Coker, Charles Kenneth
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | Charles Kenneth |
Surname | Coker |
Gender | M |
Age | 22 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 30-05-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Henry and Daisy Coker, of Brandon, Manitoba, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster II |
Serial Number | DS627 |
Markings | KO-R |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Belgium |
Burial/Memorial Place | Heverlee War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 10. B. 4. |
Epitaph | THO' FAR AWAY FROM KITH AND KIN OUR PRAYERS AND HEARTS ARE STILL WITH HIM |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 146 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/17259 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 115 |
Trade | Air Bomber |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Coker Lake, Manitoba; 20km west of Caribou River Park Reserve |
Country | Canada |
Memorial Type | Lake |
Memorial Text |
Location | Lancaster Industrial Estate, Witchford, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Pillar with inscribed Slate Tablets & Metal Plaques |
Memorial Text | In honour of those who served during the Second World War 1939 - 1945 |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/890/10 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/890/9 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 29-05-1943 |
End Date | 30-05-1943 |
Takeoff Station | East Wretham |
Day/Night Raid | Night (16% moon) |
Operation | Wuppertal. 719 aircraft, 33 losses(4.6%). PFF target marking and the resultant main force bombing was especially accurate, leading to what was probably the first instance of a 'firestorm'. Five of the six largest factories in the town, 211 other industrial premises and almost 4000 homes were completely destroyed. Approximately 3400 deaths- five times greater than any other city raid. |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed east of Hechtel, Belgium |