419 Squadron RCAF 1941 to 1945 Crew of Lancaster KB706

Crew of Lancaster KB706

On March 6th of 1944 the crew of P/O Robson’s arrived at Middleton St. George from No.61 Base, Topcliffe. It would take until almost the end of March before F/S Robson could complete his two stints as 2nd. Pilot. The delay in setting up the 2nd. Pilot operations could have been caused by the up coming squadron Change over to Lancasters. But on morning of March 23 Robson returned from the second of these training ops. That same night March 23, he and his crew completed their only Halifax operation, The target of the sortie was Laon.
After that operation the crew attended training on the Lancaster and it was not until the night of May 9/10 that they were back flying operations out of Middleton St. George.
They completed the following operations
May 9/10 St Valery
May 11/12 Bolougne
May 12/13 Louvan
May 22/23 Dortmund which was aborted
May 24/25 Aachen were the crew were lost

When they took part on a raid on Dortmund on May 22/23 they were forced to turn back because of complications surrounding the oxygen supply to the Navigator.
As reported in the logs, F/S Smith began to have difficulties in providing proper navigation information and in functioning properly. The pilot thought the problems were the result of loss oxygen and asked Smith pointedly if he had his oxygen mask plugged in properly. Smith answered in the affirmative on each occasion. In Robson’s opinion the situation was serious enough to return to base.
On returning to base it was found that F/S Smith’s oxygen mask was not connected properly.
After one night away from the action, Robon’s crew were part of a large formation of 442 bombers headed to Aachen. The operation was to destroy the railway yards near the city, all in preparation for the up coming invasion.
The operation cost Bomber Command 15 Halifax crews and 7 Lancaster crews. According to Luftwaffe records KB706 was shot down by one of the many night fighters in the area and came down near Tilburg-Kronsstraat in Holland. Reviewing the Luftwaffe records the number of Lancaster or other "four engine" aircraft that came down near Tilburg shows at least four. Which would suggest a strong Air defence was in place around this section of the route.
From what I can see the crew each were on all six operations and Robson , including his two 2nd. Pilot ops. was on eight. Some sources mention that Hoarty was on only four and the rest of the crew on six, ORB shows all crew served on six operations.

Crew of Lancaster KB706

Pilot Officer

Donald Matthews Robson

Pilot Age 20
Killed in Action May 25th 1944
From New Westminister BC
Burial Tilburg (Gilzerbaan) General Cemetery,Holland

Pilot Officer

Philip Seagar Smith

Navigator Age 23
Killed in Action May 25th 1944
From Vancouver BC
Burial Tilburg (Gilzerbaan) General Cemetery,Holland

Flying Officer

Gordon Robert Lauder

Bomb Aimer
Killed in Action May 25th 1944
From Montreal Quebec
Burial Tilburg (Gilzerbaan) General Cemetery,Holland

Sergeant

Thomas Harry James Smith RAF

WAG age 20
Killed in Action May 25th 1944
From Tollading Worchester
Burial Tilburg (Gilzerbaan) General Cemetery,Holland

Pilot Officer

William Davidson Lillico

Air Gunner age 22.
Killed in Action May 25th 1944
From New York City N.Y. USA
Burial Bergen-Op-Zoom Canadian War Cemetery

Sergeant

Bernard Reginald Morgan RAF

Air Gunner age 19
Killed in Action May 25th 1944
From Acocks Green, Birmingham
Burial Tilburg (Gilzerbaan) General Cemetery,Holland

Sergeant

John Hoarty RAF

Flight Engineer age 22
Killed in Action May 25th 19443
From Orford Warrington, Lancashire Burial Tilburg (Gilzerbaan) General Cemetery,Holland

Crew of Lancaster KB706

Pilot Officer

Donald Matthews Robson

Pilot Age 20 Killed in Action May 25th 1944 From New Westminister BC Burial Tilburg (Gilzerbaan) General Cemetery,Holland

Pilot Officer

Philip Seagar Smith

Navigator Age 23 Killed in Action May 25th 1944 From Vancouver BC Burial Tilburg (Gilzerbaan) General Cemetery,Holland

Flying Officer

Gordon Robert Lauder

Bomb Aimer Killed in Action May 25th 1944 From Montreal Quebec Burial Tilburg (Gilzerbaan) General Cemetery,Holland

Sergeant

Thomas Harry James Smith RAF

WAG age 20Killed in Action May 25th 1944 From Tollading Worchester Burial Tilburg (Gilzerbaan) General Cemetery,Holland

Pilot Officer

William Davidson Lillico

Air Gunner age 22.Killed in Action May 25th 1944 From New York City N.Y. USA Burial Bergen-Op-Zoom Canadian War Cemetery

Sergeant

Bernard Reginald Morgan RAF

Air Gunner age 19Killed in Action May 25th 1944 From Acocks Green, Birmingham Burial Tilburg (Gilzerbaan) General Cemetery,Holland

Sergeant

John Hoarty RAF

Flight Engineer age 22Killed in Action May 25th 19443 From Orford Warrington, Lancashire Burial Tilburg (Gilzerbaan) General Cemetery,Holland

Pilot Age 20
Killed in Action May 25th 1944
From New Westminister BC
Burial Tilburg (Gilzerbaan) General Cemetery,Holland

Navigator Age 23
Killed in Action May 25th 1944
From Vancouver BC
Burial Tilburg (Gilzerbaan) General Cemetery,Holland

Bomb Aimer
Killed in Action May 25th 1944
From Montreal Quebec
Burial Tilburg (Gilzerbaan) General Cemetery,Holland

WAG age 20
Killed in Action May 25th 1944
From Tollading Worchester
Burial Tilburg (Gilzerbaan) General Cemetery,Holland

Air Gunner age 22.
Killed in Action May 25th 1944
From New York City N.Y. USA
Burial Bergen-Op-Zoom Canadian War Cemetery

Air Gunner age 19
Killed in Action May 25th 1944
From Acocks Green, Birmingham
Burial Tilburg (Gilzerbaan) General Cemetery,Holland

Flight Engineer age 22
Killed in Action May 25th 19443
From Orford Warrington, Lancashire Burial Tilburg (Gilzerbaan) General Cemetery,Holland