Flying Officer (Pilot)
Michael Andean Coote

Michael Andean Coote was born on the 17th of July 1917 in Bristol, England. He was the only son of Henry Frank and Adrienne Beatrice Coote and the younger brother of Adrienne Mary Coote.

In 1939, Michael was a pupil pilot at the flying School in Yatesbury, Wiltshire. He continued his training with 15 Operational Training Unit at Harwell in Oxfordshire learning to fly Wellington Bombers before being transferred on 25th July 1940 to 214 Squadron at Stradishall, Suffolk, then quickly on to 99 Squadron, 3 Group at RAF Mildenhall on 30 July 1940. 99 Squadron flew Wellington Bombers in bombing missions over Germany. 

Early in 1941 Michael was transferred to 7 Squadron at RAF Oakington, Hampshire who were flying the new Short Stirling heavy bomber, the first RAF squadron to operate four engined bombers during the Second World War. Michael was "loaned out" to 3 Photo Reconnaissance Unit also based at Oakington. 3 PRU had the specific task of gathering bomb damage assessment photography for Bomber Command, flying Spitfires and other aircraft. On 21st May 1941 Michael was flying as a passenger in a De Havilland Tiger Moth aircraft with Pilot Officer (44194) Eric Jackson from Oakington to RAF Farnborough, Hampshire when an accident occurred and the plane spun in from low altitude and crashed 1 mile south of Girton College, Cambridge. P/O Jackson was killed and F/O Coote was seriously injured. He was treated at Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead where he came under the care of Sir Archibald McIndoe and was one of the founding members of the famous "Guinea Pig Club". Following his recuperation, F/O Coote returned to 7 Squadron. Details of his missions are not known but he was mentioned in despatches on 26th of September 1941.

In 1942 was flying Wellington Bombers with 1483 Flight based at RAF Newmarket and it was with this unit that F/O Coote was killed. He was buried in Maidstone Road Cemetery, Chatham and is interred in the same grave as his parents.

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