COSENS FW
Cosens, Frank William
Personal Information
| Rank | F/O |
| Forename(s) | Frank William |
| Surname | Cosens |
| Gender | M |
| Age | 28 |
| Decorations | DFC |
| Date of Death | 15-02-1944 |
| Next of Kin | Son of Frank and Lydia Emily Cosens, of Bognor Regis, Sussex. |
Aircraft Information
| Aircraft | Avro Lancaster lll |
| Serial Number | ND510 |
| Markings | EM-T T-Tommy |
Memorial Information
| Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
| Burial/Memorial Place | Runnymede Memorial |
| Grave Reference | Panel 205. |
| Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
| Phase | 1 |
| Panel Number | 23 |
Enlistment Information
| Service Number | 149591 |
| Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
| Group | 5 |
| Squadron | 207 |
| Trade | Pilot |
| Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
| Location | St. Mary the Virgin Church, Bottesford, Leicestershire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Inscribed Slate Tablet and Roll of Honour within wooden case |
| Memorial Text | Roll of Honour and memorial to the members of 207 Sqn RAF who served at RAF Bottesford during WW2 |
| Location | X, Great Steeping, Lincolnshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Inscribed group of Memorial Stones with adjacent info board |
| Memorial Text | In memory of 207 Sqn RAF which served at RAF Spilsby and of 10 Sqn Armourers killed in an accident on 10th April 1944 |
| Location | All Saints Church, Great Steeping |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Inscribed Marble Tablet and Roll of Honour within wooden case |
| Memorial Text | Roll of Honour and memorial to the members of 207 Sqn RAF who served at RAF Spilsby during WW2 |
| Location | Stn Church, RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Tablet |
| Memorial Text | In memory of 207 Sqn RAF which served at RAF Waddington between 1 November 1940 and 18th November 1941 |
| Location | Harby Rd, Langar, Nottinghamshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Inscribed Memorial Stone |
| Memorial Text | A memorial to 207 Sqn RAF which served at RAF Langar during WW2 |
| Location | St. Andrew's Church, Langar, Nottinghamshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Inscribed Brass Plaque & Roll of Honour within wooden case |
| Memorial Text | Roll of Honour and a memorial to the personnel of 207 Sqn RAF who were killed flying from RAF Langar during WW2 |
Miscellaneous Information
| This was the aircraft's first operation. |
| Frank Cosens was born on 10 May 1915. In 1926 Frank went to the Christ’s Hospital School living in ‘Peel A’ house, until leaving in 1932. After working at a poultry farm he joined the West Sussex Constabulary on 08 Fenruary 1936 where he served in Worthing, Pulborough and Horsham. In April 1941 there was an air raid in Bognor Regis with a stick of bombs falling between Hillsboro Road to the railway sidings causing much damage and killing three civilians. One of the rails landed in Victoria Drive indicating the force of the explosions. Some of the houses a few doors up from his parents in Havelock Road were destroyed. It is quite possible that this event may have motivated him to leave the relative safety of the Police to join the Royal Air Force. Four months later his Police record shows he had volunteered to join the Royal Air Force on 4th August 1941. He was posted to 19 OTU and then 207 Squadron at RAF Langar, from 1 October 1942 to 23 November 1943. Also based at RAF Langar was the ‘Avro Repair Organisation’ from 1942 to 1968. This organisation repaired the battle-damaged Lancaster bombers. Each of the repaired aircraft had to be tested and sometimes up to seven times to make sure they were 100%. 207 Sqn often provided pilots to help out and Frank was noted as one of the regular group of pilots testing these aircraft between his operational sorties. By the end of the year six of these brave pilots were killed in action including the Squadron Leader Huntley-Wood and the station Commander Group Captain Austin McKenna. On 03 September 1943, 207 Squadron was accompanied by the BBC who sent up two sound recordists, Mr Pideley and Mr Vaughan-Thomas in Lancaster ‘F’ for Freddie ED586. With Frank flying his Lancaster in the same formation the resultant recording gives a ghostly insight into what it was really like on these missions. The attack was on Berlin with nine Lancasters from 207 Sqn. The recording includes the radio chatter on the bombing run and a night fighter attack which they were very lucky to survive (In 2018 as part of remembrance the BBC commissioned a Virtual Reality film of the raid to enhance the recording. Sadly, during this mission Squadron Leader Pilot S.H.C. Huntly-Wood DFC. with his crew with Group Captain Ian McKenna were shot down and killed. Later from 207 Sqn Diary dated 27-28 September 1943 Frank’s Lancaster R5963 EM-T. His report is as follows:- Take off 19:19 Return 01:02 . Bombing attack Hanover. Target attacked from 19,000 ( Bomb Load detailed including a 4000lb Cookie and 60 incendiary ) Clear over target. Green Target indicators bombed. Good concentration visible 200 miles away. Window dropped. Aircraft attacked by fighter and placed Cat ‘B’. The fighter shot first burst of about 10 secs with turret u/s. Rear turret jammed on front beam. Apparently starting fire in rear for about one minute. Rear gunner hit and seriously wounded, mid-upper wounded in leg. Aircraft lost height, out of control for 2000-3000 feet. Control regained and immediately second burst of about 10 seconds causing further damage. Aircraft had tendency to turn to port but counteracted by both feet on right rudder. Several fires occurred in fuselage smouldering for about ½ hour. Other fires caused by incendiary bullets extinguished with extinguishers. As petrol was getting short prepared to ditch. W/T working under emergency conditions. Lost height steadily all way back. Encountered Lowestoft (Light) fired colours and yellow N/K responded. Aircraft landed at RAF station Hardwick. Sortie completed. (RAF Hardwick is about 5 miles west of Bungay, Suffolk) For his display of his courage, bravery and skill as a pilot he received the Distinguished Flying Cross. The citation from the supplement to the London Gazette dated 22/10/1943 reads “One night in September, 1943, this officer piloted an aircraft detailed to attack Hanover. Shortly after the target had been bombed, the aircraft was engaged by a fighter. The mid upper and rear gunners were wounded and their turrets rendered unserviceable, the electrical system failed, while the wireless apparatus caught fire and had to be jettisoned. Just as Pilot Officer Cosens regained control of the bomber, which had lost considerable height, it was attacked by another fighter. Further damage was sustained and the situation became serious. Pilot officer Cosens resolutely held to his course, however, and crossed the enemy coast. The aircraft was gradually losing height but Pilot Officer Cosens struggled on to reach an airfield, where he effected a safe landing. This officer displayed skill, courage and tenacity of a high order”. |
| From the 207 Sqn Record of Events a flying log of operational sorties for Pilot Officer Cosens are:- 3-4 July 1943 Lancaster I ED361 EM-R Cologne Sortie completed. Sgt Cosens. 2nd Pilot Introduction to Squadron RAF Langar 8-9 July 1943 Lancaster W4952 ‘T’- Tommy Cologne Sortie completed 24-25 July 1943 Lancaster W4952 ‘T’ Hamburg Sortie completed 25-26/ July 1943 Lancaster W4952 ‘T’ Essen Sortie completed 27-28 July 1943 Lancaster W4952 ‘T’ Hamburg Sortie completed 29-30 July 1943 Lancaster W4952 ‘T’ Hamburg Sortie completed 7-8 August 1943 Lancaster W4952 ‘T’ Genoa Sortie completed. 3-4 September1943 Lancaster W4952 ‘T’ Berlin Sortie completed. Commissioned to Pilot Officer. 9 Lancasters. BBC crew recorded mission in same flight in EM-F for Freddie ED586. 27-28 September 1943 Lancaster R5963 Hannover Sortie completed. Attacked by fighter. Two gunners injured. Lancaster badly damaged. Received Distinguished Flying Cross. 207 Sqn moved to RAF Spilsby Lincs 12 October 1943. 22-23 October 1943 Lancaster I W.4959. ‘S’ for Suger Kassel Sortie completed. 22-23 November 1943 Lancaster I W.4892 ‘T’ - Tommy Berlin 19.40 hrs hit by flak. Forced to dump bomb load over Hannover. Engaged by ‘Box Barrage’. Both compasses wandering. Returned to base. Sortie NOT Completed. 27-28 January 1944 Lancaster III ND510 EM-T Berlin Sortie completed 30-31 January 1944 Lancaster III ND510 EM-T Berlin Sortie completed 15-16 February 1944 Lancaster III ND510 EM-T Berlin Failed to return. Missing over sea. Frank Cosens is remembered at the Chichester Police Station War Memorial (once the HQ to the West Sussex Constabulary)- see photo. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
| Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1235/4 |
| Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1235/3 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
| Start Date | 15-02-1944 |
| End Date | 16-02-1944 |
| Takeoff Station | Spilsby |
| Day/Night Raid | Night (63% moon) |
| Operation | Berlin |
| Reason for Loss | Aircraft and crew lost without trace |