Can somebody help me to find more information (career, mission, etc.) about Sgt Coker Charles.K. RCAF, bombardier, J/17259, KIA on the 29 of May 1943. He was a crewmember of the Lancaster DS-627 of 115 Sqn Regards,
Alexander
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HIS NAME I OFT RECALL. THERE IS NOTHING LEFT TO ANSWER BUT HIS PICTURE ON THE WALL
Information about the rest of the crew is always welcome. Crew was first buried on the Allied Cemetry of Saint-Trond (Belgium) and transfered to Heverlee cemetry (Belgium) after the war. Regards,
Alexander
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HIS NAME I OFT RECALL. THERE IS NOTHING LEFT TO ANSWER BUT HIS PICTURE ON THE WALL
I did not know the man, but you have him down as a Sargeant with a "J" Service number. As a Sgt., his would start with an "R": Commissioned Officers start with "J".
Thanks for the information. I checked the CWGC web site and noticed the next details about his rank and serial nr: J/17259 and Pilot Officer (Air Bomber) Could he have been promoted posthumously to the rank of Pilot Officer? I've have him as a Sgt in my database. I've asked a copy of the "Bomber Command Loss Card" at the RAF Museum of Hendon and will soon see which rank he had the day of the crash. I'm also looking after his gravenr on the Allied Cemetry of Saint-Trond (Belgium) Regards and greetings from Belgium,
Alexander
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HIS NAME I OFT RECALL. THERE IS NOTHING LEFT TO ANSWER BUT HIS PICTURE ON THE WALL
Yes Alexander, a lot of Sgts. and Flight Sgts. received their Commissions after being shot down. So, Koker might have been a Pilot Officer posthumously. But, the J17--- is what puzzles me; this indicates he received his Commission before leaving Canada, as I did. Usually they would give him something like J43---. Koker obviously graduated from Bombing & Gunnery & Navigation almost a year ahead of me.