Cooper, George Edgar (Warrant Officer 2nd Class)

Took off from Sigiriya at 15:25 on an air firing and depth charge dropping practice flight.

On completion of the air-to-air firing exercise the aircraft flew out to sea west of Puttalam, where a marker was dropped shortly after 17:00 in preparation for the depth charge practice. Running in at 50 feet a stick of two charges was dropped, but exploded prematurely and threw FL911 about violently. The aircraft began to climb out of control, being brought back to level flight only through the combined efforts of the captain and 2nd pilot at the controls using throttle adjustments to fly a straight course. However, the Liberator was losing height and was forced to ditch. Only two of the thirteen on board escaped before it broke up and sank (11 crew, 2 passengers).

Killed includes Cooper:: Flying Officer George Korski RCAF J/26959 KIA Singapore Memorial Column 442. Warrant Officer Class 2 Franklin Thomas Mabee RCAF R/156988 KIA Singapore Memorial Column 444. Sergeant Andrew Cameron RAF KIA Singapore Memorial Column 435. Sergeant Jack Dunkley RAF KIA Singapore Memorial Column 436. Flying Officer Duncan Farquhar MacDonald RAF KIA Singapore Memorial Column 432. Flying Officer Richard Holt Morgan RAAF KIA Singapore Memorial Column 443. Flight Sergeant Douglas Henry Skinner RNZAF KIA Singapore Memorial Column 446. Flight Sergeant William Robert Wiseman RAF KIA Singapore Memorial Column 435.

Two New Zealanders escaped the downed aircraft wearing their Mae Wests. Flying Officer John David Dean and W/O Pumau Baker, both injured, spent 17 hours in the sea before a rescue launch arrived.