COLPUS, John Alexander
| Service Number: | 415306 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 14 September 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Flight Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | Operational Training Units (RAF) |
| Born: | Subiaco Western Australia , 11 November 1920 |
| Home Town: | Nedlands, Nedlands, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Carpenter/Building Inspector |
| Died: | Natural , Hollywood Hospital Nedlands Perth, Western Australia , 10 October 2015, aged 94 years |
| Cemetery: |
Pinnaroo Valley Chapel & Crematorium |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 14 Sep 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 415306 | |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Sep 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Aircraftman 2 (WW2), 415306, No. 5 Initial Training School Pearce | |
| 23 Sep 1943: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, 415306, No. 467 Squadron (RAAF), Air War NW Europe 1939-45 | |
| 26 May 1944: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 415306, Operational Training Units (RAF), Air War NW Europe 1939-45 | |
| 30 Jun 1944: | Honoured Distinguished Flying Cross, Air War NW Europe 1939-45 | |
| 29 Aug 1945: | Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 415306 | |
| 29 Aug 1945: | Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 415306, Operational Training Units (RAF), 21 Operational Training Unit (RAF) | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement Flight Lieutenant, 415306, Royal Australian Air Force |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Graham Padget
John Alexander Colpus, was one of the most distinguished Australian bomber pilots of World War II, he was due to be promoted to squadron leader when he was transferred to a non-op unit as he had completed in excess of 30 sorties with bomber command over Europe.
A combination of skill and courage carried him through some remarkable escapes. The most memorable was when his Lancaster bomber collided with another bomber over a German city.
With damage to one wing, he wrestled his aircraft on a course to England and after four hours of tension, crash landed at his base at Waddington
He had to make his approach at high speed and at a steep angle but the Lancaster survived, as did all of the crew. The other aircraft in the collision also landed safely.
Jack Colpus' Lancaster, "S" for Sugar, had lost nearly 2m of its wing. It was repaired and went on to complete 137 sorties and is now in an RAF museum, one of the oldest surviving Lancasters. Jack's name is engraved on one of its engines.
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