Baird, Robert
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Robert |
Surname | Baird |
Gender | M |
Age | 21 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 07-08-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of William and Catherine Baird, of Camelon, Falkirk, Stirlingshire. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Short Stirling III |
Serial Number | BK690 |
Markings | QS-F |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | France |
Burial/Memorial Place | Nantes (Pont-du-Cens) Communal Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Plot L. Row C. Grave 16. |
Epitaph | IN LOVING MEMORY OF OUR DEAR SON, 'RONNIE' "THY WILL BE DONE" |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 4 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1562177 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 620 |
Trade | Air Bomber |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Village Green, Chedburgh, Suffolk |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Brick Pillar, inscribed concrete slab and metal plaque |
Memorial Text | A memorial to the men and women who served at RAF Chedburgh between 1942 and 1946, including 620 Sqn |
Location | All Saints Church, Chedburgh |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | RoH & Sqn Badge |
Memorial Text | 620 Sqn Roll of Honour and 620 Sqn Badge |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/2134/6 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/2134/5 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 06-08-1943 |
End Date | 07-08-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Chedburgh |
Day/Night Raid | Night (29% moon) |
Operation | Gardening in the Gironde estuary |
Reason for Loss | After dropping mines in the Gironde estuary, the aircraft strayed off course and was hit by flak, destroying the wireless and setting light to one of the fuel tanks. After the pilot ordered the crew to bale out, a second shell burst close to the cockpit, probably killing the Pilot and Bomber Aimer. The flight engineer, Sgt. Jack Lee (1089783), and one of the air gunners Sgt. David Robert Obrart (1265865) successfully evaded capture, whilst the other air gunner, Sgt. John Richard Smith (1296265) was captured and held in Stalag Luft VII, his PoW number being 1338 |