Leonard John Coppins
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Youngest Son of : William James Coppins and Florence Coppins nee Bellis of : Hucknall, Nottinghamshire.
Brother to : Willie, Charles, Renie,Stanley and Reggie Coppins.
Husband of : Eileen Coppins nee Moore of : Hucknall, Nottinghamshire, they were married in the January - March Quarter of 1942 in the Basford Registration district of Nottingham.
According to the 1921 Census the Family were living at : 45. Shocbury Road, East Ham, London, E6.
Father, William James Coppins, aged, 42 years 8 months, his Wife, Florence Coppins, aged, 38 years 5 months, Willie Coppins, aged, 14 years 10 months, Charles Coppins, aged, 11 years 6 months, Renie Coppins, aged, 10 years 3 months, Stanley Coppins, aged, 5 years 11 months.
Reggie Coppins, aged, 2 years 6 months, Leonard John Coppins, aged 6 months.
According to an "Essex Newsman" newspaper article published on the 5th February he was living in Chelmsford, Essex.
According to a 1940 London Phone book he had moved to : 37. Fawe Park Road, Putney, London, SW15.
He served with 27 Operational Traing Unit, in 93 Group, Bomber Command, Royal Air Force.
On the 20th March 1943, 27 OTU, Vickers Wellington III, Registration : X3547 with it's Crew of 8 Airmen took off from it's base at RAF Lichfield, Staffordshire on a Cine Camera Gun training Exercise.
A report came in from 949 Balloon Squadron that at : 15.19 Hrs an Aircraft, X3547 had crashed after hitting a balloon cable at : Barrows Green, Cheshire, all of the Wellington's Aircrew perished in the crash.
Other Crew members who were Killed :
Service Number, 1218971, Sergeant, Wireless Operator, Frank Ronald Conway.
Service Number, 401498, Flight Sergeant, William Dennis Keith Forbes.
Service Number, 997003, Sergeant, Air gunner, Leslie Frederick Hills.
Service Number, 911325, Sergeant, Air Gunner, Henry Thomas Holley.
Service Number, 1318732, Sergeant, Air Bomber, John Ernest Rouse.
Service Number, 402813, Flight Sergeant, Leonard David Watson.
Service Number, 1316166, Sergeant, Pilot, Douglas Williams.
Buried : Hucknall Cemetery, Broomhill Road, Hucknall, Nottinghamshire.
Grave Reference : Plot : Section North : Row : Class C. Grave : 2100.
CWGC Refernce : Unknown.
Personal Inscription reads : "Greater love hath no man. He laid down his life for his Country".
Commemorated : International Bomber Command Memorial as : Coppins LJ.
RAF Lichfield Station Memorial adjacent to the Village Hall, Fradley, Staffordshire.
Photo of Leonard John Coppins
Photograph of Flight Sergeant, Leonard John Coppins' headstone and Memorial Urn in Hucknall Cemetery, Nottinghamshire by Gary Crosby on the 13th April 2025.
Photo of Leonard John Coppins
Photograph of the Chapel & Graveyard at Hucknall Cemetery, Nottinghamshire where Flight Sergeant, Leonard John Coppins is buried by Gary Crosby on the 13th April 2025.