102 (Ceylon) Squadron
Tentate et perficite (Attempt and Achieve)
Sergeant Edward M. Cooke - 961779
R.A.F.V.R. - Topcliffe - 102 Squadron - 'A' Flight - Frankfurt et al - Dalton - Orders is Orders - Sentanced to Life
“A” Flight 102 Squadron
Writing in italic's added by webmaster with permission.
Outside “A" Flight Hangar and crew room,
Standing; Ed Cooke | Don't know
Sitting;
Don't know | Bill Swain | Don't know | Dennis Cramp.
Bill Swain completed his tour of “Ops” in July and was posted out.
Frederick Arthur “Junior” Braybrook, he completed his tour in late August and was posted on, he was the second W/Op to complete a tour since I joined in May.
On the 9th May 1941 Junior and the crew of a Whitley, T4166 crash-landed at around 2340 after clipping trees at Winfarthing, 4 miles NNW of Diss, Norfolk.
The port engine had failed after heavy rain.
The crew were:
P/O J.F.W.Elliott
Sgt E.T.Borsberry
Sgt C.T.F.Baldwin (see his own page on the far left)
Sgt F.V.Braybrooke Inj
Sgt H.Timlin Inj
Junior Braybrook was sadly KIA on 17th Jan 1943 aboard W1100 or 35 Squadron. You can see more on Junior Braybrook's own page, link to the left.
Below are two photo's, one of Junior after the crash in 41 and the other of Don Sills and Eric Borsberry.
Both Eric and Don would be KIA, please see their pages.
Some of the boys in front of a Whitley,
Back row: Jimmie Frazer, Alec Jaggers, don't know, Eric Borsberry, don't know.
Sitting; “Maxie”Miller, George Davidson.
When we moved to Dalton in November Jimmie Frazer roomed with me and FTR from 1000 raid on Bremen.
The last time I saw “Maxie” was in October, he bailed out on return, broke his ankle, and after leave was posted out.
July outside Hangar,
S/L Walker,
Don't know
F/Lt Williams,
Self, Ed Cooke
Bill Swain.
S/L DR Walker took over as Flight Commander after two Flight Commanders failed to return in June.
He was my skipper and the crew were shot down in November while I was on leave, only the tail gunner “Big Jock” Williamson survived to be a POW.
F/Lt.Williams and his crew were killed while converting to Halifax 11's in May '42.
S/L.Griffith became Flight Commander after S/L Walker was Killed as was my skipper,
”Mac” MacIlquham who was our tail Gunner.