David Coke
Encyclopedia
The Honourable
David Arthur Coke , DFC
(1915–1941) was a Flight Lieutenant
in the Royal Air Force Reserve
during the Second World War, and is considered a flying ace
, being credited with 2 destroyed, 2 probables and 2 damaged. He was known in popular culture for his friendship with the author Roald Dahl
whilst serving in the Royal Air Force
.
and Marion Gertrude Trefusis, he was godson of King Edward VIII
. He was a graduate of Trinity College, Cambridge
,
with No. 257 Squadron RAF
during the Battle of Britain
as a Pilot Officer. He was involved in an incident on 12 August 1940 when his Hurricane (P3776) was badly shot up over the Channel off Portsmouth. His finger was amputated and the aircraft was repaired and used again. Posted to 46 Squadron in December 1940, Coke then was then promoted to the rank of Flying Officer
, He went on to fight in the Balkans Campaign with No. 33 Squadron and the Syrian campaign with No. 80 Squadron RAF
. During this period, he became great friends with famed author
Roald Dahl
, as detailed in Dahl's autobiography Going Solo
.
While serving in Libya, Coke was awarded the DFC
for his work in an attack on enemy transport and for his leadership as a Flight Lieutenant
He was killed in action by enemy Bf 109s in Acroma
, Cyrenaica
, Africa on Tuesday 9 December 1941, aged 26, and buried at Knightsbridge War Cemetery
, Acroma, Libya (Ref. B.A. 3. B. 18).
The Honourable
The prefix The Honourable or The Honorable is a style used before the names of certain classes of persons. It is considered an honorific styling.-International diplomacy:...
David Arthur Coke , DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
(1915–1941) was a Flight Lieutenant
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
in the Royal Air Force Reserve
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
during the Second World War, and is considered a flying ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
, being credited with 2 destroyed, 2 probables and 2 damaged. He was known in popular culture for his friendship with the author Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl was a British novelist, short story writer, fighter pilot and screenwriter.Born in Wales to Norwegian parents, he served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, in which he became a flying ace and intelligence agent, rising to the rank of Wing Commander...
whilst serving in the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
.
Background
The second son of Thomas Coke, 4th Earl of LeicesterThomas Coke, 4th Earl of Leicester
Thomas William Coke, 4th Earl of Leicester was a British peer, styled Viscount Coke from 1909 to 1941....
and Marion Gertrude Trefusis, he was godson of King Edward VIII
Edward VIII of the United Kingdom
Edward VIII was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth, and Emperor of India, from 20 January to 11 December 1936.Before his accession to the throne, Edward was Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay...
. He was a graduate of Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
,
World War II
Coke joined the RAFVR in June 1939 and attended 5 OTU in April 1940. Coke was promoted to the rank of Acting Pilot Officer on 3 September 1940. By August 1940 he flew a Hawker HurricaneHawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
with No. 257 Squadron RAF
No. 257 Squadron RAF
-In World War I:No. 257 Squadron was formed at Dundee on 18 August 1918 from Nos. 318 and 319 Flights. It flew both seaplanes and flying boats on anti-submarine patrols from Dundee until the end of the First World War and disbanded there on 30 June 1919....
during the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
as a Pilot Officer. He was involved in an incident on 12 August 1940 when his Hurricane (P3776) was badly shot up over the Channel off Portsmouth. His finger was amputated and the aircraft was repaired and used again. Posted to 46 Squadron in December 1940, Coke then was then promoted to the rank of Flying Officer
Flying Officer
Flying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...
, He went on to fight in the Balkans Campaign with No. 33 Squadron and the Syrian campaign with No. 80 Squadron RAF
No. 80 Squadron RAF
No. 80 Squadron RAF was a Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force squadron active from 1917 until 1969. It was operative during both World War I and World War II.-Establishment and early service:...
. During this period, he became great friends with famed author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl was a British novelist, short story writer, fighter pilot and screenwriter.Born in Wales to Norwegian parents, he served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, in which he became a flying ace and intelligence agent, rising to the rank of Wing Commander...
, as detailed in Dahl's autobiography Going Solo
Going Solo
Going Solo is a memoir by Roald Dahl, first published by Jonathan Cape in London in 1986. It is a continuation of his autobiography describing his childhood, Boy. The Book starts with Roald Dahl on a boat heading towards Dar es Salaam for his new job working for Shell Oil...
.
While serving in Libya, Coke was awarded the DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
for his work in an attack on enemy transport and for his leadership as a Flight Lieutenant
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
Flight Lieutenant The Hon. David Arthur COKE (73042), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 80 Squadron (since missing).
This officer participated in an attack on enemy transport on the El-Adem-Acroma road one day in November, 1941, in which a large number of vehicles, tanks and mechanised transport were bombed and machine-gunned. The damage inflicted played a very large part in the blocking of the road. By his skill and leadership, Flight Lieutenant Coke contributed materially to the success achieved. In addition to the low flying machine-gunning operations which have been carried out, Flight Lieutenant Coke has led the squadron with great success in air combat. During an engagement 2 days later, the squadron shared in the destruction of 5 Messerschmitt 109's.
He was killed in action by enemy Bf 109s in Acroma
Acroma
Acroma is an alternative rock band formed in Salt Lake City, Utah. The band consists of Jeremy Stanley , Brian Christensen , Tom Collins , and Joshua Zirbel . The band released a three-song demo and was signed by Universal Records in 2002...
, Cyrenaica
Cyrenaica
Cyrenaica is the eastern coastal region of Libya.Also known as Pentapolis in antiquity, it was part of the Creta et Cyrenaica province during the Roman period, later divided in Libia Pentapolis and Libia Sicca...
, Africa on Tuesday 9 December 1941, aged 26, and buried at Knightsbridge War Cemetery
Knightsbridge War Cemetery
Knightsbridge War Cemetery is a war grave located in Acroma, Libya .It is home to 3,651 Commonwealth servicemen who were killed or died during the fighting in the area during World War II, 2,676 of whom have been identified....
, Acroma, Libya (Ref. B.A. 3. B. 18).