Cotton, Walter
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Walter |
Surname | Cotton |
Gender | M |
Age | 22 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 18-03-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of John and Hilda Cotton, of Notting Hill, London. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax V |
Serial Number | LL178 |
Markings | WL-R |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Chelmsford (Writtle Road) Churchyard |
Grave Reference | Grave 5697. |
Epitaph | THOUGH YOU ARE GONE FROM OUR SIGHT YOU STILL LIVE IN OUR HEARTS |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 149 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1392583 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 434 (Bluenose) |
Trade | WOp/AG |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Kepwick Bank, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Wooden Cross & Inscribed Plastic Plaque |
Memorial Text | In memory of the crew of Halifax LL178 of 434 Sqn RCAF which crashed while returning from ops on 19th March 1944 |
Location | Race Control Building, Croft Auto Circuit, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | In memory of those who served at RAF Croft, 1941-1945 including 419 Sqn RCAF |
Location | Roadside Location, A167, Dalton on Tees, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Memorial topped with metal statue |
Memorial Text | In memory of those who served at RAF Croft, 1941-1945 including 419 Sqn RCAF |
Location | Village Green, Tholthorpe, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone with inscribed Metal Plaque and Maple Tree |
Memorial Text | A memorial to those Canadians who served at RCAF Tholthorpe during WW2, including 434 Sqn RCAF |
Location | Former Control Tower, old Tholthorpe airfield site, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | A memorial to those Canadians who served at RCAF Tholthorpe during WW2, including 434 Sqn RCAF |
Miscellaneous Information
The aircraft bore the name 'The Old Straw Hat' |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 18-03-1944 |
End Date | 19-03-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Croft |
Day/Night Raid | Night (37% moon) |
Operation | Mining off Heligoland, Germany |
Reason for Loss | Crashed at Thorodale, Yorkshire on return leg due to poor visibility |