Cockburn's Halifax 58th Squadron

Copy of Official Casualty report

He was married to Audrey Cockburn.

William was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal on the 26th September 1941, whilst with 233 Squadron.

233 squadron comprised of Bristol Blenheims, Lockheed Hudsons, Douglas Dakota's and Avro Anson aircraft. Used mostly on anti-shipping and anti-submarine duties, the squadron was responsible for damaging several U-Boats, including U-46 and U-77, and sinking U-573, U-167, U-447 and U-667. As part of Transport Command, they took part in the Normandy landings, and the battle of Arnhem, also known as Operation Market Garden, flying 36 sorties.

London Gazette 26th September 1941.

This NCO has a long record of devotion to duty whilst flying on operations against the enemy. He has done 730 hours operational flying in 141 sorties and fought 15 actions against the enemy.

He flew 141 sorties in less than 13 months!

His DFM was awarded while he was a Sergeant, so at the time of award, his NCO service number was 546306. Upon the award of his commission as an officer he got the number 54764.

Air Ministry, - 27th June, 1944. ROYAL AIR FORCE. GENERAL DUTIES-BRANCH. 'Appointment' to commission. As Plt. Offs. on prob. (emergency): — Wt. Offs. 546306 William Hugh COCKBURN (54764). 31st Mar. 1944.

P/O W. H. Cockburn was lost in Handley Page Halifax II JP296 BY-O of 58 Sqn.

This Halifax [250 built] was constructed by the London Passenger Transport Board, Contract No 124357/40, requisition HA1/E11/39. Deliveries commenced in July 1943. (JN882). B/GR MKII JN882-296, JN941-978, JP107-137, JP159-207, JP220-259, JP275-301, [delivered between 13/03/44 & 20/04/44], JP319-338.

Source: The Handly Page Halifax K.A Merrick 1990 ISBN 0946627608.

"By July 1944, Nos 58 and 502 Squadrons were carrying out three types of operations: anti-submarine patrols in the English Channel and the Bay Of Biscay, mainly by night, anti-shipping strikes along the French coast of the Bay of Biscay, anti-shipping and armed reconnaissance in the Channel Islands in support of the armies in Normandy. Between the 18th July and 30th July three attacks were carried out on the harbour of Granville as it was believed that the enemy were passing reinforcements from St Malo through it.

Throughout late July and August the two squadrons were predominately engaged in anti-shipping patrols in the Bay of Biscay and along the Northern Coast of Brittany. Beaufighter strike wings severely harassed the enemy's small force of destroyers, sperr breechers, auxiliaries and torpedo boats which plied these waters desperately trying to escort the German supply convoys. Forced to an almost standstill by day the enemy sought the cover of darkness to mask his movements, only to be singled out by the lone Halifaxes and attacked under the very noses of the Shore defences."

58 Squadron (GR) Was based at St Eval, Cornwall (19 Group) and converted from Whitleys to GR MK II Halifaxes in December 1942. Moved to Holmsley South in July 1943 and then to St Davids in December. Transferred to control of 18 Group and moved to Stornoway, Outer Hebrides, in September 1944. Converted to GR Mk IIIs and began operations with them in April 1945. Squadron disbanded 25th May 1945.

It was on a Coastal Command patrol in the Bay of Biscay, and it was reportedly shot down by a German U-boat that it was attacking. [On this day, August 21st 1944, there was only 1 U Boat in the Bay of Biscay U-963. A man was lost overboard during a crash dive at night (0017hrs) in the Bay of Biscay. [Bootsmaat Hans Reiter].

A detailed report was prepared in writing, the following extract reads as follows:- "The aircraft was engaged in an anti submarine patrol between the mouth of the Gironde River and La Pallice off the coast of France. Whilst attacking three enemy submarines the aircraft was struck by the fire of one of them and so seriously damaged that it came down on the sea almost immediately, in a serious of violent shocks. Owing to the force of the impact the survivors of the crew were all dazed and their recollections of events just after hitting the sea are naturally confused. I regret to state, however, that it is quite clear that your brother [Boyd] who was second Navigator, and the other members of the crew [Cockburn], were not seen after the aircraft struck the sea.

Owing to the damage sustained by the aircraft the dinghy was lost and the five survivors endeavoured to support themselves in a rough sea and rain, on small pieces of wreckage which, however proved useless for the purpose. Two of the survivors died of their injuries before help arrived. After 10 1/2 hours in the water the remaining three survivors were rescued by a British Warship which came under enemy fire whilst picking them up and was unable to find trace of any further survivors."

There is also an official report on the loss of the Halifax:- "I have the honour to submit the following report on the loss of Halifax c/58 on 21st August 1944.

2. The aircraft was airborne at 1955 hours , 20th August 1944, to carry out an A/S Patrol, off the French Coast, between the mouth of the Gironde and La Pallice. The bomb load contained 4 500lb, A/S Bombs, sixteen flares IX.V and 4 a/s flares Mk II.

{Then followed the list of crew}.

3. At about 23.00 hours, the aircraft reached the patrol area, and proceeded south on patrol. From 2315 hrs numerous contacts were investigated with Mark V flares, but nothing was sighted, subsequently these contacts were believed to be spar buoys. The weather in the area was good, with cloud mostly two tenths at three thousand feet, but patches at one thousand feet. Visibility was good, and the wind at two thousand feet was about fifteen from ?.

4. Eventually a good contact was obtained off the Gironde, and it was decided to prepare to attack with A/S Flares MK II. The Navigator sighted one U-Boat slightly to port, and was unable to get a good sight on it. Almost at once a second and third U-Boat were sighted to starboard, and each three to four hundred yards apart, An unsuccessful attempt was made to track over these. Fairly accurate light flak was experienced from all three U-Boats.

5. Subsequent attempts to illuminate the U-Boats failed due to the large number of contacts in the area, but a marker had been dropped over the first U-Boat during the run over. Normal signals procedure was followed.

6. At about 02 00 hrs the aircraft was proceeding from the marker towards the escort group in the area, and along the supposed track of the U-Boats. A contact was obtained close on the port side, and just after passing it a violent explosion was felt in the aircraft, which was on course 300' at about 1200 feet. The explosion appeared to be low on the port side on the rest position, which was lit up by the flash. The aircraft appeared to be losing height rapidly, but the controls seemed to be ineffective. almost at once the aircraft struck the sea in a serious of violent shocks."

Of the nine crew, four were killed in the crash and five were cast adrift in heavy seas. Of these five, only three survived and were picked up by patrolling British warships. Another crew member, W/O W S. M. McKean, was married to a girl from Darlington.

Acknowledgments: Simon Glancey

Additional Research: James Pasby

Source: Casualty Section Ref RAAF.166.6/665. Australian National Archives

William Hugh Cockburn is remembered in Alnwick on A11.17 and A11.53, at Wooler on W68.01, W68.02 and Kirknewton and on K15.01

Australian Air Records Crew Member Boyd
A query about the award of the D.F.M.
Coastal Command
History of 58th Squadron
The CWGC entry for Pilot Officer Cockburn