Sergeant Walter William Cooke, D.F.M., R.A.F., 179 Squadron

[dbf]

Sergeant Walter William Cooke was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal.

Sergeant Cooke has completed many operational sorties, many of which have been night anti-submarine operations. A wireless operator of exceptional ability, this airman has been responsible for setting a remarkably high standard of wireless telegraphy. His outstanding success and efficiency have been an inspiration and an example to all other wireless operators, while zeal and vigilance have an example to all other wireless operators, while his zeal and vigilance have contributed greatly to the successes achieved by his crew. On four occasions Sergeant Cooke has participated in successful attacks on enemy U-boats, which have been pressed home with great determination, regardless of the heavy opposition encountered.

Sergeant Cooke was born in 1916 in Co. Cork. His home is at Leicester. In civil occupation he was a designer. He enlisted in 1940 and is now wireless operator/air gunner.

30 July 1943
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/36116/supplements/3487
6 July 1943
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/36084/supplements/3096

Conspicuous Gallantry Medal Flying
654425 Sergeant Walter William Cooke, No. 179 Squadron

See this thread for ref:
http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/research-material/19413-volunteers-eire-who-have-won-distinctions.html#post195852

[Drew5233]

LG 9.7.1943.

Sorties 36, Flying Hours 600.

Wireless Operator.

Air 2/8961.

Sergeant Cooke has flown for 300 hours on night anti-submarine operations. As First Wireless Operator of his crew, he has been responsible for setting a remarkable standard of efficiency, both in wireless telegraphy and in the operation of A.S.V. His outstanding success and efficiency, have been an inspiration and an example, not only to the other two Wireless Operators of his own crew, but to all Wireless Operators in the squadron. His zeal and vigilance in A.S.V. watch-keeping have largely been responsible for the outstanding success of his crew and in particular for the following four attacks on U-Boats:

At 04.00, 20th November 1942, the crew attacked a German U-Boat 300 miles to the west of Gibraltar. The assessment by Costal Command reads - (Naval Staff) "A very pains-staking and successful approach followed by an excellent attack. There seems no reason to doubt that the U-Boat was fairly and squarely straddled by the explosions which, of course, should be lethal. There is the usual difficulty of seeing results at night and obtaining the satisfactions of knowing that the U-Boat is seriously damaged or destroyed". (Air Staff) "Concur. Crew to be congratulated on what appears to be an excellent attack. Every effort is being made to find some way of illuminating night attacks".

At 22.00 hours on 18th December 1942, the same crew attacked a U-Boat off Oran. The Naval Staff at Coastal Command Headquarters assess this attack as "A good A.S.V. approach, but the U-Boat appears to have had warning of the attack developing so that the depth charges could not be released before it disappeared. A night attack makes the placing of a stick very difficult when only the swirl remains as an aiming mark and I think the explosions were out of the lethal range astern the U-Boat". The Air Staff concurred with this assessment.

A third attack was made at 22.00 hours on 10th December 1942,off the Spainish Mediterranean coast. The aircraft honed onto an Italian submarine which promptly opened fire with its anti-aircraft gun and caused considerable damage to the aircraft's port engine, wing and petrol tanks. This attack was assessed by HQCC Naval Staff, "The searchlight attack was carried out in the face of enemy flak but, if the remark in the narrative stating " Release of depth charge was made at 80 feet as the aircraft tracked over the conning tower" is correct, the stick would have been about right for range but would have probably been to far astern for line on exploding. No positive assessment can be given as to what damage was inflicted on the submarine but, at very least , the submarine had a very severe shake-up and a most unplesant experience". The Air Staff commented, " I agree with the above remarks and feel sure the submarine had a most unpleasant night of it".

The fourth attack made in 179 Squadron by this new crew was at 0200 hours on 14th December 1942, again in the Western Mediterranean. In this case, an Italian U-Boat of the "Gomma" Class was attacked in the face of heavey anti-aircraft fire from two guns. The Coastal Command assessment reads (Naval Staff), "A very good A.S.V. approach with an excellent attack. The fact that the aircraft tracked over just forward of the conning tower means that there was no line error and the evidence of the splashes establishes a straddle which, on explosion, should have been just abaft of the conning tower. This is an experienced crew and the rear gunner has observed three other night attacks and knows exactly what to look for; his evidence, therefore, is extremely reliable. This excellent attack, pressed home in the face of heavy and light flak, should have resulted in the destruction of the U-Boat as at least two depth charges must have been within lethal range". The Air Staff comment was "An excellent attack. Well done!"

8th February 1943

The Distinguished Flying Medal Register from the Second World War Vol. I - Ian Tavender.

[Drew5233]

The success obtained by Squadron Leader A W Southall have, to a certain extent, been due to the untiring vigilance of this operator who, during long night patrols, has shown great skill with A.S.V. and marked determination to find and destroy the enemy.

The Distinguished Flying Medal Register from the Second World War Vol. I - Ian Tavender.

[Drew5233]

A Wireless Operator of outsanding ability. The success attained by his crew is in no small measure due to the excellent work of this NCO.

The Distinguished Flying Medal Register from the Second World War Vol. I - Ian Tavender.