LEST WE FORGET
Warrant Officer Robert John BARKER
Service No: 2931
Born: Glenhuntly VIC, 13 November 1917
Enlisted in the RAAF: 31 May 1937
Unit: General Reconnaissance School, RAAF Station Laverton VIC
Died: Aircraft Accident (Anson aircraft W2369), Port Phillip Bay VIC, 11 March 1942, Aged 24 Years
Buried: Cheltenham New General Cemetery, VIC
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Robert John and Catherine Bracken Barker; husband of Beryl Mary Barker, of Gardenvale
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: Panel 97, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Warrant Officer Barker survived the crash of Wapiti A5-21 on 10 February 1941 in which Leading Aircraftman Robert Henry Stratford (407341) was killed.
On 11 March 1942, Avro Anson W2369 crashed into Port Phillip Bay while on a training flight from Sale to Laverton via Yanakie and Barwon Heads. All four crew members were killed. The crew members were:
Warrant Officer Robert John Barker (2931) (Third Pilot)
Aircraftman Class 1 Harold Gravell Lincoln (21892) (Wireless Operator)
Flying Officer Kenneth Charles Peters (827) (Second Pilot)
Flight Lieutenant John Langley Webb (1371) (Pilot)
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, 78
Bibliography:
Wilson, S. (Stewart) Anson, Hudson and Sunderland in Australian Service, Aerospace Publications Weston Creek ACT 2611, 1992