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18 August 1941 – 86 Squadron, RAF North Coates – Bristol Beaufort I – W6471 – Sgt P N Cowan – Training.
Location – Crashed Near Donna Nook landing ground soon after take off
On the night of 18 August 1941, Sergeant Cowan in Beaufort W6471 was detailed to carry out night circuits and landings at the Donna Nook Landing Ground, Lincolnshire. Just after taking off at about 2300 hours, the aircraft flew into the ground just beyond the aircraft boundary. Sergeant Cowan was seriously injured and was admitted to Louth County hospital where he died on 19 August 1941. The Observer, Sergeant Lowing, suffered concussion and was admitted to the North Coates sick quarters at Marsh Chapel. Sgt J Vaughan was also injured.
Sgt Percy Noel Cowan RAAF – 25 – Pilot - 86 Sqn - Son of Percy and Dorothy Alice Phillippa Cowan, of Brighton, Victoria, Australia
Sgt William Alan Lowing RAAF recovered and later resumed flying operations.
Sgt Percy Noel Cowan RAAF
Cowan grave
Sgt William Alan Lowing RAAF
Lowing was killed on air operations 24 July 1942. Beaufort AW355 was detailed as one of three Beauforts forming the first sub flight of 6 Beauforts to attack an enemy convoy near the island of Cephalonia, Greece. About 2 miles from the convoy anti-aircraft fire was encountered. One Beaufort was seen to blow up in mid-air and another was thought to have crashed in the sea near the convoy. A third Beaufort which was hit in the port engine, set course away from the convoy but with the other engine stopping, the aircraft force landed in the sea 2 to 3 miles from the convoy. One man was seen in a dinghy and three others in the water. AW355 failed to return from the above mission, but it could not be established which of the above three aircraft was AW355.
He rests at the Phaleron War Cemetery, Greece
Item compiled by David Fell. Thanks to the RAAFA Aviation Heritage Museum and Australian War Memorial and WWP
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