212902 Flt.Sgt. Robert Craig Royal Air Force 50th Squadron from:Rutherglen, Glasgow. (d.25th July 1944) My dad's older brother, Robert Craig, was killed in action on the 25th July, 1944 at the age of 19 years. My dad was only 13 years when his big brother was killed. He obviously found it difficult to talk about but he did tell me some things about him.
Recently I have been trying to find out more about what happened all those years ago (nearly 70 years). I have discovered that he was a flight engineer on a Lancaster bomber and most of the other crew members were from the Canadian Air Force. They were based in RAF Skellingthorpe, Lincoln.
Unfortunately, all crew members lost their lives on their first mission to bomb an oil refinery in Donges, France. They crashed in Pontchateau, Nothern France and are all buried in a collective grave.
- P/O C.B.Haaland. RCAF
- Flt.Sgt. R.Craig RAF
- Sgt. J.L.Nelson RCAF
- F/O S.J.Sulliven RCAF
- Sgt. W.J.B.Doughty RAF
- Sgt. N. Gronbeck RCAF
- Sgt. G.F.Finch RCAF
For my dad, who is now deceased, I plan to visit Skellingthorpe next year for the 70th anniversary and later in the year I hope to visit France to pay my respects to my Uncle Robin and all his crew. I don't have any photographs of my Uncle Robin as none have survived.
I was wondering if anyone out there met or knew my uncle or any of the crew. Would love to find some photos of the crew and/or 50th Squadron. Do any survive?
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