MEN BEHIND THE MEDALS LIONEL COLES
18 FLYPAST May 2015W
ith his three elder brothers
already serving in the RAF
following the outbreak
of World War Two, 18-year-old
Lionel Coles couldn’t wait to
enlist in 1940. After completing
his basic training he was selected
to be a wireless operator/air
gunner (WOP/AG) and arrived atYatesbury, Wiltshire, home of 2
Electrical and Wireless School, in
October 1940.
During his three-month stay
he had just two sorties in a DH
Dominie, practising receiving
and transmitting on the first and
direction finding on the second.
He achieved 18 words a minute atMorse and on January 3 qualified
as a wireless operator with
140 minutes flying time in his
logbook!
He then headed for 7 Bombing
and Gunnery School at Stormy
Down, South Wales, to train as an
air gunner. His airborne training
in the Armstrong WhitworthWhitley and the Fairey Battle
amounted to 11 flights and on
March 15, 1941 he qualified and
was awarded his winged ‘AG’
badge.
In May 1941, Coles arrived on 25
Operational Training Unit (OTU)
at Finningley in Yorkshire to
convert to the Handley PageUndaunted
Graham Pitchfork relates the story of Lionel Coles and his family’s sacrifi ce
Far right
Lionel Coles’ medals: Distinguished Flying
Cross, 1939-45 Star, Aircrew Europe Star,
Defence Medal, War Medal.Artwork
‘Hampden Force’ by Adam Tooby.
To purchase any of Adam’s artwork, please
visit: http://www.adamtooby.com20-26_Medals_fpSBB.indd 18 09/03/2015 10: