Cooke, John Peter
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | John Peter |
Surname | Cooke |
Gender | M |
Age | |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 05-10-1944 |
Next of Kin |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | ND904 |
Markings | AA-B |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Rheinberg War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 8. G. 1. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 148 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1816385 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 75 (NZ) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre, East Kirkby, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | In loving memory of Sgt John Peter Cooke, 75 (NZ) Sqn lost in action 5th October 1044 |
Location | A142 Mepal, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Brick Piller and Marble Tablet |
Memorial Text | Former site of RAF Mepal. Home to No 75 (New Zealand) Sqn, No 3 Gp, Bomber Command, 1943-1945 |
Location | Village Centre, Mepal, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Memorial & Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | A stone memorial, donated by former members of 75 (NZ) Sqn RAF stationed at Mepal between 1943 and 1945 |
Location | St. Andrews Church, Sutton, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Roll of Honour in Wooden Case with brass plaque |
Memorial Text | Roll of Honour. Plaque, Presented by 75(NZ) Sqn Association - UK Branch in memory of Comrades named in the Roll of Honour |
Location | St. Marys Church, Feltwell, Norfolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Brick Piller and Marble Tablet |
Memorial Text | A memorial to 75 (NZ) Sqn, RAF. Formed at RAF Feltwell in April 1940 and flew from there until June 1942. The Sqn number was presented to New Zealand becoming 75 Sqn RNZAF in October 1946 until its disbanding in December 2001. |
Location | Newmarket Racecourse, Newmarket, Suffolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Marble Tablet |
Memorial Text | Remembering No 75 (New Zealand) Sqn, No 3 Gp Bomber Command. RAF Newmarket Heath, November 1942 - June 1943 |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/647/20 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/647/19 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 05-10-1944 |
End Date | 06-10-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Mepal |
Day/Night Raid | Night (80% moon) |
Operation | Saarbrucken. 551 aircraft, 3 Lancasters lost (0.5%). A raid in support of (and at the request of) the American Third Army, who were advancing in the direction of Saarbrucken. The purpose was to cut the town off and block supply routes. The bombing was accurate and serious damage was caused, especially near the railway junction north of the River Saar. 5882 houses were destroyed and 344 people were killed. It is thought that much of the population had been moved away from the Siegfried Line, hence the relatively small death toll considering the housing damage. |
Reason for Loss | Collided mid-air with a 115 Sqn Lancaster (PD344 KO-M), both aircraft crashing at Wolsfeld, Germany |