BLAIR, Robert Alexander Walton
| Service Number: | 415498 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 9 November 1941, Perth Western Australia |
| Last Rank: | Pilot Officer |
| Last Unit: | No. 77 Squadron (RAF) |
| Born: | Perth, Western Australia, 18 January 1922 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Perth Modern School , Western Australia 1935-39 |
| Occupation: | Bank Clerk |
| Died: | Flying Battle, North West Europe, 17 June 1944, aged 22 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, England, United Kingdom |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, International Bomber Command Centre Memorial, Runnymede Air Forces Memorial, Subiaco Perth Modern School WW2 Honour Board |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Pilot Officer, 415498 | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Nov 1941: | Enlisted Perth Western Australia | |
| 17 Jun 1944: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, 415498, No. 77 Squadron (RAF), Air War NW Europe 1939-45, Killed in action crash of Handley Page Halifax |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of Robert Walton Blair and Vera Marion Blair, of West Leederville, Western Australia.
Served in the Militia from 11 July - 11 September 1940 in the 25th Light Horse Regiment. 'Eligible males' were drafted into the Militia and from there many transferred to the AIF or as in the case of Robert Blair, to the RAAF.
Robert Blair was born on 18 January 1922 the son of Robert and Vera Blair at Perth, Western Australia. He worked for the Bank of New South Wales as a clerk before enlistment on 11 July 1940 he was accepted to the 25 Light Horse Regiment and discharged on 11 September 1940 to join the RAAF. (RAAFrecords not digitized)
Halifax NA 508 took off from RAF Full Sutton, Yorkshire at 2315 hours on the night of 16/17 June 1944, detailed to bomb Sterkrade, Germany. CREW: RAAF Pilot Officer R A W Blair -Pilot RAF Sergeant H L Moore -Flight Engineer RAAF Pilot Officer L G Pratt -Observer RAAF Flight Sergeant G A Armstrong -Air Bomber RAAF Warrant Officer J P O’Meara -Wireless Air Gunner RAAF Flying Officer J M Date -Mid Upper Gunner RAF Sergeant D G Tastin -Tail Gunner A 1947 report by a Missing Research & Enquiry team stated “the Communal Police at Neuwer-Amstel reported that the aircraft crashed in flames at Neuwer-Amstel on the night of 16/17 June, 1944. German documents confirmed that only one body was recovered that of WO O’Meara” He is buried at the Bergen-Op-Zoom War Cemetery, Netherlands. The other six crew members hadno known grave and their names are commemorated on the Memorial to the Missing, Runnymede, Surrey. In June 1990, the wreckage of NA508 was uncovered by the Recovery Team of the Royal Netherlands Air Force, including the unidentified remains of five of the crew, who were later buried at Bergen op Zoom Canadian War Cemetery on 8 October 1991. Pilot Officer Blair is also remembered with honour at the Australian War Memorial and on the Perth, Western Australia, Roll of Honour.
https://docplayer.net/57197404-77-squadron-raf-raaf-airmen-killed-whilst-on-active-service-with-77-squadron-raf-world-war-ii.html
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