LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer Robert Thomas HOOD DFM
Service No: 403268
Born: Strathfield NSW, 4 June 1920
Enlisted in the RAAF: 5 January 1941
Unit: No. 156 Squadron (RAF), RAF Warboys, Cambridgeshire
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM)
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 156 Squadron Lancaster aircraft JA915), Norfolk, 3 September 1943, Aged 23 Years
Buried: Cambridge City cemetery, Cambridgeshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Thomas and Dorothy Gould Hood; husband of Joyce Hood, of Maroubra, New South Wales, Australia.
Roll of Honour: Bondi NSW
Remembered: Panel 124, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
DFM Citation: “This Australian Non-Commissioned Officer of No. 460 Squadron RAAF has carried out 27 successful sorties comprising a total of 172.05 flying hours. Very recently, he was screened for instructional purposes which unfortunately made it impossible for him to complete 30 sorties. However, I have no doubt that he would have done so in his usual efficiency and sound manner had he not been screened. I consider that he merits personal recognition.”
Remarks by the Station Commander: “Flight Sergeant Hood was the Rear Gunner of one of the outstanding crews in the Squadron and it is fair to state that the crews’ successful operations were due to a very great extent to the keenness and alertness of this NCO at his post. By good directions, coolness and presence of mind, Flight Sergeant Hood has enabled his pilot on many occasions to evade enemy action and complete the mission. I recommend that by his ability to make instant decisions in an emergency and his excellent judgement be rewarded by the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.” (Promulgated in the London Gazette 20/4/1943. Air 2/8944.)
During a training exercise on 3 September 1943, Lancaster JA915 crashed at 1200 hours at Green Lane, Kenninghall, 7 miles north west of Diss, Norfolk. All the crew of six on board were killed.
The crew members of JA915 were:
Flying Officer Clifford Foderingham DFC (J/15718) (RCAF) (Pilot)
Flying Officer William Campbell Gordon DFC (J/16260) (RCAF) (Navigator)
Flying Officer Robert Thomas Hood DFM (403268) (Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Horace Robert Ross (R/102337) (RCAF) (Air Bomber)
Flying Officer Angus William Stewart DFM (J/16926) (RCAF) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flight Lieutenant Kenneth Bernard Watkins (106145) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/18/175