Operation: Training

Date: 23rd January 1944 (Sunday)

Unit: No. 610 Squadron (County of Chester) (motto: Alifero tollitur axe ceres - 'Ceres rising in a winged chariot')

Type: Spitfire Vb

Serial: AR448

Code: DW-Q

Base: RAF Croydon, Surrey

Location: At base RAF Croydon, Surrey

Pilot: F/O. Keith Kipling Cox Aus/400141 RAAF Age 29. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Spitfire AR448 crashed at Croydon during a non-operational day flight at 11:15 hrs.

A Court of Inquiry into the accident stated:

Tthe pilot stalled the aircraft when doing a slow roll at about 1,000 feet and flicked on his back. He tried to half roll and pull out from this position, but did not quite clear the ground at the edge of the aerodrome. The Plot had been engaged on flying duties for a long time, and obviously his aerobatics were bad. The accidence was a clear case of disobedience of orders in the Pilot attempted aerobatics in the aerodrome circuit area over a built up area at 1,000 feet without authority.'

Burial details:

F/O. Keith Kipling Cox. Brookwood Military Cemetery. Grave 4. M. 16. Born on the 17th August 1914 at Melbourne. commercial traveller prior to enlisting at Melbourne on the 24th June 1940. Son of George Kipling Cox and Louisa Maud Cox, of St. Kilda, Victoria, Australia.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to AIR 81/615, NAA, CWGC, other sources as quoted below:

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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