Nixon, Robert William
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | Robert William |
Surname | Nixon |
Gender | M |
Age | 24 |
Decorations | DFC |
Date of Death | 24-08-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Robert Nixon and Frances Ann Nixon (née Irwin), of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
Serial Number | HR928 |
Markings | TL-R |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Coll. grave 5. L. 12-15. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 219 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/17729 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 8 |
Squadron | 35 (Madras Presidency) |
Trade | WOp/AG |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Roadside Location, Graveley, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Memorial Stone |
Memorial Text | Graveley Airfield 1942-1945 8 Group Bomber Command 35 Squadron Pathfinder Force 692 Squadron Light Night Striking Force R.A.F. To commemorate this airfield in honour of those who served the nation aircrew, groundstaff & WAFF of United Kingdom Dominions, C |
Location | All Saints Church, Offord Cluny, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window, Sqn Badge & Roll of Honour |
Memorial Text | Remember before God all those airmen and airwomen 3who served with 35 Squadron R.A.F. Graveley 1939-1945 |
Miscellaneous Information
Robert was born on 28 July 1919 at Toronto, Ontario. Both parents were born in Ireland and married in New Jersey, USA. He had a brother George Adam and a sister Jean Elizabeth. He attended Dovercourt Public School 1925-1935 and then the Central school 1935-1938 (Industrial, General printing). The sports he played were hockey, golf, baseball and swimming. Robert worked at Mount Dennis, Ontario for a paper box manufacturer where he was a Press Feeder. |
He enlisted on 4 October 1940 and after his training embarked for England. He arrived at 3PRC on 21 January 1942 and then at 2 S.S. 10 February 1942, 2AFU 28 March 1942, 22 OTU 29 April 1942, 35 squadron 1 7 May 1943. Sadly Robert was to lose his life on 24 August 1943. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/380/16 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/380/15 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 23-08-1943 |
End Date | 24-08-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Graveley |
Day/Night Raid | Night (37% moon) |
Operation | Berlin. 727 aircraft, 56 losses (7.9%)- the greatest loss in a single raid so far in the war. Sequential marking was used to keep the main force on course. A Master Bomber approach was also used (W/C J E [Johnny] Fauquier). PFF were unable to locate the centre of Berlin using H2S and instead marked the southern suburbs. The main force arrived late and many cut a corner, making their arrival point incorrect. As might be expected for Berlin, the flak and fighter defences were formidable. Nevertheless, this was the most serious raid on Berlin so far in the war. Much of the government district was badly damaged and 20 ships were also sunk. 854 people were killed, many of whom had failed to take refuge in air raid shelters. |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed at Wensickendorf, NNW of Berlin. |