Thomas "Mike" Cooper-Slipper RAF   S/L Distinguished Flying Cross Thomas Paul Michael "Mike" Cooper-Slipper Born 11 January 1921 at Kinver, Staffordshire Educated at King Edward VI Grammar School, in Stourbridge, Worcestershire England Raced motorcycles until he Joined the RAF in 1938 Got wings in May 1939 P/O on probation 10 Nov 1939 F/O 15 Nov 1940 F/L 29 August 1941 Married Margaret "Rita" Brown 5 Nov 1941 S/L (temp) 1 July 1944 Transferred to the reserves in 1945 Flew against the Germans at Dunkirk and during the BoB and the Japanese in the Far East Becoming an ace against both Captured by the Japanese but escaped Subsequently being severely injured by a land mine He immigrated to Canada in 1947 Becoming a Test Pilot for Avro Canada Inducted into the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame in 2003 Died February 23, 2004, in Victoria B.C., aged 83

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The London Gazette, Air Ministry, 26 November 1940

The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following appointment and awards in recognition of gallantry displayed in flying operations against the enemy:

Distinguished Flying Cross

F/O Thomas Paul Michael COOPERS-LIPPER (41555) DFC — No. 605 Squadron.

Gazetted on - Flying Officer Cooper-Slipper has displayed great skill and daring in air combat. On one occasion he deliberately rammed and destroyed a hostile aircraft after his own controls had been practically shot away. He has destroyed seven enemy aircraft and damaged three others.

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Avro Test Pilot Cooper-Slipper

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Cooper-Slipper, while testing the Orenda Iroquois engine, with Len Hobbs & Johnny McLaughlin

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Victories Include :

12 - 10 / 0 / 4  (kills are estimated)

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Thanks go out to

Top photo courtesy Airforce mag. in a story by Raymond Eagle, & the_tartanterror for the other two pix. See "Test Pilot" above.

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