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View Full Version : F/L Garner Robinson, DFC, DFM



HughAHalliday
15th January 2022, 17:37
More results as I clear out paper:

ROBINSON, Garner, F/L (53730) , DFC, DFM - Details from Spink Auction Catalogue – 25 November 2010. Born 1921 at Rotherham, Yorkshire, the son of John Richard Robinson; joined the Royal Air Force, November 1938; underwent initial training at Upwood, Henlow and St. Athen before qualifying as a flight mechanic, Aircraftman 1st Class, November 1939; throughout 1940, he was employed maintaining aircraft at R.A.F. West Freugh, Scotland, and then to Silloth Coastal Command O.T.U.; anxious to be involved in operational sorties, he volunteered for aircrew training in September 1941; posted for operational flying as Flight Engineer 7 (Path Finder Force) Squadron (Stirlings), Oakington, May 1942; in his first operational tour, which started on 7.7.1942, he flew in 30 soties with the squadron, including: Wilhelmshaven; Duisburg (4); Hamburg; Saarbrucken; Dusseldorf (2); Osnabruck (3), including 17.8.1942 (his first Path Finder Force sortie); Flensburg; Frankfurt; Kassel; Nurenburg; Krefeld; Cologne; Genoa; Turin (6); Mannheim and Munich; posted for instructional duties, after which he briefly returned as Pilot Officer to 7 Squadron before being posted as Flight Lieutenant, Flight Engineering Leader, 83 (Path Finder Force) Squadron (Lancasters), Wyton; between 31.1.1943 – 26.7.1944, he flew in a further 32 operational sorties, including: Hamburg (2); Cologne (2); Turin; Wilhelmshaven (3); Bremen; Nurenburg; Munich; Stuttgart (2); Berlin (5); Kiel; Frankfurt (2);Wuppertal; Brunswick; Magdeburg; Ausburg; Schweinfurt; Bordeaux; Toulouse; Paris; Odon; Villeneuve and Givors; discharged from the Royal Air Force, July 1946; after the War joined the Fire Service in Boston, Lincolnshire, 23.3.1949; after 32 years and 90 days service with the force. he retired with the rank of Assistant Divisional Officer; moved to Cyprus in 2005 where he died that year. He is buried in the British Cemetery, Kolossi, Cyprus.

Distinguished Flying Cross - awarded as per London Gazette 14 November 1944. for service in No.83 Squadron. The recommendation states:

Since being awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal in March 1943, this Officer has completed further sorties with this Squadron. He now has a total of 60 operational flights to his credit. At all times, he has proved himself to be cool and courageous in the face of the enemy’s defences and has set a sterling example as Flight Engineer Leader of the Squadron.

On the night of 26th July, 1944, as Engineer to the Controller of an attack on Givors, the route over the enemy occupied territory to the target was covered by heavy thunderstorms and the aircraft suffered severe icing. These difficult flying conditions were also encountered over the target and prevented the normal marking procedure being brought into affect. Displaying great coolness and efficiency, Flight Lieutenant Robinson pin-pointed the position of the aircraft despite the difficult conditions and skilfully guided his captain to the aiming point. His undaunted determination and skill on this occasion of almost hopeless conditions of weather and in face of enemy opposition enabled the marking to be completed accurately and the raid to be a success.

Flight Lieutenant Robinson has always displayed outstanding morale and determination which have been an inspiration to all Flight Engineers in the Squadron and he is strongly recommended for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Distinguished Flying Medal - awarded as per London Gazette dated 14 March 1943 for services in No.7 Squadron. The recommendation states:

This Flight Engineer has now completed 30 operated sorties against well defended targets in Germany and other distant objectives. He has proved himself to be an excellent Flight Engineer, and he has always carried out his duties in a most efficient manner. His keenness for operational flying is outstanding and his encouragement to younger engineers is most praiseworthy.

Covering Remarks of Officer Commanding, Path Finder Force: “This N.C.O. has at all times carried out his duties in highly commendable manner and has always been conscientious in his work and unceasingly anxious to operate against the enemy.”

COL BRUGGY
16th January 2022, 06:07
Hello,

Not all beer and skittles for (the then), Sgt G ROBINSON:

28/29 Aug 1942
7 Sqn
Stirling I BF316:MG-M
Op:Nuremburg

T/o 2033 Oakington . Ran low on petrol and crashed while attempting an emergency landing at Boscombe Down airfield, Wiltshire. No injuries reported*.

AUS404623 P/O W W BOYLSON RAAF (Later DFC & Bar + 25/06/1944 No.139 Sqn - Mosquito XX KB329)
Sgt G ROBINSON
Sgt W R JONES
Sgt F T B WILLS
Sgt A H HOTCHKISS
Sgt J P CARTER
Sgt W DEGG

* Boylson, Jones and Robinson slightly injured.

See: BCL3/Chorley/p.196.

From Tom Docherty's, History of No.7 Sqn RAF:

Fuel shortage also caused the loss of (Stirling) BF316:MG-M, which was crash-landed at Boscombe Down by his pilot F/O Boylson RAAF. Fred Wills was a gunner on this crew:

"I assisted the skipper for take-off and took over the front gun position for the purpose of map reading, which I knew something about being a trainee civil engineer previously. We were only at almost 12,000 feet crossing the French coast when ack-ack caught us and shells were bursting all around, the smoke filling the front position. We managed to get to the target and lined up for our bombing run when we were caught in a searchlight cone. We managed to manoeuvre out of it and had to do another bombing run over the target area. We were over the target for some time before returning home.
We were short of fuel over the North Sea during our return and had to be diverted to Boscombe Down. There the engines cut out and we dropped down. We bounced six times and then the aircraft caught fire. We got all the crew out, some with injuries, and we hid behind a wall because the aircraft's ammunition was exploding.
The fire engines and ambulance did not arrive for half an hour and after reporting to control, the duty officer informed group headquarters that he didn't think there would be any survivors. The next day four of us were taken straight back to our station and put on operations the following day, as there was a shortage of crews."

See:
No.7 Bomber Squadron RAF In World War II.
Docherty,Thomas G.
Barnsley:Pen & Sword Aviation,2007.
p.78.

Col.