Notes
Derrick James Coffee was born at Beckenham in Kent on 28 May 1924, the son of Winifred (née Blackford) and Randall Coffee, senior charge engineer at an electric power station. He was educated at Beckenham County Boys School (now Langley Park School for Boys), and entered Worcester College as an RAF cadet on 24 April 1942.
After the conclusion of his RAF short course at Worcester, Derrick Coffee rose to the rank of Leading Aircraftsman before being commissioned as a Pilot Officer on 12 November 1943. He was further promoted to Flying Officer on the 12 May 1944. While training at No 4 Elementary Flying Training School based at RAF Brough Flying Officer Derrick Coffee crashed into a river during a solo flight on 30 June 1944. Although able to climb out of his aircraft, witnesses reported that he drowned before a rescue boat could reach him. He was 19 years old.
Derrick Coffee is buried at Beckenham Crematorium and Cemetery. He is commemorated on the war memorial at Worcester College, Oxford.