Cooper, John Donald (Sergeant)

Killed in Action 1942-October-21

Sergeant John Donald Cooper RCAF

Birth Date: 1923

Born: Toronto Ontario

Parents: Hugh Gamble Cooper & Maude Annie Louise Cooper. His brother Hugh James (Jim) served with the Royal Canadian Air Force and he died on July 7, 1941.

Spouse:

Home: Toronto, Ontario (parents)

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: unkown date

Service

RCAF

Unit

7 (PFF) Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Per Diem Per Noctem By day and by night

Base

RAF Oakington

Rank

Sergeant

Position

Air Gunner

Service Numbers

R/97274

Home
Google MapToronto, Ontario (parents)
Target
Google MapMine laying, Frisian Islands, Holland
Memorial Location
Google MapRunnymede Memorial Surrey
Panel 107

Took off from Oakington in Stirling Mk I (Sqn code MG-A Bomber Command) on a mine laying ('Gardening') operation to the Frisian Islands, Holland.

Coned by searchlights and shot down in error by British anti-aircraft fire after straying off course and apparently firing off the wrong coloured ID flares.

Aircraft crashed into the North Sea with the loss of the entire crew. No bodies were recovered, despite a search by the Gorleston Lifeboat.

Killed includes Cooper: Flight Sergeant Robert Ernest Flavelle RCAF R/62401 KIA Runnymede Memorial Panel 103. Flying Officer Robert Gledhill Winder RCAF J/9925 KIA Runnymede Memorial Panel 99. Flying Officer Noel Stuart Brady RAF KIA Runnymede Memorial Panel 66. Flying Officer Alexander Albert Harvey RAF KIA Runnymede Memorial Panel 67. Sergeant Jack Watkins RAF KIA Runnymede Memorial Panel 96. Sergeant Kenneth Albert Wolkins RAF KIA Runnymede Memorial Panel 96.

Sergeant Cooper was BROTHER to Pilot Officer Hugh James Cooper (RCAF) killed 1941-07-07 on 19 OTU Whitley P 5076

Unvetted Source Eastern Daily Press

Canada Source Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Find-A-Grave Finadagrave.com

Canada Primary Source Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)