Colin Walter COOK

COOK, Colin Walter

Service Numbers: 427803, W24964
Enlisted: 3 October 1941
Last Rank: Leading Aircraftman
Last Unit: No. 6 Service Flying Training School Mallala
Born: Cottesloe, Western Australia, 1 November 1921
Home Town: Fremantle, Fremantle, Western Australia
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Not yet discovered
Died: Accidental (training air accident), Mallala, South Australia, South Australia, Australia, 22 July 1943, aged 21 years
Cemetery: Mallala (Feltwell) War Cemetery, S.A.
Plot B. Row D. Grave 5., Mallala War Cemetery, Mallala, South Australia, Australia
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Mallala Anson W2256 Crash Site
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World War 2 Service

3 Sep 1939: Involvement 427803
3 Oct 1941: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, W24964, 44 Infantry Battalion AMF
6 Oct 1942: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 427803, Perth, Western Australia
6 Oct 1942: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, 427803
22 Jul 1943: Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Leading Aircraftman, 427803, No. 6 Service Flying Training School Mallala, Killed during a training accident
Date unknown: Involvement

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Biography contributed by Paul Trevor

Avro Anson W2256 of 6 Service Flying Training School RAAF, Mallala (6SFTS) crashed 1 1/2 miles north east of Mallala Airfield, South Australia at 0100 hours E.S.T. on 21 July 1943 during a night cross country flight whilst attempting to land in heavy fog. LAC Colin Walter Cook (427803) of 6SFTS was seriously injured in this crash and subsequently died on 22 July 1943.

LAC Cook had earlier taken off at 2143 hours on 20 July 1943. At approximately 2245 hours a dense fog rolled in very quickly to a height of 300 feet. There were six aircraft still out on cross country exercises after the fog rolled in. The pilots all had difficulty finding the airfield. The flare paths were invisible from above 150 feet. Anson W2256 and one other aircraft were missing all night. The pilot of the other aircraft telephoned the unit the next morning at 0715 hours advising that he had landed safely south east of the airfield.

Once the fog had lifted at approximately 0930 hours the next morning, aircraft began searching for Anson W2256 which was soon located close to the airfield, a total wreck. The pilot, LAC Cook, suffering from a fracture of the left thigh, contusions of the face and head, and shock, had been forced to spend the night jammed in his badly smashed cockpit. He was removed from the cockpit at approximately 1100 hours and sent to 6SFTS Sick Quarters. He developed hemorrhage of the brain the following day and subsequently passed away at 1335 hours on 22 July 1943. 21 year old LAC Colin Cook was interred at Mallala Cemetery on 23 July 1943. SOURCE (www.ozatwar.com)

 

"This life is nothing more nor less                                          

Than little acts of kindliness;                                                      

A good word here, a service there,                                            

To lift from mankind some great care.                                          

So let us daily thoughtfully                                                          

Pursue our way rejoicingly;                                                      

In meditation you can smile                                                    

For living's really been worth while." - Verse from memorial card commemorating the life of Leading Aircraftman Colin Walter Cook.

 

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