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 |
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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Add my storyBiography 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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