ALCOCK, SIR JOHN WILLIAM English airman, was born in Manchester on Nov. 6, 1892, the son of a horse dealer. Before the World War he had been in possession of the aviation certificate for two years, when he joined the Royal Naval Air Force as an instructor in 1914. In 1916 he was posted at No. 2 wing at Mudros. Here he performed many famous exploits, including the bombing of Constantinople on Sept. 3o, 1917. He was forced to alight at sea near Suvla bay on his return from this expedition, and he and his companions swam ashore, and were taken prisoners by the Turks. After leav ing the Air Force in March 1919, he made a flying record with Lieut. Arthur Whitten Brown by flying from St. John's, New foundland, to Clifden, Ireland, in 16hrs. I2mins. He was then created K.B.E. A week later Alcock was flying to Paris in an amphibian aeroplane when he sustained fatal injuries at Cote d'Evrard, Normandy, on Dec. 18, 1919. See AVIATION ; TRANS