Flying Officer Robert "Bob" Cole (RAF No. 1822716) was trained to fly in USA 1942, at Eagle Field, California. He returned to UK to fly Typhoon IBs with No. 3 Squadron until late February 1944, when the unit converted to Tempest Mk. Vs. He shared his first V-1 with Wing Commander Roland Beamont on 16 June 1944.
On the continent during the autumn he shot down an Messerschmitt 262, receiving a DFC shortly afterwards, which was gazetted on 1 December 1944.
On 26 November, during a sweep in the Münster-Rheine area he strafed Rheine airfield, destroying a Bf109, but during a second pass his aircraft was shot down by Flak. He baled out, spending the remaining months of the war in Stalag Luft 1.
"Bob" Cole passed away in November 2008 aged 86.
Cole's previous victory
| Date | Type claimed | Aircraft flown | Location of claim | Unit |
| 24 February 1944 | 1/3 LeO 45 | Typhoon IB JP534 | nr Louvain | 3 Sqn |
Cole's victories in Tempest
| Date | Type claimed | Aircraft serial number | Location of claim | Unit |
| 16 June 1944 | 1/2 V-1 | JN761 | Faversham area | 3 |
| 17 June 1944 | 1/2 V-1 | JN768 | N Ham Street | 3 |
| 18 June 1944 | V-1 | JN759 | Ivychurch | 3 |
| 21 June 1944 | V-1 | JN768 | 10 m NW Hastings | 3 |
| 21 June 1944 | V-1 | JN768 | off Bexhill | 3 |
| 23 June 1944 | V-1 | 3 | ||
| 25 June 1944 | V-1 | JN768 | 7m N Hastings | 3 |
| 29 June 1944 | V-1 | 3 | ||
| 30 June 1944 | V-1 | JN768 | NW Tonbridge | 3 |
| 30 June 1944 | V-1 | JN768 | Tonbridge area | 3 |
| 12 July 1944 | V-1 | 3 | ||
| 12 July 1944 | 1/2 V-1 | 3 | ||
| 19 July 1944 | V-1 | JN768 | nr Appledore | 3 |
| 22 July 1944 | V-1 | JN759 | SE Kingsnorth | 3 |
| 22 July 1944 | V-1 | JN759 | 17 m N Pevensey | 3 |
| 22 July 1944 | V-1 | JN759 | 3 | |
| 29 July 1944 | V-1 | 3 | ||
| 16 August 1944 | V-1 | 3 | ||
| 17 August 1944 | V-1 | 3 | ||
| 19 August 1944 | V-1 | 3 | ||
| 28 August 1944 | 2 V-1s | N Rye | 3 | |
| 13 October 1944 | Me262 | JN868 | Grave | 3 |
| 26 November 1944 | Bf109 on ground | JN822 | Rheine airfield | 3 |
Photo:
Ron Pottinger
Text:
Aces High Vol.2 by Christopher Shores