The Airmen's Stories - F/Lt. J H Coghlan

John Hunter Coghlan was born in Shanghai on 7th September 1914, the son of Henry Hunter Coghlan (1876-1918) and Katherine Mary Maud Coghlan (nee Lawrie 1879-1939). His father was working in the shipping industry.

He arrived on the 'Empress of Britain' on 22nd September 1932 at Southampton and the family settled in Southsea, Hampshire. JH Coghlan attended the Imperial Service College at Windsor from 1927-33. He is recorded as sitting the Indian Police Service exam in 1934.

He joined the RAF in early 1936 and arrived at Reading Civil Flying School on 3rd February.

He was posted to 7 FTS Peterborough on 18th April and joined No 1 Squadron at Tangmere on 25th October of that year.

When 72 Squadron was reformed at Church Fenton in February 1937 Coghlan joined it but in March 1938 he went back to No 1. After the outbreak of war he was posted to 56 Squadron at North Weald.

In mid-May 1940 'A' Flight of 56 was operating from Lille by day and returning to North Weald at night. On 18th May 1940 he damaged two Me109s, probably destroyed a He111 on the 19th and shared a He111 on the 27th.

Two days later he damaged two Ju88s but the squadron was then withdrawn to Digby on the 31st to rest.

Above: 56 Squadron

F/O L Eriminsky, F/O P Down, F/O I Soden, F/O J Coghlan, F/O P Illingworth, F/O F Rose

F/O ML Hulton-Harrop, F/O E Holden

On 5th June the squadron was posted to North Weald again and Coghlan was appointed 'A' Flight Commander. He claimed a Do17 destroyed on 3rd July, probably destroyed a Me110 and damaged two Me109s on the 10th and then on 13th July he claimed a Ju87 and a Me109 destroyed.

On this day his Hurricane, N2402, was damaged in an attack by Oberleutnant Fszs of 4/JG51, whilst engaging Ju87s of II/StG1 over the Channel, off Calais. Coghlan was slightly wounded.

On 30th July 1940 he was awarded the DFC and then posted to the Parachute Practice Unit at Ringway (now Manchester Airport) on 7th August. It seems strange in hindsight why an experienced and successful pilot should be transferred out of Fighter Command at a time of increasing strain.

He was killed in Lysander R2625 "C" on 17th August 1940 when it was lost over the Channel on an agent-landing sortie. The fate of his passenger is not known.

His body was washed ashore on 23rd September 1940 and he is buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery.

Coghlan was 25 years old.