Conditions Governing Use

The materials from Washington and Lee University Special Collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used should be fully credited with the source. Permission for publication of this material, in part or in full, must be secured with the Head of Special Collections.

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation: [Identification of item], Lloyd R. Cole Collection, WLU Coll. 0679, Special Collections and Archives, James G. Leyburn Library, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA

In some cases the citation format may vary. Please contact Special Collections' staff to verify the appropriate format.

Biographical / Historical

Capt. Lloyd R. Cole was born in Winchester, Kentucky in 1919 and graduated from Washington and Lee University in 1940. During his tenure at Washington and Lee University, Cole was the president of Phi Delta Theta fraternity and a member of the Ring-tum Phi newspaper. Not long after graduating, Cole married and enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces. In 1942, he was assigned as pilot of "S-for-Sugar" aircraft at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. In October of 1942, Capt. Cole arrived in Molesworth, UK as pilot of "Memphis Tot," the last aircraft he would fly. Throughout his service, he participated in eight operations, four of which were aborted for a variety of complications. On February 4, 1943, "Memphis Tot" was shot down in Germany after the crew reported their guns did not work and attempted to turn back. Captain Cole crash landed in Waddenzee, Holland. As a result of the accident, Capt. Cole suffered a severe hip injury that would eventually result in amputation. Following the accident, he was captured as prisoner of the Germans and died of wounds in the Wilhelmina Hospital in Amsterdam. Capt. Cole was awarded an Air Medal and a Purple Heart Award for his service and is now buried in Ardennes American Cemetery in Belgium.

Content Description

This small collection primarily contains a series of letters between various individuals and Anna C. Cole, mother of Lloyd R. Cole. Dated between 1940 and 1946, these letters largely detail the difficulties Capt. Lloyd R. Cole experienced throughout his service during World War II through his death in 1943 while prisoner of war (POW). In addition, the collection features several photographs of Capt. Lloyd R. Cole during the war, in addition to a photograph taken on his wedding day with his wife, Mary May. Of great note, Cole's pins and Selective Service medal, are included in the collection.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Cole, Lloyd R., 1919-1943
• Families of prisoners of war
• Holland (Name)
• Ring-Tum Phi
• Washington and Lee University
• Washington and Lee University
• Washington and Lee University. Phi Delta Theta
• World War (1939-1945)