RAF North Cotes Strike Wing memorial

Image: © Adrian S Pye Taken: 8 Sep 2019

The memorial is difficult to read with the paint flaking, but reads as follows: "The Royal Air Force / North Cotes Strike Wing./ This memorial commemorates the men / and women who served as pilots, / navigators and ground personnel, / which formed the Royal Air Force / North Cotes 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 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 they 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 aircraft failed to return and / 241 aircrew from Great Britain / the Commonwealth and our allies / gave their lives flying with / The Royal Air Force / North Cotes Strike Wing / (Nos. 143,236 and 254 Squadrons).

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