Along with Arthur Whitten-Brown, Alcock was the first to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. They made their flight in 1919.
Alcock was born in 1892 at Seymour,Old Trafford. He first became interested in flying at the age of 17, when the science of aviation was still a new subject. During WWI, Alcock became an experienced pilot, though he was eventually shot down during a bombing raid, and then taken prisoner in Turkey. After the war, Alcock wanted to continue his flying career and took up the challenge of attempting to be the first to fly directly across the Atlantic.(See Transatlantic flights.)