On 11th November 1942 the pilot of this No.9 Operational Training Unit aircraft made a navigation error during a transit flight between Crosby on Eden and Thornaby airfields, as a result he became lost in bad weather and was left to force land the aircraft on Keighley golf course at 10.55hrs. The aircraft landed on one of the fairways but before it
stopped it struck a ridge and the undercarriage collapsed, the aircraft then tipped up onto it's nose. The pilot was slightly
injured and the aircraft slightly damaged but was later repaired.
Pilot - Acting S/Ldr Alec Ernest Cook DFC RAFVR (74329). Injured.
Passenger - LAC William Sidney Scriven RAFVR (1185411).
Alec Cook was born on 23rd July 1919 at Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire. He was granted a commission as P/O on 26th September 1939, he was promoted to F/O on 26th September 1940 and F/Lt (war subs) on 12th December 1941. He was awarded the DFC for service with 235 Squadron while in the rank of Acting S/Ldr on 17th July 1942. The citation reads.. "This officer has led his section on numerous fighter escorts. In June, 1942, when escorting one of our convoys he shot down a Junkers 88, which attempted to attack. He also took part in a fighter escort during a recent air attack on an Italian naval force. Squadron Leader Cook is a courageous and determined leader." He was later Mentioned in Despatches on 14th January 1944 while in the rank of Acting S/Ldr but died on 14th August 1944 while serving with 239 Squadron flying Mosquito HR139 which was reported as missing believed ditched off Ile aux Moines. His body and that of his navigator were recovered and are buried at Ile aux Moines Communal Cemetery, Morbihan, France. He was twenty five years old.
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