COOTE, Douglas Charles
Plane was a PBY Catalina A24-9 which took off from Fairfax Harbor off Port Moresby on a mission to deliver radio equipment to Salamaua. The plane was spotted by Japanese fighters and shot down crashing near Yambo. Eight crew were killed and one, Cpl Tom Keen, survived by parachuting out of the plane and pretending to be dead in the air as Japanese Zero's strafed him.
Last Name
COOTE
Given Names
Douglas Charles
Service Number
407763
Date of Birth
06/09/1912
Birth Location
Port Elliot S.A
Enlistment Date
04/01/1941
Enlistment Location
Adelaide
1Wags Start Date
06/02/1941
Course Details
WAGS Course 10
Intake Date
06/02/1941
Kill Date or Discharge Date
21/01/1942 (Killed)
Discharge Unit
11 SQN
Rank
Sergeant
Operations
Killed in action Finchhaven New Guinea
Date of Death
21/01/1942
Age
29
Cemetery / Memorial
Lae War cemetery Papua New Guinea
Medals
Air Gunners badge 1939-45 Star Pacific War medal 1939-45
Notes
Plane was a PBY Catalina A24-9 which took off from Fairfax Harbor off Port Moresby on a mission to deliver radio equipment to Salamaua. The plane was spotted by Japanese fighters and shot down crashing near Yambo. Eight crew were killed and one, Cpl Tom Keen, survived by parachuting out of the plane and pretending to be dead in the air as Japanese Zero's strafed him.
Posting on Death
11 Squadron Blenheim 4
NAA Status
DIGITIZED
External Links
