Dey, Robert Died
Personal Information
| Rank | P/O |
| Forename(s) | Robert |
| Surname | Dey |
| Gender | M |
| Age | 30 |
| Date of Death | 26-07-1944 |
| Next of Kin | Son of Frederick Dey and Marcianne Dey (née Wagner), of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Husband of Ruth Lillian Dey (née Young), whom he married on 6 September 1941. |
Aircraft Information
| Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
| Serial Number | ND903 |
| Markings | PM-G |
Memorial Information
| Burial/Memorial Country | France |
| Burial/Memorial Place | Orleans Main Cemetery |
| Grave Reference | Plot 1. Row B. Coll. grave 6-9. |
IBCC Memorial Information
| Phase | 1 |
| Panel Number | 28 |
Enlistment Information
| Service Number | J/90571 |
| Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
| Group | 1 |
| Squadron | 103 |
| Squadron Motto | Noli me tangere (Touch me not) |
| Trade | Navigator |
| Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
| Location | Dey Island, Manitoba; Within Wapeeminakosak Lake |
| Country | Canada |
| Memorial Type | Island |
| Memorial Text |
| Location | Anglian Water Treatment Works, Elsham Wolds, Lincolnshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Pillar & Plaques |
| Memorial Text | Pillar : RAF Elsham Wolds, 1941-1945, For those who made the great sacrifice. Plaque :This tree is dedicated to all those who served with 103 Squadron Royal Air Force. Plaque : RAF Elsham Wolds, Opened in Summer 1941 as a bomber station in No1 group, it was the home of No103 Squadron and from Elsham Wolds until 1945 Wellington, Halifax and Lancaster aircraft of No 103 and other squadrons flew on bombing missions against targets in Germany and occupied Europe. |
| Location | In front of the mess esplanade, Mailly-le-Camp, 10 - Aube Prefecture |
| Country | France |
| Memorial Type | Stone memorial sculpture, inscribed marble tablets and inscribed metal plaque |
| Memorial Text |
En souvenir des heros de la RAF. Qui ont participe au bombardment du camp de Mailly. Unites de la RAF engagees dans le raid sur Mailly-le-Camp, la nuit du 3 au 4 May 1944. N° 9-12-44-49-50-57 61-83-97-100-101 Special Duties Flight-103-105-106-166- 169-192-207-460 (RAAF)-463 (RAAF)-467 (RAAF)-550-576-617- 619-625-626-627-641
Translation "In memory of the RAF heroes who took part in the bombing of Mailly Camp. RAF units engaged in the raid on Mailly-le-Camp, the night of 3-4 May 1944. Squadrons that took part: N° 9-12-44-49-50-57 61-83-97-100-101 Special Duties Flight-103-105-106-166- 169-192-207-460 (RAAF)-463 (RAAF)-467 (RAAF)-550-576-617-619-625-626-627-641" |
Miscellaneous Information
| Robert was born at Winnipeg on 12 May 1914. His parents were both born in Poland at Luchoff and were both deceased. He had numerous siblings including Frank, Fred, Emil, Edward, Lewis and a sister, Ella. The schools he attended were Lord Selkirk 1920–1930 and St. John’s Technical school 1930-1931 (grade 11)- both in Winnipeg . He enjoyed skating and baseball and his hobby was woodwork and mechanical drawing. Robert worked at the Winnipeg Casket Company where he was a wood finisher and sprayer 1931-1942. |
| He enlisted on 30 March 1942 and after training embarked from Canada on 23 June 1943, arriving in the U.K. at 3 PRC on 2 July 1943. He then continued to 9 (0)AFU 31 August 1943, 83 OTU 12 October 1943, 11 Base 20 February 1944, and 103 Squadron on 17 May 1944. It was from there on 26 July 1944 that Robert sadly lost his life. |
The National Archives
| Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/816/14 |
| Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/816/14 |
Fellow Servicemen
Please note that this list gives all the losses aboard the quoted aircraft and occasionally these may have occurred on an earlier date when the aircraft was not itself lost. Please check the dates of death carefully.
| Name | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Blanchard R A O (Sgt) | Died |
| Dyer M B (F/O) | Died |
| Nanson R W (Sgt) | Died |
| Price R J (Sgt) | Died |
| Tommie L (W/O) | Died |
| Warren R J B (F/O) | Died |
Last Operation Information
| Start Date | 25-07-1944 |
| End Date | 26-07-1944 |
| Takeoff Station | Elsham Wolds |
| Day/Night Raid | Night (28% moon) |
| Operation | Stuttgart |
| Reason for Aircraft Loss | Most probably shot down by Oblt. Adolf Kaiser (1/NJG2) , the attack taking place 15 km West of Gien at 00:38 hrs. And crashed near La Ferté St Cyr not far from the Loire river. |