detroit , Michigan . Cleland lost his right leg to diabetes , but did manage to attend the final reunion of his Air Group 16 at the dedication of the National World War II Memorial on May 29 , 2004 . Cleland died June 13 , 2007 , leaving a daughter , two sons , two grandchildren , and two great grandchildren .