Allegiance United Kingdom Name David Coke Rank Flight lieutenant | Years of service 1939–1941 Service/branch Royal Air Force | |
Born 4 December 1915
Norfolk, England, UK ( 1915-12-04 ) Died 9 December 1941 (1941-12-10) (aged 26)
Killed in action, Libya Buried at Knightsbridge War Cemetery, Acroma, Libya | ||
David Arthur Coke, DFC, ( ; 4 December 1915 – 9 December 1941) was a flight lieutenant in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve during the Second World War, and is credited with 2 destroyed, 2 probables and 2 damaged aircraft during his service. He is known in popular culture for his friendship with the author Roald Dahl while serving in the Royal Air Force.
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Early life and family
The second son of Thomas Coke, 4th Earl of Leicester and Marion Gertrude (née Trefusis), Coke was godson of King Edward VIII. He was a graduate of Trinity College, Cambridge,
Second World War
Coke joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR) in June 1939 and attended No. 5 Operational Training Unit in April 1940. He was promoted to the rank of acting pilot officer on 3 September 1940. By August 1940 he flew a Hawker Hurricane with No. 257 Squadron RAF during the Battle of Britain as a pilot officer. He was involved in an incident on 12 August 1940 when his Hurricane (P3776) was badly shot up over the English Channel off Portsmouth. His finger was amputated and the aircraft was repaired and used again. Posted to 46 Squadron in December 1940, Coke was then promoted to flying officer.
He went on to fight in the Balkans Campaign with No. 33 Squadron and the Syrian campaign with No. 80 Squadron RAF. During this period, he became great friends with famed author Roald Dahl, as detailed in Dahl's autobiography Going Solo.
While serving in Libya, Coke was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his work in an attack on enemy transport and for his leadership as a flight lieutenant. The citation read:
Flight Lieutenant The Hon. David Arthur COKE (73042), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 80 Squadron (since missing).
This officer participated in an attack on enemy transport on the El-Adem-Acroma road one day in November, 1941, in which a large number of vehicles, tanks and mechanised transport were bombed and machine-gunned. The damage inflicted played a very large part in the blocking of the road. By his skill and leadership, Flight Lieutenant Coke contributed materially to the success achieved. In addition to the low flying machine-gunning operations which have been carried out, Flight Lieutenant Coke has led the squadron with great success in air combat. During an engagement 2 days later, the squadron shared in the destruction of 5 Messerschmitt 109's.
Coke was killed in action by enemy Bf 109s in Acroma, Cyrenaica, Africa on Tuesday 9 December 1941, aged 26, and buried at Knightsbridge War Cemetery, Acroma, Libya (Ref. B.A. 3. B. 18).