Selman, Robert Gilroy
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | Robert Gilroy |
Surname | Selman |
Gender | M |
Age | 20 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 20-01-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Gordon Samuel Selman and Laura May Selman (née Gilroy), of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
Serial Number | LW291 |
Markings | EY-M |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Coll. grave 9. F. 1-6. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 239 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/23155 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 78 |
Trade | Air Bomber |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Adjacent to Clubhouse, Breighton Airfield, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Marble Tablet |
Memorial Text | Dedicated to all who served at this airfield and gave their lives during World War II |
Location | External, All Saints Church, Bubwith, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Memorial, inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | 78 Sqn 4 Group Bomber Command Yorkshire 1939 - 1945 To All Who Served |
Location | Internal, All Saints Church, Bubwith, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Wooden Board, Memorial Chapel featuring Cross made from Halifax wreckage |
Memorial Text | The 78 Sqn Memorial in the Churchyard was dedicated by the Bishop of Selby on 7th September 1986. RAF Breighton, two miles from this church was the Sqn's home from June 1943 to May 1945 |
Location | Outside "B" Hangar, RAF Benson, Oxfordshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone & Inscribed Slate Plaque |
Memorial Text | In proud memory of all who have lost their lives serving with 78 Sqn Royal Air Force "Nemo Non Paratus - Nobody Unprepared" |
Miscellaneous Information
Robert was born at Vancouver on 10 June 1923. His father was born at Sombra, Ontario and was a manufacturer and his mother was born at Springhill, Nova Scotia. He had one brother, Gordon Rex. He attended Quilchena Public School at Point Grey, 1929-1937.(Jnr. High) Prince of Wales High, 1938-1940 Jnr. Matric, Magee High, 1940-1941 (ll in Vancouver). His sport interests were basketball, softball, golf and swimming. Robert worked as an Accountant for Buttar and Chiene, Vancouver between 1941-1942 and then enlisted on 30 March 1942. |
After training in Canada, he was posted to the U.K., where he arrived on 17 March 1943. He was at 4 AOS on 18 May 1943, 20 OTU 8 June 1943, 1658 CU 10 September 1943 and 78 Squadron on 10 November 1943. Sadly Robert was to lose his life the following year on 20 January 1944. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/661/2 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/661/1 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 20-01-1944 |
End Date | 21-01-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Breighton |
Day/Night Raid | Night (27% moon) |
Operation | Berlin. 769 aircraft, 35 losses (4.6%). Once again the German controller was able to get fighters into the stream early on the approach and they scored steadily throughout the night until the stream left the mainland. The Germans had now learned not to be deceived by minor diversionary raids. Berlin was completely cloud covered and, although sky-marking went to plan and H2S sets showed that the east of the city was hit, Berlin recorded no bombing whatsoever. It is not clear whether this was deliberate concealment of the extent of the damage or whether the raid simply missed the city completely. |
Reason for Loss | Crashed at Grossmutz, Germany |