From his obituary: Born 11 July 1894 in Carlinville, Illinois, the son of Percy Cookson, a dry good merchant, and Stella (Palmer) Cookson. He attended the Carlinville high school and the University of Illinois at Urbana. He was a student at that institution when he sailed for France to join the Lafayette Flying Corps. On 19 June 1917 he enlisted in the Service Aeronautique. From 27 June 1917 to February 1918 he attended the aviation schools at Avord, Tours, Pau, and the GDE. He received his brevet on the Caudron on 27 October 1917. Corporal Cookson's service in French aviation was marked by a series of illnesses. On 26 January 1918 he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the US air service, but sickness again delayed his arrival at the front. He served briefly as the engineering officer for the 94th Aero squadron, until he was invalided home to the United States on one June 1918. He returned to Carlinville, Illinois and shortly thereafter had an operation for appendicitis. Upon his release from the hospital he began his recuperation at the home of his parents. Complications from his operation set in, and he died there on 16 September 1918 at age 24.