Royal New Zealand Air Force War Graves in Flevoland
Emmeloord General Cemetery
Page updated on 29 July 2021
Emmeloord
Percy Frederick Meadows Cooke
Collective grave 102-105
Sgt P.F.M. Cooke - 404531
Son of Ralph Percy and Christina Mabel Cooke, of Bluff, Southland, New Zealand.
Son of Ralph Percy and Christina Mabel Cooke, of Bluff, Southland, New Zealand.
Sgt Percy Frederick Meadows Cooke (21), observer, was the only RNZAF airman in the crew of Sgt Jeffries. On 12th October, 1941, at 19.00 hrs Sgt Jeffries lifted-off his Wellington Ic, R1757, of 57 Squadron from RAF Feltwell* for a bombing mission to Nürnberg in Germany. At some stage in the flight, the Wellington crashed into marshland near Blankenham, close to the edge of the (then) nearly completed Noord-Oost Polder**. All but one airman of the crew perished in the crash. P/O L. Rickard, RCAF, managed to escape in time from the stricken aircraft and was taken prisoner in or near the village of Blokzijl.
Four airmen were buried here in Emmeloord General Cemetery:
- Arthur William Jeffries, RAF
- Sgt Percy Frederick Meadows Cooke, RNZAF
-Sgt William Christopher Wood, RAF
- Sgt William Harold Stanley Byers, RAF
P/O Hilyard Lowell Myers, RCAF, was buried in the General Cemetery at Kuinre, which is listed under the Province of Overijssel.
Notes.
* At this time, 75 (New Zealand) Squadron was also based at RAF Feltwell.
** Fw Siegfried Ney of 4./NJG 1 claimed a Wellington near Blokzijl at 21.48 hrs. The attack at a height of 3.200 metres was made under the guidance of 'Hering' GCI-station. (NCA 1941, Part2, p.57)
Four airmen were buried here in Emmeloord General Cemetery:
- Arthur William Jeffries, RAF
- Sgt Percy Frederick Meadows Cooke, RNZAF
-Sgt William Christopher Wood, RAF
- Sgt William Harold Stanley Byers, RAF
P/O Hilyard Lowell Myers, RCAF, was buried in the General Cemetery at Kuinre, which is listed under the Province of Overijssel.
Notes.
* At this time, 75 (New Zealand) Squadron was also based at RAF Feltwell.
** Fw Siegfried Ney of 4./NJG 1 claimed a Wellington near Blokzijl at 21.48 hrs. The attack at a height of 3.200 metres was made under the guidance of 'Hering' GCI-station. (NCA 1941, Part2, p.57)
Sources:
BCL, Vol.III, 1941, p.159
Nachtjagd Combat Archive (NCA) The Early Years 1941, Part2, p5.57
BCL, Vol.III, 1941, p.159
Nachtjagd Combat Archive (NCA) The Early Years 1941, Part2, p5.57