Cochran Philip

American officer in the U.S. Army Air Corps/Forces who developed many tactical air combat, air transport, and air assault techniques during World War II, particularly in Burma during operations as co-commander (with Col John R. Alison) of the 1st Air Commando Group. Cochran was the inspiration behind characters in the adventure comic strips Terry and the Pirates and Steve Canyon by Milton Caniff. After the war, Cochran was director of aerial scenes in the Howard Hughes film Jet Pilot starring John Wayne and Janet Leigh. Cochran also became active in charitable organizations such as the Pennsylvania Heart Association. Cochran dated actress Betty White in the early 1960s after being introduced by Jack Paar. White declined his marriage proposal. Cochran died of a heart attack while fox hunting in Geneseo, New York on 26 August 1979, aged 69. Link to Wikipedia biography Read less