Wilson, Robert Francis
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Robert Francis |
Surname | Wilson |
Gender | M |
Age | 23 |
Date of Death | 11-04-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of George Craig Wilson and Alice Agnes Wilson (née Middleton), of Aberdeen. Husband of Ethel Wilson (née Davidson), of Aberdeen, whom he married on 29 July 1939 at St. Machar, Aberdeen. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | ED478 |
Markings | VN-G |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Runnymede Memorial |
Grave Reference | Panel 170. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 118 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 620764 |
Service | Royal Air Force |
Group | 5 |
Squadron | 50 |
Squadron Motto | Sic fidem servamus (Thus we keep faith) |
Trade | Flight Engineer |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Birchwood Way, Birchwood Estate, Lincoln, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Brick Memorial & Inscribed Marble Obolisk |
Memorial Text | To the memory of the Air Crews and Ground Staff who gave their lives whilst serving with No 50 Squadron and No 61 Squadron, 5 group, Bomber Command The Royal Air Force 2nd World War 1939 to 1945. No 50 Squadron "From defence to attack" Operated from Waddi |
Location | Memorial Gardens, Skellingthorpe, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Brick Memorial with Inscribed Marble Stone |
Memorial Text | Royal Air Force Skellingthorpe. My brief sweet life is over, My eyes no longer see, No Christmas Trees, No summer walks, No pretty girls for me, I've got the chop - I've had it, My nightly ops are done, Yet in another 100 years I'll still be twenty one. R |
Miscellaneous Information
Born 1920, Aberdeen. His father George was a joiner and Robert had been a trainee carpenter. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/487/32 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/487/31 |
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.
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 10-04-1943 |
End Date | 11-04-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Skellingthorpe |
Day/Night Raid | Night (35% moon) |
Operation | Frankfurt |
Reason for Loss | Aircraft took off at 0016hrs. Turned back following technical defect. R/T received requesting permission to jettison the bomb load. Permission was granted and at 0257hrs r/t received stating all bombs had been jettisoned over the sea. At 0310hrs a Royal Observer Corps post heard an aircraft headed inland. However at 0445hrs, feint r/t signals were heard. These believed to be being transmitted by the aircraft approx 60 miles off of Skegness. Air sea rescue search was initiated and wreckage found in the search area. |