LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Robert Wilson BAXTER GM
Service No: 400689
Born: Ballarat VIC, 5 March 1918
Enlisted in the RAAF: 13 October 1940
Unit: No. 150 Squadron (RAF), RAF Station Snaith
Awarded the George Medal (GM)
Died: Air Operations: (No. 150 Squadron Wellington aircraft X3698), near Snaith, 7 August 1942, Aged 24 Years
Buried: Selby Cemetery, Yorkshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of George Silverton Baxter and Jessie Ann Baxter, of Colac, Victoria, Australia
Roll of Honour: Ballarat VIC
Remembered: Panel 118, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
GM Citation: “Sergeant Baxter was the Captain of a bomber which had made a successful raid on Germany. When nearing base, the port engine, which had been hit by fire from the enemy’s ground defences, caught alight. Sergeant Baxter proceeded to land the aircraft, but, in the semi-darkness, he was unable to observe that the runways on the aerodrome were obstructed. The aircraft caught fire on impact with the obstruction. Five of the crew, including Sergeant Baxter, got out through the pilot’s escape hatch but the wireless operator, who tried to escape through the lower hatch became trapped. The aircraft was now burning furiously, ammunition and pyrotechnics were exploding, and the petrol tanks were likely to explode at any moment. Sergeant Baxter, showing complete disregard for his own safety, re-entered the aircraft and remained inside for at least five minutes before he succeeded in releasing the wireless operator and pushing him through the pilot’s escape hatch. He only managed to get clear himself before the petrol tanks exploded. During his efforts Sergeant Baxter sustained extensive second degree burns to his hands and face for which treatment in hospital was necessary. The unselfish heroism displayed by this airman undoubtedly saved the life of his comrade.”
Wellington X3698 took off from Snaith at 0040 hours on the night of 6/7th August 1942, detailed to bomb Duisberg, Germany. The aircraft crashed almost immediately after take-off. It came down 1 mile west of the airfield and burst into flames. Four of the crew members were killed, and one was fatally injured.
The crew members of X3698 were:
Flight Sergeant Robert Wilson Baxter GM (400689) (Pilot)
Sergeant Bertie Harry Cosby (1280615) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant John Herbert Hodsell (404068) (RNZAF) (Observer) Fatally injured: Died 15 August 1942
Flight Sergeant Anthony Roland Tipple (755837) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Sergeant Harold Weller (1333817) (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 Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 163/90/282