COWPER, Lionel Henry Cadogan
| Service Numbers: | A 33831, O33831 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 27 February 1950 |
| Last Rank: | Pilot Officer |
| Last Unit: | No. 77 Squadron (RAAF) |
| Born: | Auckland, New Zealand, 4 November 1926 |
| Home Town: | Beaconsfield, Cardinia, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Flying Battle, North Korea, 30 March 1952, aged 25 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Pilot Officer Cowper's body was never recovered and is therefore regarded as missing, presumed killed in action., United Nations Memorial Cemetery, Busan, Korea |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Cootamundra Korean War Memorial, Griffith Korean War Missing In Action Honour Roll, Gympie Memorial Lane Murals, Ipswich Korean War Memorial, Korea United Nations Memorial Cemetery Wall of Remembrance, Lithgow War Memorial, Norfolk Island Korean War Memorial, Wagga Wagga Korean Memorial |
Korean War Service
| 27 Feb 1950: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, A 33831 | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Jun 1950: | Involvement Pilot Officer, O33831, No. 77 Squadron (RAAF) | |
| 3 Jan 1952: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, O33831 |
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Provided to VWMA for publication by “Historical Unrecovered War Casualties – Air Force”.
Service History
Pilot Officer Lionel Henry Cadogan COWPER, O33831 was born 4 November 1926 in Auckland NZ. He resided in Middle Brighton Melbourne Victoria and achieved Intermediate Victorian education certificate in 1943 and worked for 6 years with Government aircraft Factory Fishermen's Bend Melbourne between 1944 and 1950. This included three years as an apprentice Fitter and another three years as a Cadet Aeronautical Engineer. He was a keen Cross Country runner and his club was the Malvern Harriers. He enlisted into RAAF 27 Feb 1950 Pilot trainee and after graduation he was posted to 77Squadron in Korea on 2 Jan 1952. He was awarded US Air medal for Meritorious Achievement in aerial combat flying Meteor aircraft over period 04-18 Feb 1952 and he was listed as Missing believed killed on 30Mar 1952, aged 26.
Mission Summary
Pilot Officer Lionel Henry Cadogan COWPER, Service No: O33831/450490, DoB: 4 November 1926, MIA 30 March, 1952, LKP TOKYO GRID YC 341 144 latitude and longitude 38 03 12.68N 125 39 58.51E
On 30 Mar 1952, PLTOFF Cowper was part of six Meteor aircraft formation tasked to carry rocket strikes on pre-briefed stores and installation in Haeju area. The six Meteors were briefed to salvo their rockets in a single pass at the target. At approx. 1555 Hrs the attack was commenced, PLTOFF Cowper as number 4 called “going in” when he was hit by ground fire and did not recover from the dive and crashed near the target. There was no sign of the pilot ejecting. LKP TOKYO GRID YC 341 144 latitude and longitude 38 03 12.68N 125 39 58.51E
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