F/Lt. John Herbert "Coops" Cooper DFC/
Royal Canadian Air Force 432 (Leaside) Squadron
from:Saskatchewan
John Cooper was born in Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan on 29th of November 1918.
He enlisted in the RCAF in 1940. After completing his extensive training, he finally completed his first sortie with 432 Squadron in January 1944. In total, Coops is credited with 26 sorties and over 138 hours in the air. He and his crew flew over some of the most heavily defended territory in Europe, with successful missions over Berlin (3), Nuremberg, Frankfurt and Paris among his accomplishments.
On 18th of July 1944, the Halifax Bomber that he and his mates were in came under heavy flak after dropping their payload near Caen, in support of the Normandy campaign. Cooper tells of the plane's central area being engulfed in flames and, out of fear of the gas tanks exploding, he ordered the crew to jump at 9,000 feet. He accompanied the crew (all but one made it out - Sgt. R.E. Burton), and fell to the ground as the sun rose across the French countryside.
He was promptly captured and sent to the now famous Stalag Luft 3 (site of the Great Escape in March 1944). He was transferred to two other POW camps before being liberated in May, 1945 by the British Second Army. Cooper was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his (and his crew's) heroic efforts during the first seven months of 1944. His recommendation for the award reads, in part, "Under a calm and quiet manner Cooper has always maintained a fine offensive spirit in action which inspired confidence in his crew and other crews in his flight." Cooper remained with the RCAF until 1968, occupying roles with NATO, AIRCENT and also working very closely with the USAF. He passed away in 2010 in Oakville, Ontario.
