LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Robert Humphrey COLLIS
Service No: 413532
Born: Camberwell VIC, 20 May 1922
Enlisted in the RAAF: 12 September 1941 (at Sydney NSW)
Unit: No. 21 Operational Training Unit (RAF), RAF Station Moreton-in-Marsh
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 21 Operational Training Unit Wellington aircraft DV698), Oxfordshire, 7 July 1943, Aged 21 Years
Buried: the Oxford (Botley) Cemetery, Oxfordshire
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Cyril Humphrey and Violet Collis, of Roseville, New South Wales, Australia
Roll of Honour: Roseville NSW
Remembered: Panel 120, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Ku-ring-gai World War II Book of Remembrance, Gordon NSW
At 0940 hours on the 7 July 1943, Wellington DV698 took off from Moreton-in-Marsh detailed to carry out a cross-country training exercise. At approximately 1030 hours , the Wellington broke out of cloud over Oxfordshire, near Chipping Norton airfield, and collided with Oxford LN783 from the locally based No 6 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit. Both machines fell close to each other and burst into flames. All on board DV698 were killed, and it is believed that the pilot of the Oxford was injured but survived.
The crew members of DV698 were:
Sergeant Leonard William Bacon (1393865) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
Sergeant Frank Charles Grievson (819180) (RAF (Auxiliary Air Force)) (Observer)
Sergeant Frederick George Howard (1208813) (RAFVR) (Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Robert Humphrey Collis (413532) (Pilot)
Sergeant Anthony Edward Deighton Ross (1393143) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner)
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, 166/8/157
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line