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Submitted: 4/10/09 • Approved: 5/23/15 • Last Updated: 5/26/15 • R177390-G0-S3
CAPTAIN US Air Force
World War II
Korea
July 8, 1924-September 16, 1952
Purple Heart
Killed In Action
*Obituary
The Baxter Bulletin
September 25, 1952
Capt. Gordan Cope, Air Force jet pilot, has been reported missing in action since September 16, relatives here have been notified.
The Air Force report said that Capt. Cope, an F-88 Sabrejet pilot, and flight commander of his group, was on a mission over Korea on September 16, when the group encountered a flight of Red MIG planes. Cope's plane failed to return to the field with the others.
He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Cope of Norfork. His wife and three children live in Mt. Home. He is a veteran of World War II and was recalled to active duty with the Air Force in April of 1951.
The Home News
July 13, 1988
Memorial services for Captain Gordon Cope were held June 18, 1988, at the Norfork Cemetery with Elder Price Lovelace officiating. Captain Cope died while on duty in Korea as a US Air Force pilot. Captain Cope/s plane never returned from a Sep 16, 1952 Air Force mission.
After the services the United States Air Force full military honor guard from Little Rock Air Force Base conducted military services.
Captain Cope was the son of the late Edgar and Edith Cope. He is survived by three brothers, Laurel, Carl and Doyle Cope, a sister Delores Miser, and three son; Michael, Danny and Scott.
Cenotaph
Son of Joseph Edgar & Edith Marie Stone Cope
Husband of Katherine Rose Cope
Captain Troy Gordon "Gordie" Cope was piloting an F86 Sabre on September 16, 1952, over the Yalu River that separates North Korea from China when he was shot down. Cope was among 31 F86 pilots lost and unaccounted for during the Korean War. A memorial service was held at the Norfork Cemetery on June 18, 1988, and this cenotaph military memorial was placed between the gravestones of his parents. Following various tips, his remains were recovered in May 2004 in Dandong, China, and identifed in October 2004. His remains were interred in the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, Plano, Texas; however, the family had made arrangement so that the cenotaph military marker in the Norfork Cemetery would remain in place.
Contributed on 4/10/09 by maxparnell
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Record #: 177390