RNZAF Biographies of Deceased Personnel: 1939 - 1945, Co - Dy

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Bound Volumes of Royal New Zealand Air Force Biographies of Deceased Personnel from 1939 to 1945, encompassing names from Co to Dy. Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira and Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga Archives New Zealand are working in collaboration to transcribe these biographies for loading into individual Online Cenotaph records.

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402852. Pilot Officer Kenneth James COAKLEY Parents: Mr. and Mrs. E. G. Coakley of Greymouth.

Kenneth Coakley was born at Shannon on the 14th March 1919. He received his secondary education at the Greymouth Technical High School, passing the School Certificate examination. He was employed with the Public Works and Labour Departments at Westport, and later with the Iron and Steel Department at Takaka. When applying for enlistment in Aircrew, on the 31st January 1940, he was employed in a clerical capacity by the Air Department at Wellington. Pilot officer Coakley was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Levin, on the 1st September 1940, and proceeded to New Plymouth on the 28th of the same month for his elementary flying training; then on the 23rd November, to No. 3 Service Flying Training School, Ohakea. Here, on the 1st March 1941, he was awarded the flying badge and promoted to the rank of Sergeant. While overseas, on the 1st October 1941 he was further promoted to Flight Sergeant, and commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer on the 13th January 1942. Meantime, on the 27th March 1941, he had embarked by the "Aorangi" for the United Kingdom. Pilot Officer Coakley arrived at No. 1 Depot, Uxbridge, on the 22nd April, and proceeded on the 19th May to No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth. A few days later, he was posted to No. 17 Operational Training Unit, Upwood, Huntingdonshire, for crewing up and completion of his training as pilot of Blenheim Aircraft, before posting with No. 21 Squadron to Luqa, Malta. Pilot Officer Coakley was the Captain of a Blenheim Aircraft engaged during the 14th January 1942, in a shipping patrol off the Kerkenneh Islands, north of the African Coast. His aircraft was seen to be hit by anti-aircraft fire, crashing into the sea, and exploding on impact. In consequence, all the crew, including Pilot Officer Coakley, were classified as

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missing. In due course his death was presumed to have occurred at sea without trace on the 14th January 1942.

5/3/941 A S 2 No log book.

Mrs. M. A M. Oakley (Mother) Albert Street, GREYMOUTH.

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NZ40643 Pilot Officer Alan Edward COATES WIDOW: Mrs. E.M. Coates of St. Heliers, AUCKLAND. MOTHER: Mrs. E.A.M. Coates of St. Heliers, AUCKLAND.

Alan Coates was born at Auckland on the 15th December, 1911 and received his secondary education at the Auckland Grammar School reaching matriculation standard. From the time of leaving school in 1930 until applying for a Short Service Commission on the 22nd of March, 1939, he was employed in farming by Mr. R. Shakespear at Whangaparara. Although accepted for a Commission, this was altered to enlistment for war service on the outbreak of hostilities. Pilot Officer Coates was enlisted in the Initial Training Wing, Levin, on the 13th February, 1940 and proceeded to No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School, New Plymouth on the 8th April, to commence his flying training, then on the 3rd June to No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School, Blenheim. Here on the 21st September, he was awarded the flying badge and promoted to the rank of Sergeant. While overseas on the 1st September, 1941 he was further promoted to Flight Sergeant, to Warrant Officer on the 1st April 1942, and commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer on the 1st May 1942. Meantime on the 6th October 1940 he had embarked by the "Mataroa" at Wellington for the United Kingdom. Pilot Officer Coates arrived at No. 1 Depot, Uxbridge, Middlesex on the 30th November and proceeded to No. 2 School of General Reconnaissance, Cranage Cheshire on the 14th December, and then on the 8th March, 1941, to No. 3 Operational Training Unit, Cranwell, Lincolnshire. On the 10th May he was posted to No. 502 Squadron St. Eval, Cornwall, and with this squadron took part in a number of anti-submarine patrols as pilot of Whitely aircraft. Pilot Officer Coates was the pilot of a Whitely aircraft engaged on the 15th September, 1942 in an anti-submarine patrol, and which failed to return to its base. All the crew, including Pilot Officer Coates were classified as missing. In due course his death was presumed to have occurred on the 16th September 1942. Subsequently information was recieved through the International Red Cross that a number of the crew had been picked up by a French Fishing boat and taken prisoner by the Germans a fortnight later. He revealed that the aircraft had been forced to land on the sea 150 miles west of Brest and Pilot Officer Coates died from wounds in the dinghy on the 16th September, 1942.

5/2/740 AS2 No Log Book Found Mrs. E. M Coates (widow) 43 Polygon Road, St. Heliers E. 1. AUCKLAND

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HD/NF 421318: Sergeant Dudley Dobson COATES WIFE: Mrs. W. Coates of Napier (1 child) FATHER: Mr. W. T. Coates of Gisborne

Dudley Coates was born on the 21st September, 1909, at Napier, and received his secondary education at Te Karaka District High School, where he attained Intermediate Standard. The sports in which he was actively interested included rugby, rowing, athletics, and tennis. He was a representative of Poverty Bay in three of the former. On leaving school he took up employment at The Gisborne Times, as a linotype operator. At the time of his making application for aircrew training - on the 9th April, 1941 - he was employed in the same capacity by The Daily Telegraph Ltd., Napier. He served in the Territorials for 3 years. Sgt. Coates was enlisted at Rotorua on 25th February, 1942, and, on satisfactorily completing his initial training, embarked for Canada on the 27th April, 1942. Shortly after arrival in Canada Sgt. Coates was posted to No. 4 Air Observers' School, London, Ontario, where he was awarded the air navigators badge and promoted to the rank of Sergeant on 11th September, 1942. On completion of the course at this schoolm he was posted to No. 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia, for embarkation to the United Kingdom. Sgt. Coates arrived at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, on the 9th October, 1942, and shortly afterwards was posted to No. 9 (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit, Penrhos, Caernarvonshire. On the 29th September he proceeded to No. 11 Operational Training Unit, Westcott, Buckinghamshire, where he trained as a navigator on Wellington bomber aircraft. On the 23rd March, 1943, he was posted to No. 1651 Conversion Unit, Waterbeach,

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D. D. COATES. 2. Cambridgeshire, for a course on Stirling bomber aircraft prior to being posted to No. 75 Squadron, Mildenhall, Suffolk, on the 19th May. With No. 75 Sqd. he carried out, as navigator on a Stirling bomber aircraft, one minelaying mission in the Frisian Islands area. On the 25th May, 1943, Sgt. Coates was navigator of a Stirling bomber aircraft which took off from Mildenhall for the taget of Dusseldorf and failed to return to its base. This was his 2nd operational flight. All the members of the crew, including Sgt. Coates, were reported missing. Later, information received from Air Ministry stated that the crew of a vessel recovered the body of Sgt. Coates from the sea off the Belgian coast between le Coq-sur-Mer and Catende. In consequence of this he was reclassified missing, believed killed in action. Further information, received from the International Red Cross Committee, quoting German information, revealed that he was buried in the Parish Cemetery, Ostende. Subsequently his death was officially presumed. The other RNZAF members of the crew were Sgt. T.W. Darton (Pilot) of Gisborne, and Sgt. J.M.P. Riordan (A/B) of Auckland.

5/2/9960 AS2 282 hrs, as navigator

Mrs. W. Z. Coates (W) 2 Delhi Road, NAPIER

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