| Accession Number | P10774.002 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Print silver gelatin |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | Australia |
| Date made | 1943 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Studio portrait of 426716 Sergeant (Sgt) John William Van Cooten, RAAF. Sgt Van Couten was a ...
Description
Studio portrait of 426716 Sergeant (Sgt) John William Van Cooten, RAAF. Sgt Van Couten was a school teacher from Chinchilla, Queensland when he enlisted in 1942, training as an observer and navigator in Australia before embarking for England the following year. Promoted to Flight Sergeant and attached to 115 Squadron RAF, he was reported missing in action when Avro Lancaster HK559 failed to return from a bombing mission to Montdidier, France on the night of 17th-18th June 1944. It was not until April 1945 that the fate of the crew was confirmed, when an identity disc belonging to one of the crew was handed in to British authorities by a farmer at Oise, France. Subsequent investigation showed that HK559 had plunged, in flames, almost vertically into the ground, exploding on impact and scattering debris over a wide area. There were no survivors.