Bijur, Robert Duff
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Robert Duff |
Surname | Bijur |
Gender | M |
Age | 22 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 09-08-1942 |
Next of Kin | Son of Harry Bijur and Madeline Bijur (née Ryan), of Los Angeles, California, USA. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Vickers Wellington IC |
Serial Number | X3171 |
Markings |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Runnymede Memorial |
Grave Reference | Panel 107. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 9 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/104923 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 91 |
Squadron | 15 OTU |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | United States of America |
Miscellaneous Information
This aircraft was later lost on 1 March 1943 from RAF Harwell. |
Robert was born at Los Angeles, USA on 27 August 1919. Both parents were both born in New York and his father was a Lawyer. The schools Robert attended were De La Salle, New York, 1927-1932, Loyola Prep N.Y.C. 1932-1936 (preparation for College) and the University of Alabama 1938-1940 (Pre Law). The sports he took part in were football, baseball and track events in which he was a record holder. He enlisted at Montreal on 2 June 1941 (no oath taken), whilst the United States was still neutral. |
After training, Robert embarked from Canada on 14 March 1942 and arrived at 3PRC on 28 March 1942. He was then at 7 AGS on 24 May 1942 and 15 OTU on 16 June 1942. Robert sadly lost his life on 9 August 1942. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 30-11--0001 |
End Date | 30-11--0001 |
Takeoff Station | Boscombe Down |
Day/Night Raid | |
Operation | Training- cross-country exercise |
Reason for Loss | The way in which Robert went missing on a night time Cross-Country exercise remains a mystery. He was in the rear turret and so far as the rest of the crew were concerned that is where he should have been when they landed. Apart from a slight incident when there was a change at the controls inside the aircraft and a little height was lost, nothing else untoward happened and it wasn’t until they landed that the rest of the crew realised Robert was missing. |