Looking for details of 21 Sqn Sergeant Pilot F.Cocking RAFVR

[BlenheimBuff]

Hi,

I'm doing some research on this pilot who is listed as killed on 12th October 1941 aged 19. Can't find him amongst the Blenheim crews shot down on this date (those appear to be from 82 Sqn and 226 Sqn), so perhaps it was a training accident or ground accident? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[Ex Shack]

Hi
From "Blenheim" by Graham Warner, Cocking's death was non-operational. He was low flying in Blenheim IV, Z9737, when it struck a tree and crashed near a place identified as Kingerby ,there is such a place about 5mls NW of Market Rasen, Lincolnshire and his death is registered at Caistor. Sgt F Cocking, Sgt M Counter and Sgt E Gill were all killed
Regards
Dick

[BlenheimBuff]

Thanks for the information Dick, it explains why I couldn't find reference to the crash as an operational loss.

Quite interesting that the crash site was so close to Market Rasen, as that is where the Pilot originated from.

Thanks again.

[Ex Shack]

Hi
Have you considered the possibility of unauthorised low flying designed to impress the pilot's family? Perhaps a look in the archive of the local newspapers might give a little more, although the incident would probably not be published until sometime after it happened due to wartime censorship.
Regards
Dick

[BlenheimBuff]

Hello Dick,

Yes, the thought had crossed my mind, flying that low really wouldn't seem normal training procedure. I also read in another forum that the record of Bomber Command Losses had this crash happening at a place with a slightly different name ('Kingesby' as opposed to 'Kingerby'), so perhaps the record was 'massaged' slightly to avoid embarrassment to the Squadron and the Pilot's family?

The idea about researching the local press archives is excellent, I might also have a look on the UK historic census sites to see if there is any useful information there as well.

Thanks again for your help.

Regards,

Ian