Robert Gordon TYLER

TYLER, Robert Gordon

Service Number: 408892
Enlisted: 20 January 1941
Last Rank: Sergeant
Last Unit: No. 18 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron (RAAF)
Born: Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, 11 September 1921
Home Town: Ballarat, Central Highlands, Victoria
Schooling: Ballarat College, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia
Occupation: Clerk, Eyres Bros., Ballarat, Victoria, Australia
Died: Flying Battle, Timor Sea, 18 February 1943, aged 21 years
Cemetery: No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Panel 10, Northern Territory Memorial, Adelaide River, Northern Territory, Australia
Memorials: Adelaide River Northern Territory Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour
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World War 2 Service

3 Sep 1939: Involvement Sergeant, 408892
20 Jan 1941: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, No. 18 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron (RAAF)
20 Jun 1941: Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Sergeant, 408892

Help us honour Robert Gordon Tyler's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by David Barlow

Son of James Gordon Tyler and Helen Ramsay Tyler of North Ballarat, Victoria

 

Mitchell Bomber N5-144 of Number 18 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron was shot down by Japanese fighters and made an emergency landing at sea south of Dili, Timor - only two fatalities: Dutch Lieutenant B J. Grummels & Sergeant (Air Gunner) Robert Gordon Tyler 408892 RAAF

 

The rest of the crew were rescued: Flight Sergeant Ronald Stuart Horridge 404990 RAAF and four Dutch aircrew: Sergeant Hoeg 94966 / Sergeant Van Der Weert 93888 / J M Vaandrig / L Firscher

 

Details of the incident were obtained from the book “Up in Darwin with the Dutch ” by Gordon Wallace

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