Date: 23rd March 1943
Unit: No. 59 Squadron
Type: B-17 Fortress IIA
Serial: FK209
Coded: J
Location: Bay of Biscay
Pilot: F/O. Richard John Weatherhead J/6992 R.C.A.F. Age 30. Missing
Pilot 2: Sgt. William James Arnold R/106166 R.C.A.F. Age 20. Missing
Nav: F/O. Willard Christian Zapfe J/7024 R.C.A.F. Age 21. Missing (1)
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. George Cojocar J/16374 R.C.A.F. Age 20. Missing (2)
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Clarence Lummis Copping R/77233 R.C.A.F. Age 25. Missing
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Frank Spino R/75875 R.C.A.F. Age 26. Missing (3)
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Richard Glover Montgomery R/106426 R.C.A.F. Age 26. Missing
Air/Bmr: Sgt. Robert Albert Phillips 128609 R.A.F.V.R. Age 31. Missing
(1) Zapfe Island in Saskatchewan is named after F/O Zapfe
(2) Cojocar Lake in Saskatchewan is named after Flt/Sgt. Cojocar
(3) Spino Lake in northern Ontario is named after Sgt. Spino
A new publication by Mr. Robert Stitt has now been published. "Boeing B-17 Fortress in R.A.F. Coastal Command service". See below.
REASON FOR LOSS:
Shot down and classed as missing. The B-17 was shot down by Oblt. Hermann Horstmann of 13 / KG 40 at 13.15 hours.
Interesting in that F/O. Weatherhead, F/O. Zapfe, Sgt. Copping and Sgt. Spino were all interned in Portuguese Guinea on October 2nd 1942 when a 200 Squadron Hudson went down in bad weather. They all returned to United Kingdom on October 24th, 1942.
FK209 - B-17 Fortress IIA (A.R.S. Collection)
FK209 Crew. Can you assist in identification?
Sgt. Richard Glover Montgomery is second from left back row (With thanks to his brother Herb who emailed the Society with this and other information recently)
Sgt. Clarence Lummis Copping front row left - with thanks to his niece Judith Copping
Oblt. Hermann Horstmann
Burial Details:
Richard John Weatherhead Runnymede Memorial. Panel. 175.
Son of John Christopher and of Florence Edith of Mission City, British Columbia, Canada.
William James Arnold Runnymede Memorial. Panel. 179.
Son of C. H. and Ethel W. Arnold, of Rainy River, Ontario, Canada.
Willard Christian Zapfe Runnymede Memorial. Panel. 175.
George Cojocar Runnymede Memorial. Panel. 175.
Son of Mr.& Mrs. D.D. Cojocar of Regina, Saskatchewan
Clarence Lummis Copping Runnymede Memorial. Panel. 179.
Son of William Carter and Isabella Lummis of Waterloo, Province of Quebec, Canada
Frank Spino Runnymede Memorial. Panel. 180.
Son of Mauro and Rose Spino, of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Richard Glover Montgomery Runnymede Memorial. Panel. 180
Oldest son of Mr and Mrs A. E. Montgomery, 779 Hartland Avenue, Outremont, Quebec.
Robert Albert Phillips Runnymede Memorial. Panel. 128.
Son of Robert and Sarah Ellen of Bolton, Lancashire; husband of Margaret Fisher of Bolton.
Research by David King / Kelvin T. Youngs (Aircrew Remembrance Society March 2009) Dedicated to Herb Montgomery, Judith Copping and relatives of the crew.
This superb new publication with well researched information is now available - please click onto the cover for further information. 
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