Herbert Copeman
Howrah, Tasmania
RAAF 1942-1946

Herb Copeman deferred a scholarship at the University of Queensland to volunteer for the Royal Australian Air Force on his 18th birthday on 24 September 1941. Although Herb wanted to study medicine, he felt he had to be a part of World War II. Herb's older brother, George, had already enlisted in the RAAF, trained in Canada as a Wireless/Air Gunner and ended up in a glider towing squadron supporting the British 6th Airborne Division's paratroop drop over Normandy.

Herb was called up in 1942 and began training on Anzac Day. He graduated as a single-engine fighter pilot in January 1943 and was sent to the United Kingdom. Herb hoped to fly Typhoons because they provided close support to ground troops and he hoped in this way to help win the war in Europe. After a further seven months of advanced training, Herb was granted leave in November 1943 to study at the University of London, but was recalled and posted to 555 Squadron, Royal Air Force.

In June 1944, Herb flew two sorties that, although he didn't realise it at the time, were actually decoys ahead of the D-Day invasion. The Germans believed the Allies would land at Calais, in northern France, and Herb's missions were part of a well-planned deception to give this impression and divert attention from Normandy, where the Allied troops actually landed.

After D-Day, Herb was transferred to 137 Squadron RAF and flew against German V1 rockets, known as 'doodle bugs', in defence of London. In August 1944, he began flying in support of the Allied advance from Normandy. During his tour, he completed 96 low-level ground attack missions against German tanks, barges, trains, vehicles and gun positions.

The only time Herb remembers thinking he was going to die was on 15 September 1944 when his aircraft was hit by ground fire during his 11th sortie. German flak batteries and machine-gunners were able to target the Typhoons flying at low level, with many pilots killed or taken prisoner. On this occasion the Typhoons were attacking barges to help the British and Canadian armies clear the dock area of Antwerp, Belgium. Herb was ordered to attack a big barge with enormous firepower and he recalled that this was the most flak he ever saw. After firing his rockets, Herb felt a terrible bang and was thrown forward when his seat slipped, injuring his groin. He thought he had been mortally wounded but automatically followed procedures to pull out of the dive, stay in control and dodge the flak. Herb made it home emotionally and physically exhausted.

Herb thinks his most significant contribution during his tour was to stop the Germans from refuelling their tanks near Schoenberg during a major action in the Battle of the Bulge on Christmas Eve 1944. But it was also the scene of his most difficult moment as a fighter pilot. Just before pressing home his attack, Herb saw 30 people coming out of a church about 100 metres from the first tank. He tried to avoid hitting them but was later informed of a massive explosion and thought he had incinerated the Belgian civilians. Herb felt terrible but was in trouble himself. His engine died, he was on his own in the thick of enemy fire and was forced to make a spectacular emergency landing alongside a busy American runway.

In 1994, Herb went back to Schoenberg with friends and found the field where the German tanks had been. He visited the church he had seen and learned that only five civilians had been killed during the attack by tanks the next day. He had not incinerated the 30 Belgians he'd tried to protect.

After the war, Herb returned to Australia He was discharged in January 1946 as a Flying Officer and married Margaret Hill later that year. He studied medicine at the University of Queensland and graduated in 1951 with a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery. He is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

Herb returned to Normandy in 1994 to attend the 50th anniversary of D-Day celebrations, including the dedication of a monument to the 151 Typhoon pilots, including Australians, who died fighting over Normandy. In 1999, Margaret died after a 37-year battle with multiple sclerosis. They had been married 52 years.

Herb married Noela Heyward in 2000 and they are living happily in Howrah, Tasmania. Herb has four children and nine grandchildren, two step-children and three step-grandchildren.

Herb is honoured to be part of this mission to honour those Australian Typhoon pilots, few of whom are now left, and ensure that their memory lives on.

Minister's Message | Diary | Photo Gallery | Background | Media Materials | Representatives