Eric Harold Cooper
Eric Harold Cooper was an LMS railway porter in 1939.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
He was the son of Henry and Julia Cooper and the brother of Cyril, May, Eva and Ivy Cooper of East Stoke, Nottinghamshire.
WERKENDAM PROTESTANT CEMETERY Row 8. Grave 3.
Stirling I W7567 took off from Stradishall to bomb Duisburg. 215 aircraft took part in the raid - 93 Wellingtons, 45 Lancasters, 39 Stirlings and 38 Halifaxes. 7 planes were lost - 3 Wellingtons, 2 Lancasters and 2 Stirlings. The operation killed 65 German citizens and caused some housing damage.
W7567 on the way to their target in the Ruhr was attacked and crippled by a Ju -88 night fighter over the Dutch town of Oss. Jack Dempsey Peel (an American citizen also RAFVR) the pilot turned the stricken aircraft around and attempted to land on the Biesbosch near the Dutch town of Werkendam (Noord Brabant) 18 km NW of Waalwijk Holland.
The aircraft is reported to have exploded as it attempted to land - one of the crew, Sergeant H C Fairhill, survived and was taken POW. Eric H Cooper and five of his crew mates were killed and they were buried at Werkendam. 6 fatalities: EH Cooper +
Pilot Officer J D Peel (RCAF), Sergeant P J Withers, Sergeant D F Dobson, Sergeant J B Fleming (RCAF), Sergeant F A W Thorne, Stirling W7567, 214 Squadron, aircraft failed to return from an operational flight over Duisburg, Germany, 24 July 1942.
Eric Cooper was trained as an Air Gunner and initially posted to 101 Sqdn (operating Wellingtons) in June 1942. In early July 1942, he was posted to 214 (FMS) Sqdn (operating Stirlings).
Thanks to Dick Hallam for his contributions to this record.
Eric Harold Cooper
Photo courtesy of Dick Hallam. Eric Cooper was his uncle on his mother’s side of the family. It was sent by Cooper to his mother after passing out as an air gunner. It proudly displays his AG brevet and sergeant's stripes.
Eric Harold Cooper's CWGC headstone. Dick Hallam laid the wreath.
Photo courtesy of Dick Hallam. Eric Cooper was his uncle on his mother’s side of the family. It was sent by Cooper to his mother after passing out as an air gunner. It proudly displays his AG brevet and sergeant's stripes.Dick Hallam notes ‘The wonderful people of Werkendam greatly honour all our fallen (24) every year on May 4 and also light candles on each grave at Christmas.’