Looking for Loss Details and Personal Details on this Australian in the RAF

Any assistance would be appreciated.

There is a photo of him on Ancestry however I do not have an account.

Name:Ronald Jack Cooper
Birth:1919, Junee, New South Wales, Australia
Death:1941, Derna, Libya


In Memory of
Flying Officer
Ronald Jack Cooper
D F C
43281, 38 Sqdn., Royal Air Force
who died on 26 November 1941 Age 22
Son of Sidney Augustus Cooper and of Hessie Muriel Cooper (nee Horken), of Wagga Wagga, New South
Wales, Australia.
Remembered with Honour
Alamein Memorial

10th Apr. 1940.
Ronald George ASH (43278).
Jack Clarence BURRASTON (43279).
Colin Deans CHAPMAN (43280).
Ronald Jack COOPER (43281).
Geoffrey James CORNISH (43282).
John Dallas GROSSMAN (43283).
Jack Cranwell DALE (43284).
James Lee HERON (43285).
Allan James HOLLAND (43286).
Kent Ryder HUGHES (43287).
Hugh Murtagh MACROSSAN (43288).
John McIntosH (43289).
Philip Bennett MOORE (43290).
John Francis PAIN (43291).
Malcolm James PREECE (43292).
John Oliver SLATTER (43293).
Albert TINDALL (43294).
12th Apr. 1940.


Commemorative Roll - Ronald Jack Cooper

Service number: 43281
Rank: Flying Officer
Unit: 38 Squadron
Service: Royal Air Force
Conflict: 1939-1945
Date of death: 26 November 1941
Place of death: North Africa
Cause of death: Killed in action
Cemetery or memorial details: Alamein Memorial, Egypt
Source: AWM file



Honours and Awards - Ronald Jack Cooper

Service number: 43281
Rank: Flying Officer
Unit: 38 Sqn RAF
Service: RAF
Conflict: Second World War, 1939-1945
Award: Distinguished Flying Cross
Date of London Gazette: 16 March 1943
Location in London Gazette: Page 1246, position 2


D.F.C. WINNER DEAD
MELBOURNE, Friday.-A posthumous award of the Distinguished Flying Cross has been made to Flying Officer Ronald Jack Cooper, an Australian who met his death while
serving with the R.A.F.
This was announced today by the Minister for Air, Mr. Drakeford, who said that, before enlisting in the R.A.F. in 1939, Flying-Officer Cooper had lived with his parents at Eurongilly, via Junee, New South Wales. He had attended the Yanco Agricultural High School and Sydney University.
The citation to the award stated that, since 1940, Cooper had carried out many operational sorties with the R.A.F. and had at all times shown great coolness and determination. One night in September, 1941, during a raid on Tripoli, his aircraft was hit by anti aircraft fire which ignited a parachute flare. The aircraft caught fire but, under Flying-Officer Cooper's direction, the flames were extinguished and the aircraft was flown to its base.

The undermentioned Acting Pilot Officers
on probation are graded as Pilot Officers on
probation: —
7th Sept. 1940.
Leslie Richard EVANS (42702).
Ronald Jack COOPER (43281).
Father: Sydney Augustus Cooper Birth/Chris: ... 1884 at ... Death/Burial: ... 1955 at ... Mother: Hessie Muriel Hosken Birth/Chris: ... 1884 at ... Death/Burial: ... 1983 at ... Married: ... 1906 at ... Children: 1. Cooper, Sydney James - Birth/Chris: ... 1903 at ...
2. Cooper, Stella May - Birth/Chris: ... 1908 at ...
3. Cooper, Edgar Leslie - at ...
4. Cooper, Maxwell William - Birth/Chris: ... 1916 at ...
5. DFC, Ronald Jack Cooper - Birth/Chris: ... 1919 at ...
6. Cooper, Neville George - at ...

Flying Officer Ronald Jack COOPER (43281), No. 38
Squadron (deceased), awarded with effect from
28th October,. 1941.

 

Geoff, the following is taken from 'RAF Bomber Losses In The Middle East And Mediterranean - D. Gunby / P. Temple.

26-27 November 1941

38 Squadron
Wellington IC Z8736 - Q
Op. Derna

Took off from LG09 circa 1700 hrs but failed to return. Sent an SOS when a few miles from Derna, Severe electrical were reported by other crews.

Crew.
F/O. R J. Cooper +
Sgt. A D. Wren +
P/O. P. Eastman +
Sgt. L. Peaker +
Sgt. T. McNeil +
F/S. G J. McKhool RCAF +

'

 

Geoff, the following is taken from 'RAF Bomber Losses In The Middle East And Mediterranean - D. Gunby / P. Temple.

26-27 November 1941

38 Squadron
Wellington IC Z8736 - Q
Op. Derna

Took off from LG09 circa 1700 hrs but failed to return. Sent an SOS when a few miles from Derna, Severe electrical were reported by other crews.

Crew.
F/O. R J. Cooper +
Sgt. A D. Wren +
P/O. P. Eastman +
Sgt. L. Peaker +
Sgt. T. McNeil +
F/S. G J. McKhool RCAF +

'

Thanks Peter,

Great help again!

Cheers

Geoff

 

I realise I am coming in 4 years after the postings before this one, but I have just spent a lot of time on researching RJ Cooper. Your site has only just come up today. I had already found all the information on your site apart from one very important bit that i had specifically been looking for, namely, the citation for his DFC. Even the AWM didn't have it and I hadn't been able to turn it up in UK Archives. So very pleased to get that. There's also a London Gazette reference missing to note his promotion from Flying Pilot to Flying officer. I also haven't found that. Maybe it never got recorded.

I wanted to post a pic but keep getting told the extension is n

 

I realise I am coming in 4 years after the postings before this one, but I have just spent a lot of time on researching RJ Cooper. Your site has only just come up today. I had already found all the information on your site apart from one very important bit that i had specifically been looking for, namely, the citation for his DFC. Even the AWM didn't have it and I hadn't been able to turn it up in UK Archives. So very pleased to get that. There's also a London Gazette reference missing to note his promotion from Flying Pilot to Flying officer. I also haven't found that. Maybe it never got recorded.

I wanted to post a pic but keep getting told the extension is not allowed!

 

Hi Geoff

Just seen this thread - do not know if you already have the photos above - if not they you have now

I have also added a few more images you may or may not have


View attachment ronald jack cooper Reported Missing 1.pdf
View attachment ronaldJack Cooper - Squadron Photo.pdf
View attachment ronaldjackcooperHonors _ Awards DFC.pdf


TD

 

Hello,

Plt. Offs. to be Flg.Offs. (war subs.) 7th Sept 1941 RJ Cooper (43281)
Gazette entry here https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35335/page/6373
Rgds

Pete