30

T. E. COLES.
2.

No. 75 (NZ) Squadron, Mildenhall, Suffolk, and on the 4th
September, 1942, carried out an operational flight against an
enemy target.
On the 7th September, 1942, Sgt. Coles was air gunner
on a Wellington aircraft which took off on air operations
against target at Duisberg. The aircraft failed to return to its
base and Sgt. Coles and all the members of the crew were
reported missing. This was his 2nd operational flight.
Information received from the International Red Cross Committee
stated that Sgt. Coles had lost his life. In consequence of
this he was reclassified missing, believed killed in action.
Subsequently his death was officially presumed. Additional
information received from the International Red Cross Committee
revealed that he was buried in the Hauperfriedhof, Krefeld,
Principal Cemetery, Erefield, Germany.
[handwritten] After the cessation of
hostilities his body was re-interred in the REICHSWALD
Forest British Military Cemetery. [/handwritten]
There were 4 other New Zealanders in the crew -
P/O G.W.A. Mills of Dannevirke; Sgt. G.W. Sharman, of Whangarei;
Sgt. N.P. Saul of Whangarei and Sgt. J. F. Jarvis of Lower Hutt,
Wellington.

4/2/977 AS2
66 hrs as air gunner

Mrs M. Coles (M)
3 Toomath Street,
Waddington, LOWER HUTT