Sunderland DW110

Sgt (Flght Engineer) Frederick Tom Copp

 

 

Flt Sgt Fred Copp Back row Centre at OTU  

Service number 614970

Died 31.1.1944 aged 24

Son of George and Rose Ellen Copp of Starcross Devon.

Buried at Irvinestown Church of Ireland Churchyard.

 Information from Freds relative:

To give you a brief outline of Fred's history he was born on 26 Sept 1919 in a village near Exeter in Devon.  He was one of eleven children and the second youngest of eight brothers.  On leaving school he trained as a carpenter and after finishing his apprenticeship in June 1938 he enlisted into the RAF on 5 July 1938 to train as an Aircraft Rigger - this involved the repair and maintenance of aircraft structures. 

On completion of 'Rigger' training he was posted to 204 (Flying Boat) Squadron at RAF Mountbatten in Plymouth, Devon, where he worked on the Mk I Sunderland Flying Boats. He initially flew with 204 Sqn from 1 Oct 1939 to 1 Jan 1940 - as an AC I Rigger/ Air Gunner.  Promoted to Leading Aircraftsman (LAC) in March 1940 he moved with 204 Sqn to Sullom Voe in April and in May was temporarily promoted to Sergeant as an Airgunner.  Subsequently reverting to groundcrew duties in Aug 1940 he re-mustered to 'Fitter IIA' and spent sometime on 86 Maintenance Unit where he was promoted to Corporal.  Re-mustering to Flight Engineer in August 1942,  Fred completed part of his formal aircrew training at 4(C)OTU - along with Jim Gilchrist - and on 17 July 1943 joined 228 Sqn at Pembroke Dock as a 'Flight Engineer'. 

Fred flew a number of convoy-escort and U-boat search missions with 204 Sqn and with Sgt Jim Gilchrist and Sgt Cyril Robson Greenwood completed 20 missions with 228 Sqn.  This included the rescue of the downed RCAF crew on 9 Sep 1943 for which F/Lt HC Armstrong was awarded the DFC.  F/O MV Wareing, F/O J Trull, Sgt J Parsons and F/Sgt J Richardson also took part in this event.   Fred's papers show that he was promoted to F/Sgt on 31 Jan 1944 - but this is not recorded on his head stone.

For his service Fred was awarded the 1939-45 Star, The Atlantic Star, 1939-45 Defence medal and the 1939-45 War Medal.

I am not 100% sure why Fred was not brought home to Devon but I understand (from my mother) that while my great grandparents were heartbroken by the loss of their youngest (but one) son, my great grandfather, George Copp, being an old soldier from the Boer and First World War, felt that it was right for a soldier to be laid where he fell.  Fred's name is on the village memorial and I have certainly made my children aware of the sacrifice that he and many others made. 

He goes on to state

By chance I had, within the last few weeks, been trying to find his address (Jim Gilchrists)  amongst my notes etc, as my mother recently uncovered a group-photograph of Fred + others (unfortunately no names recorded), at the Operational Training Unit (OTU) in Mar 1943.  Jim had told me that he and "Freddie" were very good friends, having initially met at the OTU .  He said they had shared accommodation in the Sergeants Mess, used to socialise together and how they both went on to join 228 Sqn at Pembroke Dock.  From official records I know that Jim and Fred crewed together for 20 Operational sorties - the 20th very sadly, being their last.