Sergeant Walter William Cooke, D.F.M., R.A.F., 179 Squadron

I have just registered with this site and seen the information on Sgt W W Cooke who was Wireless Operator with my father (S/L A W Southall) for many operational fights in 179 squadron.

I have just compared your information you published on 30 Jan 2010 from the Distinguished Flying Medal Register about four attacks made with the entry in may father's log book.

1st Attack

19/20 Nov 1942 Wellington LA971

Pilot S/L A W Southall
Co Pilot P/O Elisha
Sgt Sutton
Sgt Cochran
F/L Macgregor
Sgt Cooke

Duty :

Night take off. Anti-sub patrol Westwards from Gibraltar. U-boat sighted and attacked 200 mls NE of Madiera.

2nd Attack

No flying recorded for 18 Dec 42 but details in register align with flight on 8/9 Dec 42.

Details as for Attack 1 except Wellington LA 976

Duty:
Anti sub-patrol eastwards. Sub patrolling off Oran sighted and attacked 10 secs after diving.

3rd Attack
Details as for attack 2 except

10 Dec 42

Duty: Anti-sub patrol eastwards. Sub patrolling off SE Spain sighted and attacked. Sub fired from two guns but a/c damaged by two rounds only.

4th Attack

14 Dec 42

Details as for attack 3 except for

Wellington HX720

Duty: Midnight take off. Anti sub Patrol off SE Spain sighted and attacked. Sub fired from two guns but this time no hits. Very pleasing straddle
(5 Torpex).

The Air staff comment on the second attack "Every effort is being made to find some way of illuminating attacks" seems to ignore that 179 squadron Wellingtons were Leigh Light equipped. Though it is possible that the change of aircraft necessitated from the damage received from the attack four nights before resulted in a non Leigh Light Wellington being used. If that is so the success of the attack is even more commendable.

Finally I see you have obtained information from the Distinguished Flying Medal Register for Sgt Cooke. Is there a similar register for DSO, DFC and AFC which my father was awarded? If so how could I get access to it?


I have a letter from Sgt W W Cooke which he wrote to my brother in 1992 after he had learned of the 1985 death our father. He mentions that they flew a total of 850 hours together (of which 500 were at night) which was a remarkable length of partnership in wartime and they completed 6 U-boats attacks together. They clearly had a great deal of respect for each others skills.


Hi andys, i have been reading with interest the information that you posted on your father, who flew with ww Cooke, he was my grandfather. Have you managed to find any further information out .

 

I am also interested in finding any information on Leslie John Thomas jones who was in the r.e.m.e ww2. Does anyone have any information regarding this. Many thanks

 

Hi andys, not very sure what I am doing on this site, but I was recently doing some research on my grandfather Walter William Cooke born co.cork 1916 and I came across your posts. Did you have any look finding information on your father.