ROBINS, Alfred Arthur
| Service Number: | 436254 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 2 December 1942 |
| Last Rank: | Flight Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | Operational Training Units (RAF) |
| Born: | Victoria Park, Western Australia, 2 January 1917 |
| Home Town: | Mount Hawthorn, Vincent, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Subiaco State School and Perth Modern School, Western Australia, Australia |
| Occupation: | Driver |
| Died: | Accidental, Middle East, 8 January 1945, aged 28 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Alamein Memorial, El Alamein, Maṭrūḥ, Egypt. Column 284. |
| Memorials: | Alamein Memorial (El Alamein), Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Subiaco Perth Modern School WW2 Honour Board |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Flight Sergeant, 436254 | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Dec 1942: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 436254 | |
| 8 Jan 1945: | Involvement Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Sergeant, 436254, Operational Training Units (RAF), Middle East / Mediterranean Theatre |
Alamein Memorial Egypt
Commemorated on Alamein Memorial Egypt Column 284. The Alamein Memorial forms the entrance to the El Alamein War Cemetery.
Submitted 20 March 2016 by Peter Sawyer
Wellington Bomber MP792 fate
Source: Wellington Museum Brooklands UK
I have checked the on the official fate of Wellington MP792, which is shown as being on the strength of 78 O.T.U. at Ein Shemer, and it is described thus:-
"Flew into the sea on a Leigh Light exercise off Netanya, Palestine 8.1.45."
78 O.T.U. had been formed at Ein Shemer in February 1944, from a special detachment sent out from 3 O.T.U. in the UK, to train Wellington crews for general reconnaissance squadrons in submarine hunting, using ASV radar and Leigh Lights.
Netanya is a coastal beach resort to the north of Tel Aviv. The aircraft was not recovered.
Wellington MP 792 of No 78 OTU RAF took off from RAF Station Ein Shemer, Middle East Force, at approx 6pm on 8 January 1945 to carry out a non operational training exercise over the sea, and the aircraft failed to return to base. Normal radio contact was kept with the aircraft for a time but after 6.35pm no further messages were received, and base could not regain contact. A little later information was received that an aircraft had crashed in the sea. A launch was despatched to carry out a search, and although some aircraft wreckage similar to the missing aircraft type was located, it could not be established if it came from the missing aircraft. Also no trace of the crew could be found.
It was believed that the aircraft came down in the sea approx 3 miles west of Jaffa, Palestine, and that the crew were lost at sea.
Submitted 20 March 2016 by Peter Sawyer
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