George Cook
Walking in honour of Sergeant Michael John cook and raising money for Lincolnshire Bomber Command Memorial
Fundraising for Lincolnshire Bomber Command Memorial
Story
Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
In 2024 to make the 80th anniversary of of the deaths of sergeant Michael John Cook 17/12/1944 ( my great uncle) and his brave crew :
Flying office Ronald Ernest Amey 31/12/1944
Flight sergeant David Robert Kennedy 17/12/1944
Flight sergeant George William Lane 17/12/1944
Flight sergeant David William McCray 17/12/1944
Sergeant Roy Shackleton 17/12/1944
The only crew member that survived was Sergeant F. Livesey.
Michael was born in Meysey Hampton, Gloucestershire to Richard Owen and Eva Emily. He had 3 bothers and 2 sisters. He attended both Meysey Hampton and Fairford primary schools and went on to Farmors school fairford for secondary education.
On leaving school He went to work at Godwins Pumps in Quenington, as a center lath operator.
Like all young men of the time, Michael had dreams of becoming a pilot. Sadly he didn't make the grades for this. He was offered the trade of a air gunner and took the position of a mid upper gunner of a Lancaster Bomber with 50 squadron, who flew out of RAF Skellingthorpe, Lincolnshire.
Owing to being in bomber command being a dangerous trade (46% death rate) a tour was considered to be 30 operational flights "Ops". However Michael was killed on his 28th Op and a trip to Munich on the 17th December 1944. Michael was aged just 19 years old.
During the course of Michael's 28 Ops he would have travelled in the excess of 30,000 miles. This is at a average of 1071 miles per Op.
To mark this during 2024, up until the 17th of December I will be walking a total of 1071 miles.
I will keep you all updated with my progress as well as posting stories and information on Michael.
I am very grateful of your support.
George.
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