LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Robert Edward Herbert HOPE
Service No: 407363
Born: Clare SA, 26 October 1909
Enlisted in the RAAF: 14 September 1940
Unit: No. 14 Squadron (RAF), Shallufa, Egypt
Died: Air Operations (No. 14 Squadron Marauder aircraft FK150), Eastern Mediterranean, 15 February 1943, Aged 33 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Robert Edward Herbert and Enid Frances Sladen Hope, of Clare, South Australia
Roll of Honour: Clare SA
Remembered: Column 278, Alamein Memorial, Egypt
Remembered: Panel 124, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: World War II Honour Roll, National War Memorial of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide
Marauder FK150 of No. 14 Squadron took off from RAF Shallufa at 1045 hours on 15 February 1943 together with Marauder FK 142 to carry out an offensive sweep with torpedos in the Aegean Sea. No message was received from FK150 after take off and it did not return to base. Following post war enquiries and investigations, it was recorded in 1948 that the missing crew had lost their lives at sea.
The crew members of FK150 were:
Flying Officer Bernard Thomas Connell (402853) (RNZAF) (Navigator)
Sergeant Kenneth Firth (1068543) (RAFVR) (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Robert Edward Herbert Hope (407363) (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Sergeant William James Semple (542705) (RAF) (Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Jack Irvine Thompson (403437) (Second Pilot)
Pilot Officer Colin Carl Truman (402766) (Pilot)
Marauder FK142 subsequently made a forced landing in Turkey, and the crew were interned in Ankara. They were later released and rejoined the Squadron. In a statement made by this crew they reported that “they last saw FK150 in the Euboean Sea heading north east about 1600 hours and it did not appear to be in trouble. FK150 was in radio communication with the accompanying aircraft until 1630 hours, and then nothing further was heard.”
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, 163/123/228