Cookson, Ernest (Sergeant)

Killed in Flying Accident 1942-November-23

Male Head

Birth Date: 1917

Born:

Parents: John & Eleanor Cookson

Spouse:

Home: Preston, Lancashire, England (parents)

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: unkown date

Service

RAFVR

Unit

14 (MP) Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
I Spread My Wings And Keep My Promise

Base

RAF Landing Ground 224, Abu Sieur, Egypt

Rank

Sergeant

Position

Air Gunner

Service Numbers

987398

Home

Preston, Lancashire, England (parents)

Final Burial

Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery
grave 2 D 8

Took off from LG224 for low level bombing practice at Shallufa Bombing range, Egypt.

On one bombing run, a nearby observer saw the Marauder's tail fin snap off and the aircraft crash. Marauders were grounded until the tail fin assembly was reinforced.

Killed includes Cookson: Flying Officer William Richardson Bower RCAF J/8763 pilot KIA Suez War Memorial Cemetery Egypt grave 2. D. 5. Warrant Officer Class 2 Douglas Leroy Rawson RCAF R/69258 pilot KIA Suez War Memorial Cemetery grave 2. D. 4. Sergeant Hugh Garth Williams RAF KIA Suez War Memorial Cemetery grave 2. D. 6. Flying Officer Peter Mckenzie Willis RAF KIA Suez War Memorial Cemetery grave 2. D. 7.

Commonwealth War Grave Commission Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Find-A-Grave Finadagrave.com

Crew or Other Personnel

Marauder FK122

Flying Officer William Richardson Bower RCAF

Flying Officer Bower, William Richardson (RCAF)
Pilot
Killed in Flying Accident
1942-November-23
Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery, Arbaeen, Egypt

Sergeant Ernest Cookson RAFVR

Sergeant Cookson, Ernest (RAFVR)
Air Gunner
Killed in Flying Accident
1942-November-23
Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery, Arbaeen, Egypt

Warrant Officer 2 Douglas Leroy Rawson RCAF

Warrant Officer 2 Rawson, Douglas Leroy (RCAF)
2nd Pilot
Killed in Flying Accident
1942-November-23
Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery, Arbaeen, Egypt

Sergeant Hugh Garth Williams RAFVR

Sergeant Williams, Hugh Garth (RAFVR)
Air Gunner
Killed in Flying Accident
1942-November-23
Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery, Arbaeen, Egypt

Flying Officer Peter McKenzie Willis RAFVR

Flying Officer Willis, Peter McKenzie (RAFVR)
Observer
Killed in Flying Accident
1942-November-23
Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery, Arbaeen, Egypt

Mission

Marauder Mk. I FK122

Operational 1942-November-23 to 1942-November-23

14 (B) Sqn (RAF) RAF Landing Ground 224

14 Squadron (I Spread My Wings And Keep My Promise) RAF Landing Ground 224. Warrant Officer Class 2 DL Rawson (RCAF), Flying Officer WR Bower (RCAF), Sergeant E Cookson (RAFVR), Sergeant HG Williams (RAFVR) and Flying Officer PM Willis (RAFVR) were all killed when their B26A Marauder aircraft FK 122 crashed near Shallufa, Egypt. The tail fin separated from the fuselage during a low-level bombing practice, killing the entire crew

In a post in RAF Commands COL BRUGGY on 9th September 2011 states: "An Inquiry reported in due course and as a result all the Marauders were grounded to have the tail fins strengthened. The Glenn Martin Aircraft Corporation in the USA flew technicians to Egypt, who completed the necessary modifications to all the aircraft in a few days. Unfortunately this was not done until after two more aircraft had been lost with the loss of 21 lives"

Unvetted Source Royal Air Force - RAF I Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives