McEachern, Robert Neil
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | Robert Neil |
Surname | McEachern |
Gender | M |
Age | 29 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 21-11-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of William McEachern and Frances Matilda McEachern (née Dier), of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | MZ377 |
Markings | AL-D |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Reichswald Forest War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 8. C. 2. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 208 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/90913 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 429 (Bison) |
Trade | Air Bomber |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Roman Rd, Leeming, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Brass plaque set into a stone plinth into which is carved with the Canadian maple leaf and the Yorkshire rose. |
Memorial Text | This memorial is dedicated to those men and women who served at RAF Leeming during World War II, including those from the Royal Canadian Air Force Squadrons, whose members came from all parts of the Commonwealth from 1942 to 1945; 405 Vancouver, 408 Goose |
Location | Opposite old Main Guardroom, RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Memorial & Metal Plaques |
Memorial Text | In commemoration of those men and women of many nations who served at RAF Leeming during the second world war. |
Miscellaneous Information
Robert was born at Birmingham, Washington, USA, on 8 October 1915. His father was a trucker and was born in Peterborough, Ontario and his mother born in Michigan, USA and was deceased by the time of Robert's enlistment. He had a sister Frances Jean and two brothers, William Hugh and Philip Stephen. Phillip was in the RCAF overseas J/47064. The schools he attended were Garneau Public School 1923-1931, Vermillion School of Agriculture in the winter of 1938-1939 and Edmonton Technical college 1939-1940 where he studied woodworking to grade 10. He also took a diesel course in 1936 which was unfinished. Between 1931-1942 he was farming and labouring: he was in Lumber Camps 1933-1935 and farming 1935-1939. He also worked as a labourer and salesman between 1940-1942. |
Robert enlisted on 9 June 1942 and after his initial training embarked from Canada for the U.K. on 26 August 1943. He reached 3PRC on 2 September 1943 then went on to 9(0)AFU 26 October 1943, 61 Base 10 March 1944, 429 SQn 25 April 1944, 61 Base 16 June 1944, then 429 Squadron 18 September 1944. Robert sadly lost his life on 21 November 1944. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1853/22 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1853/21 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 21-11-1944 |
End Date | 22-11-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Leeming |
Day/Night Raid | Night (35% moon) |
Operation | Castrop Rauxel synthetic oil plant. 273 aircraft, 4 losses (1.5%). The local report states that 216 high explosive bombs hit the target along with 78 duds and many incendiaries. The resulting fire was so large that the fire-fighters could only allow it to burn out by itself. Some other local industry was also hit. |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter flown by Oblt. Hubert Rauh of 3./NJG4 |