LEST WE FORGET
Sergeant Percy Noel COWAN
Service No: 404171
Born: Brisbane QLD, 23 December 1915
Enlisted in the RAAF: 21 June 1940
Unit: No. 86 Squadron (RAF), RAF Station North Coates
Died: Injuries from and Aircraft Accident (No. 86 Squadron Beaufort aircraft W6471 on 18 August 1941), Lincolnshire, 19 August 1941, Aged 25 Years
Buried: North Coates (St Nicholas) Churchyard, Lincolnshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Percy and Dorothy Alice Phillippa Cowan, of Brighton, Victoria, Australia
Roll of Honour: Brisbane QLD
Remembered: Panel 120, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
On the night of 18 August 1941, Sergeant Cowan in Beaufort W6471 was detailed to carry out night circuits and landings at the Donna Nook Landing Ground, Lincolnshire. Just after taking off at about 2300 hours, the aircraft flew into the ground just beyond the aircraft boundary. Sergeant Cowan was seriously injured and was admitted to Louth County hospital where he died on 19 August 1941. The Observer (Sergeant Lowing) suffered concussion and was admitted to the North Coates sick quarters at Marsh Chapel.
The crew members of W6471 were:
Sergeant Percy Noel Cowan (404171) (Pilot) Fatally Injured, Died: 19 August 1941
Sergeant William Alan Lowing (402449) (Observer) Injured, Killed on Air Operations: 24 July 1942
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 163/98/296
Bibliography:
Ilbery, P.L.T. (Peter Leslie Thomas) (422957) Hatching an Air Force: 2SFTS, 5SFTS, 1BFTS Uranquinty and Wagga Wagga, Banner Books Maryborough QLD 4650, 2002