401 Squadron – January 1943

Gilbert Coons (Possibly L.G.?, but my father has no recollection of knowing him by any other names than Gilbert or ‘Gib’) who at some point in late ’43 was, according to Willis’ obit “doing pilot duty out of Algiers” I don’t know whether this ‘gibes’ with 401’s operations at the time.

Hello,

1) I have come to consider that Gilbert Coons could be the ‘right’ one. In his memoirs, Lucky Thirteen, Hugh Constant Godefroy says: ‘Another 190 was trying to get on Gib Coons, my No.2’s tail.’ (speaking of a mission led by 401 Squadron on 17 January 1943)

Would you have any more information related to Gilbert Coons? He was a Flying Officer at that time, not a Pilot Officer as I thought.

2) I’m also missing the service number of the following airmen: S/P John A. Chapin (Brantford, Ont.); S/P Paul K. Gray (Toronto, Ont.); S/P Cyril B. Cohen (Saskatchewan); F/S Frank B. Evans (Ontario).

Thank you,

Fox.

Thanks a lot.

Not until my next visit to the National Archives, in Kew. I’m doing research, of my own, there, and use the first 45 minutes, while my files are being unearthed, to help others with similar requests to yours. As it’s a round trip of 70 miles, and involves some particularly unfriendly motorways, I keep to Saturdays, and not every one, at that. I’m sorry, but you’ll just have to be patient.
Edgar

S/L Hodson flew BS172, but his main aircraft was BS383 (5 times.)
Chapin flew BS196, BR263, W3839, BS383 (twice,) EN858 (3 times,) BS183 (9 times.)
Godefroy flew BS534, BS183, EN129, BR630, AD231 (twice,) EN130 (7 times.)
Sorry, like most Squadrons, 401 registered the serials, but not the code letters.
Edgar

Could you tell the serial of the a/c flown by these pilots on January 15th, 1943? That would be a great help for me.

S/L Hodson flew BS172, but his main aircraft was BS383 (5 times.)
Chapin flew BS196, BR263, W3839, BS383 (twice,) EN858 (3 times,) BS183 (9 times.)
Godefroy flew BS534, BS183, EN129, BR630, AD231 (twice,) EN130 (7 times.)
Sorry, like most Squadrons, 401 registered the serials, but not the code letters.
Edgar

Could you tell the serial of the a/c flown by these pilots on January 15th, 1943? That would be a great help for me.

Thanks a lot. Does anyone have something related to Spitfire EN183, such as the pilots who flew it during the same period?

The ORB doesn’t give Christian names, and the service numbers only seem to have been noted (in some Squadrons) when aircrew were killed, so I could only find a (very) partial answer to your query.
S/L Hodson flew BS172, but his main aircraft was BS383 (5 times.)
Chapin flew BS196, BR263, W3839, BS383 (twice,) EN858 (3 times,) BS183 (9 times.)
Godefroy flew BS534, BS183, EN129, BR630, AD231 (twice,) EN130 (7 times.)
Sorry, like most Squadrons, 401 registered the serials, but not the code letters.
Edgar

Possibly a lead… and hopefully not muddling anything…

But, the name Coons is very familiar to myself and my father… My father worked post-war with/for F/L Herbert L Coons DFC+Bar…. (this particular Coons family were established here in Eastern Ontario) There were three Coons brothers from here in the air during the war.

Herb was the most recognized from his DFC with 95 Sqn (Sunderlands) and then Bar later in Burma (Dakotas). (dec. May 2005)

Herb’s bother F/O Willis C [Wylie] Coons was killed in crash of Warwick BV336 Nov 13/43. This leads to the 3rd local Coons boy…

Gilbert Coons (Possibly L.G.?, but my father has no recollection of knowing him by any other names than Gilbert or ‘Gib’) who at some point in late ’43 was, according to Willis’ obit “doing pilot duty out of Algiers” I don’t know whether this ‘gibes’ with 401’s operations at the time.

Cheers,
James