LEST WE FORGET
Flying Officer Ronald Douglas ROBERTSON
Service No: 411951
Born: Sydney NSW, 9 January 1918
Enlisted in the RAAF: 21 June 1941
Unit: No. 71 Squadron
Died: Injures from Aircraft Accident: ASW Operations in 1943 (No. 71 Squadron Avro Anson AX-471 on 23 July 1943), Gladstone QLD, 1 August 1943, Aged 25 Years
Buried: Gladstone Cemetery QLD
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Harold Lancelot and Florence Robertson, of Drummoyne, New South Wales
Roll of Honour: Drummoyne NSW
Remembered: Panel 103, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Drummoyne War Memorial, Drummoyne NSW
While on an operational flight from Gladstone on 23 July 1943, No. 71 Squadron Avro Anson AX-471 crashed on Heron Island about 60 kms to the north east at about 1040 hours. On board the aircraft were:
Aircraftman Class 1 Thomas George Eastoe (124403) (Supernumerary) Seriously injured, Discharged from the RAAF: 17 December 1945
Flying Officer Fabian Crothers McMaster (420102) (Pilot) (No. 71 Squadron)
Flying Officer David Skene Paterson (405931) (Wireless Air Gunner) (No. 66 Squadron)
Flying Officer Ronald Douglas Robertson (411951) (Second Pilot) (No. 71 Squadron) Fatally injured, Died: 1 August 1943
Flying Officer Francis Joseph Robinson (264997) (Administrative and Special Duties, Supernumerary) (No. 32 Squadron)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A9845, 62
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line
Bibliography:
Wilson, S. (Stewart) Anson, Hudson and Sunderland in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1992