RAF veteran Colin Cole dies aged 107 after wartime service

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 20 Oct, 14:08 · Archive

Colin Cole, who served in the RAF at Dunkirk and D-Day, has died aged 107.

Colin Cole, a 107-year-old RAF veteran from Gobowen in Shropshire, died in hospital in Shrewsbury on Saturday. He was born in Kennington, London, and joined the RAF just before the war broke out, following his father into military aviation.

During the war, Cole initially trained as a radio operator and helped with the Dunkirk evacuations. He then flew planes 'slow and low' over enemy lines to map defensive positions before moving on to sea rescue missions, flying over the North Sea and English Channel to help stranded servicemen, including some Germans. On his 107th birthday in June, he reflected that the danger 'became just part of the job' and for airmen like him 'you have no option, you just have to get on with it'. He admitted he was not a strong swimmer despite spending much of the war flying over water.

After the war, Cole retrained as a teacher in Shropshire. His friend Mike Souttar, also from Gobowen, described him as 'very fit' and 'terribly intelligent' as well as a 'total old-fashioned gentleman'. Neighbour Bryan Davies said Cole had been 'a man with a fascinating life story and he loved to meet and talk to people'.

How it is being reported

• ‘A real hero, an excellent teacher and good friend’: Tributes as former Shropshire D-Day veteran dies aged 107Colin Cole became a SEND teacher after the war.Shropshire Star · 20 Oct, 13:46
• Tributes for 107-year-old 'gentleman' RAF veteranColin Cole was at Dunkirk and D-Day and later in life worked as a teacher in Shropshire.BBC Shropshire · 20 Oct, 13:01

In this story: Colin Cole · RAF · Gobowen · Shropshire · Dunkirk · D-Day

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