LEST WE FORGET
Pilot Officer Robert James Francis VIVERS
Service No: 405986
Born: Bundaberg QLD, 3 December 1922
Enlisted in the RAAF: 17 July 1941
Unit: No. 103 Squadron (RAF), RAF Station Elsham Wolds
Died: Air Operations: (No. 103 Squadron Lancaster aircraft JB152), Germany, 23 September 1943, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Rheinberg War Cemetery, Kamp Lintfort, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Robert Victor and Cecilia Myrtle Vivers, of Red Hill, Queensland, Australia
Roll of Honour: Bundaberg QLD
Remembered: Panel 131, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Lancaster JB152 took off from Elsham Wolds at 1900 hours on the night of 23 September 1943 detailed to bomb Mannheim, Germany. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take-off and it failed to return to base. A Missing Research and Enquiry team reported “The aircraft was shot down and crashed at Bad Durkheim between 2200-2230 hours.” Two crew members were killed and five taken Prisoner of War.
The crew members of JB152 were:
Flying Officer D W Finlay DFC (127948) (RAFVR) (Pilot and Aircraft Captain) PoW
Flight Sergeant I D Fletcher (1346492) (RAFVR) DFM (Air Bomber) PoW
Flight Sergeant W C C Gillespie (J/18827) (RCAF) (Rear Gunner) PoW
Flight Sergeant William Henry MacDonald (1296086) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner)
Sergeant J H McFarlane (1232621) (RAFVR) (Navigator) PoW
Flight Sergeant R H J Rowe (158249) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer) PoW
Pilot Officer Robert James Francis Vivers (405986) (Mid Upper Gunner)
Flying Officer Finlay later reported “The aircraft was attacked by a night fighter 20 miles north west of Mannheim. I order bale out as the aircraft was burning badly. Pilot Officer Vivers acknowledged the order and was seen to move in the fuselage. That was the last any of the crew saw of him. The Germans could not give me any information.”
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, 166/42/41
Bibliography:
Charlwood, D.E.C. (Donald Ernest Cameron) (408794) No Moon Tonight (Angus and Robertson 1956), Penguin Ringwood VIC, 3134, 1991