Ark Royal November 1940

[mikerhn]

I am looking for information on casualties, specifically on Lieutenant J P Coates.

[liverpool annie]

Hi  mikerhn and welcome to RootsChat  !

This first site has a search funtion and JP Coates is mentioned in Fleet Air Arm ! can you give us any more information about him .... to help somebody help you ?

http://www.fleetairarmarchive.net/Ships/Ark_Royal2.html

http://www.rootschat.com/links/0ph/

And did you mean Nov 1941 ?

http://www.adhb30.dsl.pipex.com/ww2027.htm

No you didn't .... !!

In Memory of
Lieutenant (E) JAMES PATRICK COATES

H.M.S. Ark Royal, Royal Navy
who died
on 26 November 1940

Remembered with honour
LEE-ON-SOLENT MEMORIAL

http://www.fleetairarmarchive.net/daedalus/Memorial.html

Annie 

[mikerhn]

Thank you Annie that helps a lot. I have no more information myself and what you have found throws up a big question. The memorial lists him as Lieutenant (E) which would make him an Engineer?? But, the FAA Archive has him as Aircrew on 804 Sqn, which was never on the Ark. He must have been transferred, but I can't find him under any other Sqn, perhaps he went back to engineering.

[liverpool annie]

Hi mikerhn !

I wonder if an email here would turn up any other information ??

http://www.geocities.com/acrawford0/804.html

Annie 

[liverpool annie]

Or here !! Do you know his birth date ?

http://www.fleetairarmoa.org/asp/fleetairarm.asp?ServiceType=4

Annie 

[mikerhn]

I've e-mailed both hope they have something. He was born in 1910 don't know more.

Thanks again

Mike

[mikerhn]

The FAA Museum came up trumps

"According to the Fleet Air Arm Roll of Honour, Lt(E) J P Coates RN was with 808 Squadron aboard HMS Ark Royal.  He was flying Fairey Fulmar N1943 when it crashed over the side of the carrier.  Also according to our records, Coates was serving with 808 Squadron during the Battle of Britain period."

Job's a good'un and you were a real help Annie.

All the best

Mike

[liverpool annie]

Hi Mike !

I'm glad you got a reply back !  were they able to send you any photo copies ??
I found this ..... makes you wonder .........  they were very brave men !

The Fairey Fulmar was a carrier-borne fighter aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) built by Fairey Aviation during 1940. It was based upon the Fairey Battle light bomber that had been developed in 1936. It was distinguished as the first eight-gun fighter to serve with the FAA but its performance, like that of its Battle ancestor, was lacking.
The Fulmar underwent rapid development. The design was developed to Specification O.8/38. The first prototype served also as the first production aircraft, the first Fulmar flying on January 4, 1940. The first squadron to be equipped with the Fulmar was No. 806 Squadron FAA in July, 1940 and this squadron began operating from HMS Illustrious shortly afterwards.
Two variants were produced; the Mark I was powered by the Rolls Royce Merlin VIII engine and the Mark II was powered by the Merlin 30. Only 250 Mark Is and 350 Mark IIs were built during the production life of the Fulmar.
The only known survivor is the prototype at the Fleet Air Arm Museum.

The Fulmar was not well matched with land-based fighters. The Navy had specified a two seat machine, feeling that a navigator was needed to cope with the challenges of navigating over the open ocean. As a result, the Fulmar was far too large and unwieldy to compete when it came into contact with single seat land based opposition, as it did in the Mediterranean theatre. By 1942 it was being replaced by single seat machines adapted from land fighters such as the Supermarine Seafire, or by American single seat fighters such as the Grumman Martlet. It saw useful service in night-time roles as a convoy escort and intruder and was used to train crews for the Fairey Barracuda.