LEST WE FORGET

Warrant Officer Thomas William COBURN

Service No: 401767
Born: Ballarat VIC, 20 July 1920
Enlisted in the RAAF: 29 March 1941
Unit: No. 182 Squadron (RAF)
Died: Air Operations: (No. 182 Squadron Typhoon aircraft EK298), Belgium, 8 September 1944, Aged 24 Years
Buried: Schoonselhof Cemetery, Antwerpen, Belgium
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Herbert Leslie and Alice May Coburn, of Ballarat, Victoria, Australia
Roll of Honour: Ballarat VIC
Remembered: Panel 120, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT

At 1240 hours on 8 September 1944 Typhoon EK298 along with seven other aircraft from the Squadron took off detailed to attack motor transport on a road south west of Aeltre (Aalter). The formation successfully attacked more than 100 trucks and horse drawn vehicles on the road and the attack was carried out at almost ground level feet owing to low cloud. Cannon fire from medium and heavy anti-aircraft weapons was encountered and Warrant Officer Coburn was not heard to call up on the radio and EK298 failed to return to base.

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, 166/8/630

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