The Airmen's Stories - P/O E J Coleman
Edward Jack Coleman was born on 9th October 1914, the son of Edward and Ella Coleman of Mitcham, Surrey.
He attended Dulwich College from 1926 to 1933.
He was two seasons
in the Second XV and Second XI, captain
of Spenser and president of the Science and
Photographic Society. He then joined Beese and Co., Shipping Agents, and was posted in around 1935 to their Aden office.
Returning to England in April 1939, he joined the RAF, completed his training, converted to Spitfires and then joined 54 Squadron at Rochford in June 1940.
L to R: F/O JL Allen, P/O EJ Coleman, F/Lt. DG Gribble, P/O AR McL Campbell
On July 7th Coleman made a forced-landing near Deal after an attack by Me109’s, slightly wounded.
He was killed on February 17th 1941, still serving with 54 Squadron. Coleman was aloft in Spitfire X4711 on a weather test, he was flying over the Richmond, Yorkshire area in poor visibility when the aircraft struck a tree at 0900 near Low Gingerfield Farm.
Coleman was cremated at South London Crematorium, Mitcham.
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