RAF North Coates Strike Wing Memorial

This memorial is dedicated to the men and woman who served as pilots, navigators or ground personnel at R.A.F. North Coates Strike Wing (No 143, 236 and 254 squadrons) during the Second World War. The text on the memorial reads:

"THIS MEMORIAL COMMEMORATES THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVED AS PILOTS, NAVIGATORS AND GROUND PERSONNEL, WHICH FORMED THE ROYAL AIR FORCE NORTH COATES STRIKE WING DURING WORLD WAR II.

FROM 1942 TO 1945 COVERING THE COASTAL REGIONS OF NORWAY, DENMARK, GERMANY, HOLLAND, BELGIUM AND FRANCE
FROM BERGEN TO THE SKAGERRAK, THE FRISIAN ISLANDS, THE NORTH SEA, THE ENGLISH CHANNEL AND THE BAY OF BISCAY TO BORDEAUX,

OPERATING WITH BRISTOL BEAUFIGHTER AIRCRAFT, ARMED WITH CANNON, BOMBS, TORPEDO AND ROCKETS INFLICTED HEAVY LOSSES AND DAMAGE TO SHIPPING, DENYING FREEDOM OF THE SEA FOR SUPPLY PURPOSES, FOR THE NAZI GERMAN FORCES AND WAR INDUSTRY,

OVER 150,000 TONS OF ENEMY SHIPPING WAS DESTROYED.

THESE ATTACKS WERE MADE BY DAY & NIGHT, FLYING AT VERY LOW ALTITUDE IN COMBAT CONDITIONS OF VERY HEAVY GERMAN ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE.

120 AIRCREW FAILED TO RETURN AND 241 AIRCREW FROM GREAT BRITAIN, THE COMMONWEALTH AND OUR ALLIES GAVE THEIR LIVES FLYING WITH THE ROYAL AIR FORCE NORTH COATES STRIKE WING (No's 143, 236 and 254 SQUADRONS)."

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