195

NZ429205 Flying Officer Robert Bruce Robinson.
WIDOW : Mrs. F.G. Robinson of Wellington.

Robert Robinson was born at Auckland on the 13th September 1911, and received his secondary education at the Auckland Grammar School. He played football in the Auckland Senior grade and later golf for the Shandon Golf Club, Wellington. At the time of applying for enlistment in aircrew on the 23rd January 1942 he had been in the employ of Woolworths (N.Z.) Ltd., at Wellington for over ten years.

Flying Officer Robinson was enlisted at Masterton on the 1st August 1942 and employed there and at Harewood, Ashburton, Palmerston North and Taieri on ground duties until remustered to aircrew and posted to the Initial Training Wing, Rotorua on the 24th June 1943. He embarked on the 4th October for Canada to train under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

Shortly after arrival in Canada, he was posted on the 14th November to No. 7 Air Observers School, Portage La Prairie, Manitoba where on the 7th April 1944 he was awarded the Air Navigator badge and commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer. While in the United Kingdom on the 7th October 1944 he was promoted to Flying Officer. Meantime on the 12th April 1944 he had proceeded to No. 1 "Y" Depot, (redacted Halifax, Nova Scotia) Lachine, Quebec for embarkation to the United Kingdom.

Flying Officer Robinson arrived at No. 12 Royal New Zealand Air Force Personnel Despatch and Reception Centre, Padgate, Lancashire on the 11th May and was posted on the 6th June to No. 4 Advanced Flying Unit, West Freugh, Scotland; then on the 11th July to No. 11 Operational Training Unit, Westcott and the satellite airfield of Oakley both in Buckinghamshire. Here he crewed up and completed his training as Navigator of Wellington Bomber aircraft before proceeding on the 7th October to No. 1657 Conversion Unit, Stradishall, Suffolk for conversion to Stirling bomber aircraft. During January 1944 he converted to Lancaster aircraft at No. 3 Lancaster Finishing School, at Feltwell, Norfolk.

Flying Officer Robinson was the Navigator of a Lancaster aircraft engaged during the night of the 29th January 1945 in a cross country exercise, and which crashed near Bury St. Edmunds, all the crew including Flying Officer Robinson losing their lives. He was buried in the Royal Air Force Regional Plot of Cambridge Cemetery England.