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WORLD WAR II VETERAN HONOURED AT RAF MARHAM
An unveiling ceremony took place at RAF Marham in Norfolk recently, when a newly built Barrack Block was opened in memory of Leading Aircraftman (later Warrant Officer) John Copely. 15 family members and friends including his daughter, Mrs Kath Phillips & brother Gerald H. Copley (79) traveled from Yorkshire to attend the ceremony.
Leading Aircraftman Copley was a tail gunner in a Wellington bomber in the first bombing raid of World War II to be launched from RAF Marham. During this raid his Wellington came under attack from a German Messerchmitt fighter. Leading Aircraftman Copley was injured by the attacking Messerschmitt and one bullet from the fighter became lodged in the buckle of his parachute harness, missing killing him by less than an inch. Despite his injuries Leading Aircraftman Copley continued to operate his machine gun, and succeeded in shooting down the Messerschmitt when it came back to attack again. For his valiant actions, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal. Based on John's courageous actions under fire and his highly successful subsequent career, it was decided that dedicating an accommodation block for junior RAF personnel to him would be a great way to recognize his actions.
Mrs Phillips was invited by the Station Commander, Group Captain Greg Bagwell, to unveil a plaque in her father's memory, and on pulling the cord said "My father was a very private man and would have been very embarrassed to be here. However, he was very much a family man and I hope that by dedicating this block in his honour, the occupants will see it as a home".
After the ceremony, the visitors had lunch in the Officers' Mess and then visited No II (Army Cooperation) Squadron to meet Squadron personnel and learn about the Tornado GR4.
Leading Aircraftman John James Copley DFM
LAC (later Warrant Officer) Copley (521256) was born in Barnsley in 1912 and enlisted into the RAF in July of 1935, having previously worked as a colliery engineman, and he became an air gunner in 1938. During December 1939 as a member of 38 Squadron flying Wellington bombers he was involved in one of the first raids of the war, against enemy shipping off Heligoland. During this raid he achieved the first victory attributed to an aircraft from RAF Marham in shooting down a Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter despite his aircraft suffering extensive damage. He was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal, the citation for which is reproduced below. John Copley later spent more than 3 years as a PoW at Stalag Lufts 3 & 6 in East Germany, having been shot down over Denmark flying as the Flight Engineer on a Stirling bomber for 7 Squadron on 29th September 1941. During this time he suffered a bayonet wound to the leg while being subjected to a forced march necessitated by the Russian advance into German territory.
Citation for LAC Copley's DFM:
"Leading Aircraftman Copley was the tail air gunner in an aircraft taking part in a raid over enemy territory during December, 1939. When his aircraft became isolated from the formation and was attacked by an enemy fighter aircraft from astern he opened fire at a range of approximately 150-200 yards, subsequently getting in at least two bursts of 20 rounds each at point blank range, causing the aircraft to pull into a climbing turn, stall and dive out of control. During this engagement Leading Aircraftman Copley's aircraft was hit in numerous vital places by enemy bullets, and yet despite the fact that he himself was injured by the gunfire from the attacking aircraft, he maintained control of his fire and manipulation of the gun turret, setting a very high standard for other air gunners." |
RAF Marham
