SGT Robert Edmund Anderson 402337

Robert was born in New Farm, Brisbane, Queensland on the 22 October 1920.

He enlisted in the RAAF at Sydney on the 9th April 1940. After initial training in NSW, he was shipped out to Vancouver on the 28th November 1940 where he was attached to the RCAF. He left Nova Scotia on the 17th March 1941 and after arriving in England eventually trained on Spitfires with 57 OTU where he was a founding member, and then spent time with 58 OTU. On the 14th July 1941, he joined 457 Squadron at Bagington, then 452 Squadron and then 32 Squadron where he flew Hurricanes. He embarked with 32 Squadron to Gibralter arriving on the 8th November 1942. He flew with various squadrons there and in North Africa. He returned to England on the 24th July 1943 and flew Mustangs, Tempests and Typhoons, as well as Spitfires while flying with 84 and 41 RAF Squadrons.

On the 18th December 1944, Andy was hit by anti aircraft fire over Germany and was seriously injured while landing back in Diest in Belgium. He was eventually shipped home to Australia and disembarked in Sydney on the 7th July 1945 and was demobilised on the 28th September 1945. Andy died on the 10th December 1984.

ANDERSON, Robert Edmund ‘Andy’, A.402337, RAAF; b New Farm, Bris QLD, 22 Oct 20, enl in RAAF, Syd, 9 Apr 40; entered RAAF as AC2 & to 2 ITS, Brdfld Pk NSW, 19 Aug 40; LAC, 16 Sep 40; Crse 4, 5 EFTS Narromine NSW (Moth), 19 Sep-8 Nov 40; 2 ED Brdfld Pk, 14 Nov 40; att RCAF, 28 Nov 40; to Vncvr per Aorangi, 28 Nov 40; layover, Auck NZ, 4-6 Dec 40; arr Vncvr Can, 23 Dec 40; 1 SFTS (Harv), Borden, Ont, 27 Dec 40-17 Mar 41; Sgt Plt, 17 Mar 41; 1 TED, Debert, Nova Scotia, 17 Mar 41; to Glasgow per Georgic, 6 Apr 41; disemb UK, 20 Apr 41; 13 Intake, 3 PDC, Uxb, England, 20 Apr 41; Crse 20, 57 OTU (Spit), Hwdn, Flint, 26 Apr-2 Jun 41; 58 OTU (Spit), Ggmth, Stirling, 2 Jun 41; A Flt, 457 (Aust) Sqn (Spit), Baginton, Warks, 14 Jul 41; 452 (Aust) Sqn (Spit), Kenley, 26 Sep 41; 55 OTU (Hurr), Usworth, Dur, 18 Feb-2 Sep 42; att FIC, 11 OTU, CFS Upavon (Master), 15 Mar-10 Apr 42; com Plt Off, 15 May 42; 32 Sqn (Hurr II), WMalling, 7 Sep 42; 1 ED, W Kirby, Chesh, 2 Nov 42; emb for Gib w 32 Sqn per SS Empire Foam, 8 Nov 42; Fg Off, 15 Nov 42; arr Gib, 22 Nov 42; 32 Sqn (Hurr II), Maison Blanche, Algeria, att 323 Wg, 17 Dec 42; att HQ NW Africa Coastal Air Force, 16-22 Apr 43; 14 Sqn (Mstg), RAF Blida, Algeria, 16 Apr-18 Jun 43; Aircrew Pool, Algiers, 23 Jun 43; to UK per SS Samaria, 28 Jun 43; arr Liv, 24 Jul 43; 84 Grp Comms Flt, Gatwick, 2 Sep 43; att 1530 BAT Flt (Oxford), Wtrg, 12 Grp, 28-31 Dec 43; 31 Base, Stradishall, 1 Jan 44; 84 GSU (Mstg, Spit, Tmpst & Typhn), Aston Down, 1 Mar 44; Temp Flt Lt (WS), 18 Mar 44; B Flt, 41 Sqn, 18 Mar-18 Dec 44; hit by AA over Münster, G., but not inj, then stalled on landing at Diest & seriously inj face, 18 Dec 44; 85 GSU, 7 Jan 45; 9 PRC, 14 Jan 45; FI, 53 OTU (Spit), KiL, 31 Jan-12 May 45; att FI, CGS Catfoss (Spit), 14 Feb-28 Mar 45; 11 PDRC Bnmth, 16 May 45; disemb Syd, Aust, & to 2 PD, 7 Jul 45; 61 Refresher Crse, 5 SFTS Holding Pool, Uranquinty NSW, 16 Aug 45; 2 PD, Syd, 7 Sep 45; demob, 28 Sep 45; d Maroubra NSW, 10 Dec 84, aged 64 [Blood, sweat and Valour – History of RAF 41 Squadron by Steve Brew]