World War Two Medal group to a pilot from the Fleet Air Arm who was killed in action during attacks on enemy targets in on 9th December 1944. The group were posthumously awarded to Temporary Sub Lieutenant (A) Leonard Anthony Cole R. Leonard Cole came from Eastbourne in Sussex and was 23 years old when he was killed. Leonard was a pilot of a Barracuda II in 828 Squadron based on the aircraft carrier HMS Implacable. 828 squadron were a torpedo bomber reconnaissance squadron who had earlier taken part in the attacks on the Turpitz as part of Operation Goodwood. Tirpitz and the Far East[edit]. 828 Squadron was re-formed as a torpedo bomber reconnaissance squadron in March 1944. Equipped with 12 Barracuda IIs they joined the 2nd Naval Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Wing and joined the Home Fleet aboard HMS Implacable in August that year. [2] They briefly transferred to HMS Formidable in August 1944 and carried out attacks on the German battleship Tirpitz as part of Operation Goodwood. Interestingly enough, there are photos of HMS Implacable taken from the support carried HMS Trumpeter on 9th December 1944, the actual day that Leonard Cole was killed in action on the Imperial War Museum website. There are also photos of the pilots who took part in the attacks on that day and a photo showing damage to another aircraft who took part in the same action. One is titled – Sub Lieut (A) R K L Yeo RNVR, of Exeter, examining flak damage to aileron of his Wildcat on returning from the attack. Copies of these photos shown above and can be seen on the Imperial War Museum website. The damage shown to this other aircraft which took part in the attacks would confirm the cause of the loss of Leonard’s aircraft. Leonard Cole is commemorated on the Solent Memorial as well as Eastbourne Grammer School memorial where had had been a pupil. Worth of more research. Please see my other listings of British medals and militaria. Thanks and kind regards. The item “WW2 Medal Group Pilot Casualty 828 Squadron Fleet Air Arm HMS Implacable” is in sale since Wednesday, June 5, 2019. This item is in the category “Collectables\Militaria\World War II (1939-1945)\Medals/ Ribbons”. The seller is “harrypitt69″ and is located in Nottingham. This item can be shipped worldwide.
- Issued/ Not-Issued: Issued
- Service: Navy
- Modified Item: No
- Era: 1914-1945
- Type: Medals & Ribbons
- Country/Region of Manufacture: United Kingdom
- Country/ Organization: Great Britain
- Conflict: World War II (1939-1945)