LEST WE FORGET
Pilot Officer Robert Herbert CHAPMAN
Service No: 412481
Born: Calcutta, India, 20 June 1922
Enlisted in the RAAF: 19 July 1941 (at Sydney NSW)
Unit: No. 460 Squadron, RAF Station Breighton, Yorkshire
Died: Air Raid, Torquay, Devon, 25 October 1942, Aged 20 Years
Buried: Torquay Cemetery and Extension, Devon
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Frank and Gladys Chapman, of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Mosman NSW
Remembered: Panel 107, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Pilot Officer Chapman, an Observer of No. 460 Squadron, was suffering from tonsillitis and awaiting an operation in the RAF Officers Hospital, Torquay. He was killed on 25 October 1942 by a direct hit on the hospital from a bomb dropped during an enemy air raid when two lone enemy bombers suddenly appeared from low cloud.
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 Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705,163/25/212
Bibliography:
Firkins, P. C. (Peter Charles) (441386) Strike and Return, Westward Ho Publishing City Beach WA, 1985