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

HD/NF

Arthur Coe was born on the 23rd January, 1920, at Christchurch and received his secondary education at Southbridge District High School, where he passed his Senior Free Place examination. The sports in which he was actively interested included cricket and shooting. He was a member of the Territorials for 10 months, serving in the A.S.C. At the time of his making application for aircrew training - on the 19th January, 1940- he was employed by his father in farming at Irwell, Canterbury.

Flying Officer Coe was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Levin, on the 24th November, 1940, and on the satisfactory completion of his initial training, he embarked on board the "Empress of Russia" on the 6th January, 1941, for Canada under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

F/O Coe, on arrival in Canada, was posted to No. 4 Air Observers' School, London, Ontario, and thence - on the 13th April, - to No. 4 Bombing and Gunnery School, Fingal, also in Ontario, where - on the 26th May, 1941 - he was awarded the air observers' badge and promoted to the rank of Sergeant. On the 26th May, 1941 he proceeded to No. 1 Advanced Navigation School, Rivers, Manitoba, where he was awarded his air navigator's badge, and thence - on the 29th June-to No. 1 "M" Depot, Debert, Nova Scotia, for embarkation to the United Kingdom.

F/O Coe arrived at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, on the 29th July and was posted on the 16th August to No. 25 Operational Training Unit, Finningley, Yorkshire. On the 9th November he was involved in a flying accident, receiving burns on his hands. He was admitted to the Doncaster Infirmary on the 9th November and transferred to the R.A.F. Hospital, Rauceby,

A. J. COE.

2.

Lincolnshire, on the 19th November. As a result of the accident he had two fingers amputated, a fractured right leg, and his ears and face burnt. He was discharged from hospital in January, 1942. On the 10th May, 1942, he embarked for New Zealand on repatriation, arriving in New Zealand on the 15th August, 1942.

F/O Coe was posted to Rongotai on the 12th September, and thence - on the 16th November - to Gisborne. On the 24th November he proceeded to the Officers' School of Instruction, Levin, for a course, at the conclusion of which he was commissioned on the 26th November, 1942 in the Administrative & Special Duties Branch in the rank of Pilot Officer. He proceeded on the 28th December to Headquarters, Northern Group, Auckland, as an operations officer and was transferred on the 24th February, 1943, to Air Headquarters, Wellington, and thence on the 1st July to Whenuapai. He applied for a remuster to aircrew, and, on passing the medical examination he was transferred from the A. & S.D. Branch to the Ground Duties Branch on the 23rd July, 1943. He again embarked on the 14th October, 1943, for the United Kingdom.

F/O Coe disembarked on the 3rd December at No. 12 (RNZAF) Personnel Reception Centre, Brighton, and was posted on the 29th April, 1944, to No. 9 (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit, Llandwrog, Caernarvonshire. He was promoted to Flying Officer on the 23rd January, 1944. On the 18th July, 1944, he was posted to No. 13 Operational Training Unit, Bicester, Oxfordshire, where he crewed up and completed his training as a bomb aimer on Anson and Mosquito aircraft.

A. J. COE.

3.

F/O Coe was posted on the 16th September, 1944, to No. 487 (NZ) Bomber Squadron, which was operating from forward bases on the continent. He took part as bomb aimer on Mosquito aircraft in numerous operational flights. The duties included straffing trains, troops and gun positions, patrols over the sea off the coast of Holland and Denmark and also intruder flights over enemy occupied towns and cities in Belgium, Holland and Germany. On one of these raids he attacked the Gestapo Headquarters at Aarhus, Denmark.

On the night of 6th April, 1945, F/O Coe was the bomb aimer on a Mosquito aircraft which struck a telegraph pole and crashed shortly after taking off on an intruder operation to attack the Ensly Communications. Both members of the crew were killed, including F/O Coe and the pilot A/S/L I.G. Medwin of Hamilton. He had successfully completed 29 operational flights. F/O Coe was buried in the Anzac Cemetery, Villers, Brettoneux, France.

AUS.23756 Sergeant Kelvin COGHILL. MOTHER. Mrs. I. Coghill of Timaru.

Kevin Coghill was born at Balclutha on the 12th October, 1905 and received his education at Tekowairin High School, Milton, where he passed the Proficiency examination. After leaving school he was employed on various sheep stations in Otago becoming a shearing expert. On the outbreak of war he proceeded to Australia, and on the 8th November, 1940 enlisted as a trainee technical in the Royal Australian Air Force.

From No.3 Recruit Depot, where he was first stationed, Sgt. Coghill was posted on the 8th December, 1940 to No. 3 School of Technical Training. Following this, on the 30th March, 1941 he proceeded to No. 1 Engineering School. At the completion of his technical training, he applied for aircrew training, and on the 21st August, 1941 he was posted to No. 1 Bombing and Air Gunnery School. On the 30th January, 1942, he was posted to No. 2 Embarkation Depot to await embarkation for the United Kingdom.

Shortly after his arrival in England, Sergeant Coghill was posted on the 7th February, 1942 to No. 10 (R.A.A.F.) Squadron, Leeming, Yorkshire, remaining with this Squadron during the remainder of his service. On the 21st June, 1943 he was awarded his Air Gunner and flight engineer badges. While with this Squadron, Sgt. Coghill took part in thirty seven anti-submarine patrols.

Sergeant Coghill was a member of the crew of a bomber aircraft which took off on the 17th November, 1943 to carry out an anti-submarine patrol in the Bay of Biscay. The aircraft failed to return to its base and all its crew including Sergeant Coghill was classified as missing. No news of the aircraft or any of its crew was received and in due course Sgt. Coghill's death was officially presumed to have occurred on the 17th November, 1943 as the result of air operations.

Geoffrey Coldham was born at Auckland on the 24th October 1921, and received his secondary education at the Mount Albert Grammar School, passing the University Entrance examination, and gaining a school certificate. He afterwards attended Auckland University College studying for the B.Sc. degree. He played hockey for the school 1st. XI, and was in the athletic team; afterwards he played tennis for the University Club. When applying for enlistment in aircrew, on the 24th June 1940, he was employed by Mr. E.V.Blake, Surveyor and Civil engineer of Auckland.

Pilot Officer Coldham was enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Levin, on the 4th May 1941, and posted to Harewood on the 15th June, for his elementary flying training; then, on the 26th July to No.1 Service Flying Training School, Woodbourne, Blenheim. Here, on the 6th September he was awarded the flying badge and commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer on the 18th October. During November he commenced an instructors' course at the Flying Instructors' School, Tauranga, being then posted to Whenuapai on the 12th January 1942, after completing the course. He served at Whenuapai on instructor duties and at Taieri in a similar capacity after proceeding there on the 9th February.

Pilot Officer Coldham was the pilot of a Tiger Moth aircraft which crashed at Gore on the 11th June 1942, Pilot Officer Coldham losing his life. He was buried in the