David Coke

David Arthur Coke, DFC, (/ˈkʊk/ KUUK;[nb 1] 4 December 1915 – 9 December 1941) was a flight lieutenant in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve during the Second World War, and is credited with two destroyed, two probables, and two damaged aircraft during his service.[1] He is known in popular culture for his friendship with the author Roald Dahl while serving in the Royal Air Force.[2]

Not to be confused with persons named David Cooke.

David Arthur Coke
Born(1915-12-04)4 December 1915
Norfolk, England
Died9 December 1941(1941-12-09) (aged 26)
Acroma, Libya
Buried
Knightsbridge War Cemetery, Acroma
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Air Force
Years of service1939–1941
RankFlight lieutenant
Battles/warsSecond World War
AwardsDistinguished Flying Cross

Early life and family

The second son of Thomas Coke, 4th Earl of Leicester and Marion Gertrude (née Trefusis), Coke was godson of King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom. He was a graduate of Trinity College, Cambridge.[3]

Second World War

Coke joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR) in June 1939, the summer before war broke out, and attended No. 5 Operational Training Unit in April 1940. He was promoted to the rank of acting pilot officer on 3 September 1940.[4] By August 1940 he flew a Hawker Hurricane with No. 257 Squadron RAF during the Battle of Britain as a pilot officer. On 12 August 1940, his Hurricane (P3776) was badly shot up over the English Channel off Portsmouth. His finger was amputated and the aircraft was repaired.[5] Posted to 46 Squadron in December 1940, Coke was then promoted to flying officer.[6]

He went on to fight in the Balkans campaign with No. 33 Squadron and the Syria–Lebanon campaign with No. 80 Squadron RAF. During this period with No. 80 squadron, he became friends with famed author Roald Dahl, as detailed in Dahl's autobiography Going Solo.[2]

While serving in Libya, Coke was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his work in an attack on enemy transport and for his leadership as a flight lieutenant. The citation read:[7]

Flight Lieutenant The Hon. David Arthur COKE (73042), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 80 Squadron (since missing).
This officer participated in an attack on enemy transport on the El-Adem-Acroma road one day in November 1941, in which a large number of vehicles, tanks and mechanised transport were bombed and machine-gunned. The damage inflicted played a very large part in the blocking of the road. By his skill and leadership, Flight Lieutenant Coke contributed materially to the success achieved. In addition to the low flying machine-gunning operations which have been carried out, Flight Lieutenant Coke has led the squadron with great success in air combat. During an engagement 2 days later, the squadron shared in the destruction of 5 Messerschmitt 109's.

Coke was killed in action by enemy Bf 109s in Acroma, Cyrenaica, Africa on Tuesday 9 December 1941, five days after his twenty-sixth birthday, and buried at Knightsbridge War Cemetery, Acroma, Libya (Ref. B.A. 3. B. 18).[8][9]

Notes
  1. The family name was pronounced in the same way as the name "Cook".

References
  1. Those Other Eagles by C. Shores (2004), p. 111ISBN 1904010881
  2. Roald Dahl (2 February 2012). Going Solo. Penguin Books Limited. ISBN 978-0-14-196533-8.
  3. Burke's Peerage, 1939 ("Leicester").
  4. "No. 34986". The London Gazette. 5 November 1940. p. 6399.
  5. http://www.the-battle-of-britain.co.uk/pilots/Co-pilots.html#CokeDA
  6. "No. 35335". The London Gazette. 4 November 1941. p. 6376.
  7. "No. 34986". The London Gazette. 5 November 1940. p. 7298.
  8. Profile, roll-of-honour.com; accessed 5 April 2014.
  9. Profile, cwgc.org; accessed 5 April 2014.

Bibliography
  • Profile, thepeerage.com; accessed 5 April 2014.
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