The Airmen's Stories - P/O H W Cottam

Hubert Weatherby Cottam, of Sunderland, joined 607 Squadron, AuxAF before the war as an Aircrafthand. He remustered as an Airman u/t Pilot about April 1939, when the opportunity for pilot training was first extended to non-commissioned members of the Auxiliary Air Force. Called up on August 24th 1939, Cottam completed his training, was commissioned in March 1940 and arrived at 6 OTU on May 18th. He converted to Hurricanes and was posted to 213 Squadron at Exeter on the 25th.

Photo courtesy Northern Eagles website www.norav.50megs.com

On August 12th and 15th Cottam claimed Me110’s destroyed.

He was killed on December 5th 1941, whilst serving as a flying instructor at 23 SFTS in Southern Rhodesia. Cottam was 22 and he is buried in Bulawayo Cemetery, Zimbabwe.