Robert John Burns
Flight Sergeant 407524 458 Squadron RAAF
Robert John Burns was born 9thAugust 1914 at West Ham, London, England. He was the son of John Robert Burns and Grace Alice Burns of Dumfries, Scotland. He went to school at Faraday (Holborn Road) School from 1926 to 1930, on leaving school he began work at the London Stock Exchange as a clerk. During his time at the London Stock Exchange he participated in the sports of cricket, football, cycling and speed walking, entering the London to Brighton speed walking race a number of times. He served as a cadet with the 1st City of London Fusiliers between 1930 and 1936. Sometime between 1936 and 1940 he moved to Adelaide, S.A. and became assistant stud stable manager at Fulham Park Stud, Lockleys, S.A. Bob, as he was referred to, enlisted in the R.A.A.F. on 9th November 1940 as Air Crew (V) and on the 11th November, he reported to 1 ITS or 5 ITS, there is photo evidence of him at 1 ITS, but service record and other material evidence confirms 5 ITS as well.
R.A.A.F Somers 1 ITS 11 November 1940 Rank AC2
R.A.A.F Pearce 5 ITS Rank AC2
Group portrait of members of an aircrew training course group. Identified back row: 400871 Austin James Collins (later Flt Sgt), 22 Squadron RAAF, lost on operations 1 June 1943 (far left). Also in the back row, positions not confirmed but probably left to right following Collins, are: 406323 Herbert Frederick 'Fred' Backhouse (later Flt Sgt), 162 Squadron RAF, lost on operations 29 January 1943; 407524 Robert John 'Bob' Burns (later Flt Sgt), 221 Squadron RAF, lost on operations 23 January 1943; 402693 Frank Coleman (later Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt)), 3 Operational Training Unit; Doug Bell; and 406283 Thomas Leon Ford Bailey (later Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt)), 104 Squadron RAF, lost on operations 30 September 1942. Front row, positions not confirmed but probably left to right: 406342 Albert Norris (Norris) Bingley (later Warrant Officer), Air Gunnery School West Sale; 406324 Vernon Stewart Barnes (later Warrant Officer), 38 Squadron RAF, lost on operations 27 October 1943; 406548 Gerald Ware (Gerry) Copeland (lost on operations with 78 Squadron RAF 4 May 1942); 407601 Rex Theodore Burt (later Sergeant), 21 Operational Training Unit, lost on operations 2 June 1942; and 408102 Lionel Brownley (later Flt Lt), 21 Squadron RAAF.
R.A.A.F Ballarat 1 WAGS 9 January 1941 Rank LAC
R.A.A.F 1 BAGS 2 June 1941 Rank Sgt.
R.A.A.F. 4.
E.D. 27 June 1941 Rank F/Sgt.
Bob took leave between 27th June and 5th July 1941 and married Nancy Peace (Nee Watson) of 380 Military Road, Henley Beach, S.A. on 3rd July 1941.
He then proceeded to No. 4 Embarkation Depot and, on the 14th July 1941, he departed 4. E.D. and travelled by rail to Sydney, N.S.W. He embarked a ship (unknown) on 17thJuly 1941 for service oversea and arrived in the United Kingdon on 2ndSeptember 1941.
He was hosted at No. 3 Personnel Reception
Center RAF at the south seaside town of Bournemouth which was the arrival point
for thousands of Commonwealth aircrew after training.
R.A.F No. 3 P.R.C. 2 September 1941 Rank F/Sgt.
R.A.F. 11 O.T.U. 10 September 1941 Rank F/Sgt.
On the 10th September 1941 he was posted to No. 11 Operational Training Unit at Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire and joined No. 41 course for air gunners.
Following completion of operational training he was assigned to 458 Squadron RAAF equipped with Wellingtons Mk. IV based on RAF Holme on Spalding Moor, Yorkshire on 16th November 1941.
Bob took part in the following operations with 458 Squadron:
Date: 7.12.1941 Well. IV No. 1205 Time Up: 0205 Time Down: 0720
Crew: L.C. Laver 400228 Captain
N.G. Stewart 400497 2nd Pilot
K.W. Gale 404241 Observer
P.G. Toohey 402473 Wireless Op
R.J. Burns 407524 Fwd. A/G
L.W. Bown 406094 Rear A/G
Sortie: Target Aachen believed. Nothing observed target not seen. Bombs dropped 4 x 500 and 1 S.M.C.
Date: 27.12.1941 Well. IV No. 1205 Time Up: 1727 Time Down: 2300
Crew: L.C. Laver 400228 Captain
N.G. Stewart 400497 2nd Pilot
K.W. Gale 404241 Observer
D.L. Goodwin 1285457 Wireless Op
R.J. Burns 407524 Fwd. A/G
L.W. Bown 406094 Rear A/G
Sortie: Target Dusseldorf Marshall Yard. No results observed. All bombs dropped with the exception of one which hung up. Dropped at 15,500ft. Weather Good.
Date: 6.1.1942 Well. IV No. 1183 Time Up: 0418 Time Down: 1008
Crew: L.C. Laver 400228 Captain
N.G. Stewart 400497 2nd Pilot
K.W. Gale 404241 Observer
P.G. Toohey 402473 Wireless Op
R.J. Burns 407524 Fwd. A/G
L.W. Bown 406094 Rear A/G
Sortie: Target Brest battleships (believed). Bombs dropped at 15,000 ft. but nothing observed owing to 10/10ths cloud. Attack made over flak concentration on eta. Not possible to pinpoint owing to bad visibility.
Between February 1942 and March 1942 458 Squadron RAAF was enroute to the Middle East and dispersed upon arrival. Bob was temporary detached to 37 Squadron RAF between 28th July 1942 and 21st August 1942. On the 1st September 1942 458 Squadron was re-constituted at Shallufa, Egypt and began maritime operations. Bob took part in the following operations:
Date: 2.11.1942 Well. Ic No. HX 445 Time Up: 0257 Time Down: 0540
Crew: G. Cobb Captain
L.W. Johnson 2ndPilot
K.W. Gale 404241 Observer
J.R. Wireless Op
R.J. Burns 407524 Fwd. A/G
Sortie: Strike against enemy shipping in central Mediterranean. 2 DRs sighted. Nill MV. DR Attacked one hit on stern.
Date: 4.12.1942 Well. Ic No. HX 630 Time Up: 2356 Time Down: 0713
Crew: G.F. Jackson 400414 Captain
R.G. Spencer 2ndPilot
J.V. Craig 416043 Observer
F.J. Baker WAG
R.J. Burns 407524 Fwd. A/G
Unknown WAG
Sortie: Strike against enemy shipping in central Mediterranean. 2 DRs sighted. Nill MV. DR Attacked one hit on stern.
Date: 6.12.1942 Well. Ic No. HX 630 Time Up: 2310 Time Down: 0720
Crew: G.F. Jackson 400414 Captain
R.G. Spencer 2ndPilot
J.V. Craig 416043 Observer
F.J. Baker WAG
Unknown WAG
R.J. Burns 407524 Fwd. A/G
Sortie: Shipping strike Tripoli area (Torpedo).
On the 21st January 1943 Bob was posted to 221 Squadron RAF at Malta and on 23rd January on his first sortie with 221 Squadron RAF he became a 458 Squadron fatality.
The following is a compilation from the Australian War Memorial courtesy of Alan Starr 2006.
458 SQUADRON RAAF WORLD WAR 2 FATALITIES
Robert John Burns 407524 F/Sgt. Date of Death: 23 January 1943
Aircraft Type: Wellington Serial number: HX 646 Unit: 221 Sqn RAF
Summary:
The 458 Sqn ORB records on 25/1/1943 “More bad news from the detachment at Malta
received today. Another aircraft missing.” The crew were:
Crew: RAAF 400414 Sqn Ldr Jackson, G F Captain (Pilot)
RAF Sgt S G Vials, (2nd Pilot)
RAAF 416043 FO Craig, J I (Observer)
RCAF FO Shusterove S C (ASV/Operator)
RAF Sgt F J Baker (Wireless Air Gunner)
RAAF 407524 Flt Sgt R J Burns (Air Gunner)
The ORB continues “The above crew were part of a large detachment sent on 20th and
21st January 1943 to Malta from Shallufa to resume operations from there. The aircraft
and crews were to operate with 221 Sqn RAF. Sqn Ldr Jackson & crew were posted to
221 Sqn with effect 21/1/43.” The aircraft which took off from Luqa Malta at 1800 hours on the 23 January 43 was detailed to attack an enemy convoy west of Sicily, but failed to return from the mission. Sgt Baker (RAF) became a POW and the remaining crew members listed as missing.
Sgt Baker reported “the aircraft was attacked without warning at 1am on 23 January
when over the sea between Sicily and Tunis. The aircraft was at 300 feet at the time of
the attack and it flew into the sea immediately afterwards. I floated to the surface and
climbed into the dinghy. I was rescued by an Italian patrol the next day. I assumed the
others sank with the aircraft.”
Their names are commemorated on Malta Memorial (Bob on Panel 11, Column 2) which is situated in the area of Floriana and is easily identified by the Golden Eagle which surmounts the column. It stands outside the main entrance to Valetta.