PEGGS, Robert James
| Service Number: | 415913 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 29 March 1942 |
| Last Rank: | Pilot Officer |
| Last Unit: | No. 77 Squadron (RAF) |
| Born: | Pingelly, Western Australia, 21 February 1924 |
| Home Town: | South Perth, South Perth, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Perth Boys School, Western Australia |
| Occupation: | Storeman |
| Died: | Flying Battle, France, 23 May 1944, aged 20 years |
| Cemetery: |
Seris Communal Cemetery, Seris, France Military Plot - Grave 2 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Darling Range Road District Roll of Honour, International Bomber Command Centre Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Pilot Officer, 415913 | |
|---|---|---|
| 29 Mar 1942: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, 415913 | |
| 9 May 1944: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, 415913, No. 77 Squadron (RAF) | |
| 23 May 1944: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, 415913, No. 77 Squadron (RAF), Air War NW Europe 1939-45 | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Pilot Officer, No. 466 Squadron (RAAF) |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by David Barlow
Son of Robert William and Pathama Alice Peggs of Kalamunda, WA
Pilot Officer Robert James Peggs 415913 was killed in the loss of Halifax LL138 of Number 77 Squadron RAF near Seris, France
Biography contributed by Steve Larkins
Robert James PEGGS (1924-1944)
Pilot Officer Robert James (Jim) Peggs, the son of Robert and Pathama Peggs of Kalamunda, Western Australia, was born in Pingelly WA.
Educated at Perth Boys School and Senior Technical College, He worked as a storeman before enlisting on 24 March 1942. He qualified as an air gunner in April 1943 at 3 B&G, West Sale, having also completed the Wireless Air Gunners course at Ballarat. Jim left Sydney in June 1943 arriving in England in September and was attached to No. 466 Squadron in December of that year. He flew his first flight in England on 8 December 1943.
He flew 7 sorties with No. 466 before he was posted to 77 Squadron in May the following year and a month later promoted to Pilot Officer. Jim and three other crew members were killed when their Halifax LL138 crashed after an operation bombing railway facilities at Orleans, in France, on 23 May 1944, having taken off from Full Sutton.
Just ten minutes after releasing their bomb load they were attacked by a night fighter damaging the controls and forcing the Halifax into an uncontrollable dive. Three of the crew managed to bale out of the stricken aircraft the remainder of the crew were killed during the initial attack. Jim and three other crew members are buried at Seris Communal Cemetery. The other crew members (Haworth, Hale and Taylor) were taken as prisoners of war. Flight Sergeant Hale died within a few days of his injuries and is buried in the Nantes (Pont-du-Cens) Communal Cemetery. Taylor also died as a POW, and Haworth was returned to England at the end of the war.
CREW: RCAF Warrant Officer G T Haworth - Pilot Sergeant R A Rose - Flight Engineer Flight Sergeant C T Hale - Navigator Flying Officer A A Beatty - Air Bomber Sergeant R G James - Wireless Air Gunner Pilot Officer R J Peggs - Mid Upper Gunner Sergeant J D Taylor - Rear Gunner
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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