Additional Crew Information – This has been sourced from the digitised RAAF Service Files for Pilot ROBERTSON, Bomb Aimer CHANT, and Wireless Operator WILSON, all available from the National Archives of Australia (NAA). The RAAF Service Files for the Navigator and the 2 Gunners were not available at the time of writing this Crew page for 06 July 2018. The information for Flight Engineer DAUGHTERS was supplied by his son Ken.
In February of 1945, the ages of members of this crew ranged from 33, to just 20. From oldest to youngest by birth month/year – B/A Chant 1/1912, W/Op Wilson 6/1914, R/AG Randle 5/1917, Nav Dermond 12/1918, Pilot Robertson 1/1924, F/Eng Daughters 12/1924, MU/AG Goldstein 2/1925. For Robertson, Daughters and Goldstein, the other four in the crew may have seemed quite old, with a 13-year age difference between Goldstein and Chant. Whereas the four older men put their faith in their much younger pilot, who had only celebrated his 21st birthday in January 1945, but who had already reached the rank of Acting Flight Lieutenant.

Summary of crew formation and postings

March 1944 – The initial Crew of six was formed at 27 Operational Training Unit (27 OTU) Lichfield, on or soon after arrival. Pilot Robertson posted to 27 OTU on 14 March 1944, Bomb Aimer Chant on 14 March, and W/Op Wilson on 14 March 1944. The Nav and 2 Gunners were probably posted TO 27 OTU at about that date.

21 June 1944 – Crew of 6 posted TO Acaster Malbis, Yorkshire, Pilot Robertson on 21 June, Chant on 21 June, and Wilson on 21 June. F/Eng Daughters joined the crew, as recorded in his Memoir.

14 July 1944 – Crew of 7 posted TO 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit (1652 HCU) Marston Moor, Yorkshire, as recorded in F/Engineer's Memoir.

23 August 1944 – The crew was posted TO 462 Squadron, Driffield, Yorkshire (4 Group) with the following rank – F/O Robertson, F/O Dermond, F/Sgts Chant, Wilson, Randle, Goldstein, and Sgt Daughters. The Crew's
Bombing Ops at Driffield are listed in a later section.

29 December 1944 – the Crew relocated with 462 Squadron to Foulsham, Norfolk (100 Group), in the Air Party, flying in Halifax NA147 Z5-G. The Crew's Special Duties Ops at Foulsham are listed in a later section.

May 1945 – F/Sgt Daughters was posted FROM 462 Squadron, Foulsham.
June 1945 – the RAAF crew members were posted FROM 462 Squadron, Foulsham, TO 11 PDRC Brighton for repatriation to Australia, with the following rank – Acting Fl/Lt Robertson on 04 June, P/O Chant on 04 June, W/O Wilson on 04 June; F/O Dermond, P/O Randle, and F/Sgt Goldstein were probably posted from 462 Squadron on the same date, 04 June.

Crew members are included in group photos at Foulsham, some positively identified due to original labels. Others have been tentatively identified by comparison with crew photos. Please contact if you assist.

Pilot David John ROBERTSON – information sourced from his RAAF A9300 Service File, or as otherwise noted in text.
Robertson is included in the group photo of Pilots at Foulsham, March 1945, front row, far right.

23 January 1942 – Enrolled in RAAF Reserve, aged 18 years, home residence 8 Toorak Ave, Toorak; employed as Clerk at Broken Hill Pty Ltd, 422 Little Collins St, Melbourne; vision 6/6 with normal colour vision, Medical category A1B, A3B. (Other details as per his enlistment on 12 August 1942, below).

27 February 1942 to 12 August 1942 – Military Service with AMF, GHQ, Signals, Park Orchards, Ringwood, Melbourne, Vic; Service No. V280933, rank of Private, duties Signaller, discharged from Army to enlist in RAAF.

12 August 1942 – Enlisted in the RAAF at 1 Recruiting Centre (1 RC) , Melbourne, Victoria; for the duration of the War, and 12 months thereafter; allocated Service Number 419444; mustered as Air Crew V; classified as Aircraftman 2 (AC2);
aged 18 years and 7 months, date of birth 04 January 1924; height 5 ft 8¾inches (174.6cm), weight 140lb (10 stone or 63.5kg), brown eyes; previous occupation Clerk, no civil convictions, single, Presbyterian, residence at Toorak, next of kin was his father, John Reginald ROBERTSON of Toorak Ave, Toorak, later of 376 Collins St., Melbourne. Education – Intermediate Certificate, and Leaving Certificate.
12 August 1942 – Posted to 1 Initial Training School (1 ITS), Somers, Vic

09 October 1942 – Remustered to Air Crew V (Pilot) at 1 ITS

07 November 1942 – Remustered to Air Crew II (Pilot)
07 November 1942 – Promoted to Leading Aircraftman (LAC)
12 November 1942 – Posted to 11 Elementary Flying Training School (11 EFTS), Benalla, Vic

03 December 1942 – Awarded Punishment of "3 Days Confined to Barracks" at 11 EFTS, Benalla, at the rank of LAC, for the Offence: "Absent from a place of parade in that he failed to appear at 0510 hours waking parade on 3/12/42 and was not sighted until 0530 hours". (0530 had been over-written onto the original 0520). The punishment seems a little harsh for being 20 minutes late. However this episode apparently did not affect his later promotions, and he was subsequently granted a Commission from the rank of Flight Sergeant, and within 6 months had reached the rank of Acting Flight Lieutenant.

13 February 1943 – Posted to 7 Service Flying Training School (7 SFTS), Deniliquin, NSW
16 February 1943 – Commenced Course 31 (Pilot) at 7 SFTS; Passed the Course

03 June 1943 – Awarded Flying Badge at 7 SFTS
03 June 1943 – Remustered to Airman Pilot at 7 SFTS
03 June 1943 – Promoted to Sergeant
04 June 1943 – Posted to 1 Embarkation Depot (1 ED), Ascot Vale, Melbourne, Vic

20 June 1943 – Posted to 2 ED, Bradfield Park, Sydney, NSW
22 June 1943 – Embarked from Sydney for the UK

04 September 1943 – Disembarked in UK
04 September 1943 – Posted to 11 Personnel Despatch and Reception Centre (11 PDRC), Brighton, UK

19 October 1943 – Posted to 14 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit (14 (P) AFU), RAF Station, Banff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
02 November 1943 – Attached to RAF Fraserburgh, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland (until 07 March 1944)

03 December 1943 – Promoted to Flight Sergeant
07 December 1943 – Attached to 1518 BAT Flight to 21 December 1943 (Beam Approach Training)

14 March 1944 – Posted to 27 OTU, Lichfield; crew of 6 formed here (this posting matches exactly with that of Bomb Aimer Chant, and W/Op Wilson)

03 June 1944 – Discharged from RAAF, on being granted a Commission after recommendation by 91 Group.
04 June 1944 – Promoted to the rank of Pilot Officer, General Duties Branch

21 June 1944 – Posted to Acaster Malbis, Yorkshire (41 Base), with crew of 6 (this posting matches exactly with that of Bomb Aimer Chant and W/Op Wilson), where F/Eng Daughters joined the crew (info from his Memoir)
23 June 1944 – Attached to Aircrew Training School

14 July 1944 – Posted to 1652 HCU, Marston Moor, Yorkshire with crew of 7 (date from F/Eng Daughters' Memoir)

23 August 1944 – Posted to 462 Squadron, Driffield, Yorkshire (4 Group) with crew of 7, for Operational Duties (this posting matches exactly with that of Bomb Aimer Chant and W/Op Wilson and F/Eng Daughters)
Crew's Ops listed in later section

01 September 1944 – Appointed as Acting Flying Officer

04 December 1944 – Promoted to Flying Officer

29 December 1944 – Relocated with 462 Squadron from 4 Group Driffield to 100 Group Foulsham, Norfolk
Crew's Ops listed in later section

01 January 1945 – Appointed as Acting Flight Lieutenant

04 June 1945 – Posted to 11 PDRC Brighton, for repatriation to Australia (this posting matches exactly with that of Bomb Aimer Chant, and W/Op Wilson)

11 June 1945 – Confidential Report (Officers), rank of Flying Officer, but Acting Flight Lieutenant – General conduct satisfactory, of Temperate Habit; The C.O. W/Cdr P. M. Paull stated that "First impressions of this Officer are misleading. He is a clever and efficient officer .............. His administrative knowledge is sound". Group Capt V. Willis stated "A quiet and shy officer. Has a likeable personality and is always extremely respectful."

28 July 1945 – Disembarked Sydney, ex-overseas, taken on strength at 2 Personnel Depot (2 PD)

05 September 1945 – Posted to 1 PD, ex overseas

21 September 1945 – Termination of Appointment, discharged from RAAF on demobilization; home address 8 Toorak Ave., Toorak, Melbourne, Vic.
Overseas/Operational Service from 22 June 1943 (embarkation from Sydney) to 28 July 1945 (disembarkation in Sydney on return). Service classed as Satisfactory.

There were "Certified No Further Entries" on his General Conduct Sheet, after his first and only offence in December 1942;
and "Certified No Entry" on his Service Conduct Sheet.

20 November 1945 – receipt signed by Robertson for Airman's Certificate of Service and Discharge, and Officer's Certificate of Service No. 5418 (dated 17 October 1945). Eligible for "Returned from Active Service Badge".

Training Details – Flying
11 EFTS – Australia – DH.82 – 60 hours 40m
7 SFTS – Australia – Wirraway – 104 hours
14 (P) AFU – UK – Oxford – 130 hours
27 OTU – UK – Wellington – 73 hours
1652 CU – UK – Halifax – 36 hours
Total Training Flying – 403 hours

Operational Flying Details
462 Squadron – Halifax – 176 hrs 20m – 34 Sorties (Ops)
Total Flying – 605 hours 50m according to Form P/P.150 for Pilots in his Service File. However the total of the hours as recorded is only 580 hours, a difference of 25 Hours 50m. By comparison with a similar form in the Service Files for Chant and Wilson, it appears that Robertson had not recorded his "non-operational" flying time at 462 Squadron on his form, but had included those hours in his total.

Post World War 2 Career, as advised by Pilot Robertson's son Ian Robertson.

"My father loved flying. Within three years of his RAAF discharge, he enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy in 1948 and became a pilot in the new Fleet Air Arm which formed in 1949 with naval aircraft conversion training in the UK. For the next 15 years Dad was based on our aircraft carriers or at HMAS Albatross (near Nowra NSW). He flew Firefly fighter-bombers (a tour of duty in Korean conflict) and later twin-engined Gannets, Vampire jets and Sycamore helicopters. For a time he was a Squadron Leader of 816 Squadron. A total of 458 aircraft carrier deck landings and 2272 total hours airborne are recorded for Dad’s flying career. He remained in the Navy for 8 more years including serving as Naval Officer in Charge of Queensland for two years and a two-year stint at the Royal Naval College in Greenwich, London. Lastly he was Director of Naval Training. Dad retired with the rank of Commander in 1972. He immediately became the private secretary to three Queensland State Governors over 14 years. Dad retired and moved to Bowral NSW where he died on 9 September 2012. In all, Dad served Australia for 50 years. In 1982 he was awarded a CBE for services to Queensland and Australia."

Nominal Roll of Australian Veterans of the Korean War:
David John ROBERTSON, birth date 04 January 1924 Toorak, Vic
Service: Royal Australian Navy, Air Branch, 817 squadron
Rank: Lieutenant (Pilot)
Days in Service: 176, from Start of Service: 31 August 1951; to End of Service: 22 February 1952

Ian is the custodian of his father's pilot logbooks and his medals. There are also copies of the UK Air Ministry "Pilot's and Engineer's Notes for Halifax III & IV" and "Pilot's Notes for Firefly 4, 5, & 6". A loose sheet of paper inside the cover of the Halifax notes, records the words of "The Song of Songs" written sometime early in 1945 when 462 Squadron was operating Radio/Radar Counter-Measure flights and Spoof Bombing Raids using WINDOW. This song has also been published elsewhere, with some variation in the words and title (e.g. as The Squadron Song in "Pimpernel Squadron" by Ted McGindle; and as 462 Squadron Song in "Phoenix Book 2: The Reincarnation" by A G Batten). Both references advise that it is to be sung to the tune "Jingle Bells". Batten also records that it was written by Max Barkla (F/Lt Frank Maxwell BARKLA DFC 407924 RAAF, 462 Squadron from August 1944 to March 1945, Wireless Operator in Crew Number 01 for Pilot W/Cdr D E S SHANNON). The least offensive version is included below (words can be substituted to suit the singer) ....

We are 462, we say nuts to you;
We are in 100 Group, we’ve bigger things to do;
When we’re over there, Jerry has the scare;
We’re the boys who muck it up; Australia will be there.

Chorus:
Chuck it out, chuck it out, Window all the way.
Mandrel on, Mandrel off, Keep the Hun away.
Pom Pom Pom, we don’t bomb - Our job’s more high-tone;
Others go away in noisy mobs - We press on alone.

Damn the flak, we’ll get back, keep on stooging round;
We’ll be there, in the air, when you are on the ground.
Bombing men, lacking gen, seeking worldly pleasures;
While they are shirking, we keep working, on our counter-measures.

Chorus ….. So, Chuck it out, etc.

Other Squadrons get the gongs, we get all the sh*t;
Blacks are whites, rights are wrongs; but we just b**ger it.
Pray don’t linger, pull your finger; don’t miss your connection;  
Keep on jamming, chucking, mucking - Main Force needs protection.

Chorus .. So, Chuck it out, etc.
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Bomb Aimer Phillip George CHANT – information sourced from his RAAF A9300 Service File, or as otherwise noted in text.
Chant may be in the group photo of Bomb Aimers at Foulsham, March 1945, possibly front row, 2nd from right, but his identification needs confirmation. ( Contact )

13 January 1942 – Medical Examination for Enrolment in RAAF Reserve at 4 Recruiting Centre (4 RC) Perth, Western Australia; aged 30 years, Medical category A1B. (Other details as per his enlistment in the RAAF on 16 August 1942, below.)
04 February 1942 – Accepted into the RAAF Reserve, at 4 RC, Perth WA

16 August 1942 – Enlisted in the RAAF at 4 RC, Perth, WA; for the duration of the War, and 12 months thereafter; allocated Service Number 427636; mustered as Air Crew V; classified as Aircraftman 2 (AC2);
aged 30 years and 6 months, date of birth 19 January 1912, born in Northam, WA; height 5 ft 6½ inches (168.9 cm), weight 132lb (9 stone 6lb or 59.8kg), vision 6/6, fair complexion, brown hair and brown eyes; Medical category A1B, A3B; previous occupation Bank Clerk, no civil convictions, no previous military service; Education Junior Certificate; Church of England, married, next of kin was his wife Mary Reason CHANT of 5 Carbine Street, Belmont, WA (marriage 30 December 1939; also dependant son Peter)
16 August 1942 – Posted to 5 ITS, Clontarf, WA

06 October 1942 – Remustered to Air Crew V (O) at 5 ITS

07 November 1942 – Remustered to Air Crew II (O) at at 5 ITS
07 November 1942 – Promoted to Leading Aircraftman (LAC)

10 December 1942 – Posted to 2 Air Observers School (2 AOS), Mt Gambier, South Australia;
10 December 1942 – Commenced 32 (Observers) Course
26 February 1943 – Passed 32 (O) Course at 2 AOS

06 March 1943 – Posted to 2 Bombing and Gunnery School (2 BAGS), Port Pirie, SA
29 April 1943 – Awarded Air Navigation (B) Badge at 2 BAGS

03 May 1943 – Posted to 2 Air Navigation School (2 ANS), Nhill, Vic
03 May 1943 – Commenced No. 32 (N) Course in Astro-Navigation, until 27 May 1943, PASSED

27 May 1943 – Awarded Navigator Badge at 2 ANS
27 May 1943 – Remustered as Navigator (B) at 2 ANS
27 May 1943 – Promoted to Sergeant

07 June 1943 – Attached to 2 ED, Bradfield Park, until 17 June 1943

18 June 1943 – Posted to General Reconnaissance School (GRS), Cressy Airfield, Bairnsdale, Vic
18 June 1943 – Commenced No. 2 GR (N) Course, until 27 August 1943 (General Reconnaissance Navigation Course)

02 October 1943 – Posted to 73 Squadron, Nowra, NSW
18 October 1943 – Posted to 5 ED, Subiaco, WA
20 November 1943 – Posted to 1 ED, Melbourne Cricket Ground (sic),Vic
23 November 1943 – Posted to 2 ED, Bradfield Park, Sydney, NSW
26 November 1943 – Embarked from Sydney for the UK

27 November 1943 – Promoted to Flight Sergeant

10 January 1944 – Disembarked in UK
10 January 1944 – Posted to 11 PDRC, Brighton, UK

08 February 1944 – Posted to 1 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit (1 (O) AFU), RAF Wigtown, Dumfries and Galloway

14 March 1944 – Posted to 27 OTU, Lichfield, crew of 6 formed here (this posting matches exactly with that of Pilot Robertson and W/Op Wilson)

21 June 1944 – Posted to Acaster Malbis, Yorkshire (41 Base), with crew of 6 (this posting matches exactly with that of Pilot Robertson and W/Op Wilson), where F/Eng Daughters joined the crew (info from his Memoir)
23 June 1944 – Attached to Aircrew Training School

14 July 1944 – Posted to 1652 HCU, Marston Moor, Yorkshire with crew of 7 (date from F/Eng Daughters' Memoir)

23 August 1944 – Posted to 462 Squadron, Driffield, Yorkshire (4 Group) with crew of 7, for Operational Duties (this posting matches exactly with that of Pilot Robertson and W/Op Wilson and F/Eng Daughters)
Crew's Ops listed in later section

27 November 1944 – Promoted to Warrant Officer

29 December 1944 – Relocated with 462 Squadron from 4 Group Driffield to 100 Group Foulsham, Norfolk
Crew's Ops listed in later section

11 February 1945 – Discharged as Airman from RAAF, on being granted a Commission
12 February 1945 – Promoted to the rank of Pilot Officer, General Duties Branch

04 June 1945 – Posted to 11 PDRC Brighton, for repatriation to Australia (this posting matches exactly with that of Pilot Robertson and W/Op Wilson)

20 June 1945 – Embarked from UK, destination Australia

24 July 1945 – Disembarked Perth, WA, ex-overseas
24 July 1945 – Posted to 5 PD, Subiaco, WA

12 August 1945 – Promoted to Flying Officer

08 October 1945 – Posted to 5 PD, for Discharge from RAAF
10 October 1945 – Termination of Appointment, discharged from RAAF on demobilization; home address 5 Carbine Street, Belmont, WA

His Service Conduct Sheet was "Certified No Entry". His General Conduct Sheet was "Certified No Entry" for all Postings.

21 January 1946 – receipt signed by Chant for Airman's Certificate of Service and Discharge, and Officer's Certificate of Service No. 7436 (dated 13 November 1945), address 5 Carbine Street, Belmont, WA . Eligible for "Returned from Active Service Badge".

Medals Listed – 1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939/45, Australia Service Medal 1939-45, Returned from Active Service Badge.

Flying Details – hand-written Form P/P 151 for "Aircrew other than Pilots"
Training
2 AOS – Mt Gambier – Anson – 58 hours
2 BAGS – Pt Pirie – Fairy Battle – 31 hours
2 ANS – Nhill – Anson – 30 hours
2 GR(N) – Aus – Anson – 56 hours
1 (O) AFU – UK – Anson – 47 hours
27 OTU – UK – Wellington – 71 hours
1652 CU – UK – Halifax II – 36 hours
Total Training Flying – 329 hours

Non-Operational Flying
462 Squadron – Halifax III – 23 hours 30min

Operational Flying
462 Squadron – Driffield – Halifax III – 18 Sorties (Ops) – 91 hours
462 Squadron – Foulsham – Halifax – 15 Sorties – 82 hours
Total Operational Flying – 33 Sorties – 173 hours

Total Flying – 525 hours (excluding non-op minutes).

04 February 1975 – residence at 5 Carbine St., Belmont, WA, same as for the War years.
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Navigator Percival Albert Clifton DERMOND is included in the group photo of Navigators at Foulsham, February/March 1945, front row, 3rd from left.

Rear Gunner Frederick Joseph RANDLE may be in the group photo of Gunners of "A" Flight at Foulsham, March 1945, possibly back row, 1st on left, but his identification needs confirmation. ( Contact )

Mid-Upper Gunner George Leon GOLDSTEIN should therefore be in the same group photo, but he has not yet been identified.
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Wireless Operator Edward Douglas WILSON – information sourced from his RAAF A9301 Service File, or as otherwise noted in text.
Some details vary between documents, including his year of birth, and some event dates.
Wilson is included in the group photo of Wireless Operators at Foulsham, March 1945, front row, 3rd from right.

05 May 1942 – Application for Air Crew, at RAAF Recruiting Centre, Melbourne; home residence "Hillside", Wychitella, Vic; no previous Military Service or training; Education at Wychitella State School, Vic, and Boort Higher Education School, Vic, Merit Certificate; sport of cricket and football; experience with internal combustion engines of cars and tractors. (Other details as per his enlistment on 14 July 1942, below).

12 June 1942 – Medical examination for enlistment in the RAAF

14 July 1942 – Enlisted in the RAAF at 1 Recruiting Centre (1 RC) , Melbourne, Victoria; for the duration of the War, and 12 months thereafter; allocated Service Number 419104; mustered as Air Crew V; classified as Aircraftman 2 (AC2);
aged 28 years 10 months, date of birth 18 June 1914, born in Darwin, NT; height 5 ft 6 inches (167.6cm), weight 140lb (10 stone or 63.5kg), vision 6/6 with normal colour vision, fair hair and complexion, blue eyes; Medical category A1B, A3B; previous occupation Farm Labourer, no civil convictions, single, Presbyterian, residence at Wychitella, next of kin was his father, Edward WILSON of Wychitella, Vic
14 July 1942 – Posted to 1 Recruiting Depot (1 RD) Shepparton, Vic
31 July 1942 – Posted to 1 Aircraft Depot (1 AD), Laverton, Vic
08 November 1942 – Posted to 1 ITS, Somers
10 November 1942 – Signature of "Will" (Form P/P. 77A) at 1 ITS, wherein AC2 Wilson, being over the age of 21, appointed his father Edward WILSON of Wychitella, Vic, as the sole executor of his Will, and bequeathed all of his property to his father.

29 December 1942 – Remustered to Air Crew V (G) at 1 ITS
02 January 1943 – Promoted to Leading Aircraftman (LAC)
07 January 1943 – Posted to 2 Wireless and Gunnery School (2 WAGS), Parkes, NSW
04 February 1943 – Commenced Course 35 (G) at 2 WAGS, until 21 July 1943, PASSED

21 July 1943 – Awarded Wireless Badge at 2 WAGS
21 July 1943 – Remustered to Air Crew II (G) at 2 WAGS

26 July 1943 – Posted to 2 Bombing and Gunnery School (2 BAGS), Port Pirie, South Australia
26 July 1943 – Commenced No. 35 Air Gunner's Course at 2 BAGS, until 19 August 1943, PASSED

19 August 1943 – Awarded Air Gunner's Badge at 2 BAGS
19 August 1943 – Remustered as WOAG (Wireless Operator Air Gunner) at 2 BAGS
19 August 1943 – Promoted to Sergeant
20 August 1943 – Posted to 1 ED, Ascot Vale, Melbourne, Vic

08 September 1943 – Posted to 2 ED, Bradfield Park, Sydney, NSW
10 September 1943 – Embarked from Brisbane for the UK

19 October 1943 – Disembarked in UK
20 October 1943 – Posted to 11 PDRC, Brighton, UK

05 December 1943 – Attached to Aircrew NCO School, until 11 January 1944
15 December 1943 – Commenced Air Crew Non Commissioned Officer Course at RAF Whitley Bay, Northumberland, UK, until 12 January 1944, PASSED, result 66%

25 January 1944 – Posted to 1 (Observers) Advanced Flying Unit (1 (O) AFU), RAF Wigtown, Dumfries and Galloway.

19 February 1944 – Promoted to Flight Sergeant

11 March 1944 – Remustered as Wireless Operator (Air)

14 March 1944 – Posted to 27 OTU, Lichfield, crew of 6 formed here (this posting matches exactly with that of Pilot Robertson and Bomb Aimer Chant)
06 April 1944 to 09 April 1944 – In Station Sick Quarters at 27 OTU (no mention of injury, so possibly a winter related illness)

21 June 1944 – Posted to Acaster Malbis, Yorkshire (41 Base), with crew of 6 (this posting matches exactly with that of Pilot Robertson and Bomb Aimer Chant), where F/Eng Daughters joined the crew (info from his Memoir)
23 June 1944 – Attached to Aircrew Training School

14 July 1944 – Posted to 1652 HCU, Marston Moor, Yorkshire with crew of 7 (date from F/Eng Daughters' Memoir)

23 August 1944 – Posted to 462 Squadron, Driffield, Yorkshire (4 Group) with crew of 7, for Operational Duties (this posting matches exactly with that of Pilot Robertson and Bomb Aimer Chant and F/Eng Daughters)
Crew's Ops listed in later section

29 December 1944 – Relocated with 462 Squadron from 4 Group Driffield to 100 Group Foulsham, Norfolk
Crew's Ops listed in later section

19 February 1945 – Promoted to Warrant Officer

04 June 1945 – Posted to 11 PDRC Brighton, for repatriation to Australia (this posting matches exactly with that of Pilot Robertson and Bomb Aimer Chant)

28 July 1945 – Disembarked Sydney, ex-overseas
29 July 1945 – Posted to 1 PD

06 September 1945 – Posted to 1 PD, Demobilization Wing

03 October 1945 – Discharged from RAAF on demobilization
Overseas/Operational Service from 10 September 1943 (embarkation from Brisbane) to disembarked in Sydney on 28 July 1945. Service classed as Satisfactory.

His Service Conduct Sheet was "Certified No Entry". There was no General Conduct Sheet in his Service File.

27 December 1945 – receipt signed by Wilson for Airman's Certificate of Service and Discharge (dated 01? November 1945, and posted to an address in Hawthorn, Vic). Eligible for "Returned from Active Service Badge".

Medals Listed – 1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939/45, Australia Service Medal 1939-45, Returned from Active Service Badge.

Flying Details – according to Form P/P.151 for "Aircrew other than Pilots", in his Service File; one type-written form with incorrect birth-date and incorrect enlistment date and faulty maths; and a second hand-written form with less detail and with variations in italics as marked below in brackets, but with maths correct. The reason for the differences is not known.

Training Details – Flying
2 WAGS – Australia – Wackett – 20 hours 05min (20 hours)
2 BAGS – Australia – Fairey Battle – 12 hours 10min (10 hours)
1 (O) AFU – UK – Anson – 45 hours 45min (48 hours)
27 OTU – UK – Wellington – 74 hours 50min (74 hours)
1652 CU – UK – Halifax II – 36 hours 30min (30 hours)
Total Training Flying – 189 hours 20min (182 hours)

Non-Operational Flying
462 Squadron – Halifax – ?? hours, illegible (26 hours)

Operational Flying Details
462 Squadron – Driffield – Halifax III – 16 Sorties (Ops) – 60 hours 25min
462 Squadron – Foulsham – Halifax – 16 Sorties – 107 hours 25min
Total Operational Flying – 32 Sorties – 167 hours 50m (170 hours)

Total Flying – 341 hours 35m but with maths error in typed form; (378 hours, mathematically correct for the hand-written form).

20 July 1946 – The Marriage of W.O. Edward Douglas Wilson, elder son of Mrs. and the late Mr. E. Wilson of Wychitella, to Carmen, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T. J. Schafe of 96 Adeney Avenue, Kew, was celebrated at West Hawthorne Presbyterian Church at 5pm. (Newspaper report in The Argus, Saturday 20 July 1946, Family Notices, page 10.)

This Marriage notice assists in dating the photo of Pilot Robertson and W/OP Wilson, shown in previous section.
Ken Daughters, son of F/Eng Ralph Daughters has advised that the photo was actually a postcard without a stamp, so presumably enclosed in a letter sent from Australia, to Ralph in England. The message on the reverse was from Dave Robertson to Ralph, stating that "This is definitely the last single photo of Doug". Therefore the photo could be dated as sometime soon after disembarking in Australia on 28 July 1945, maybe their last photo together before going on leave, and before de-mob, and definitely before Wilson's wedding on 20 July 1946.

18 April 1977 – Death of Edward Douglas Wilson, with his Widow living in the Cairns district of Queensland.
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Flight Engineer Ralph Kenneth DAUGHTERS

Information from Ralph's Memoir, page 9 (link to file in next section), and Log Book.
17 November 1943 – Commenced training as a Flight Engineer at RAF No. 4 School of Technical Training at St Athan, south Wales; Passed with 73.5% on 17 May 1944
19 May 1944 – Posted to 1658 Heavy Conversion Unit (1658 HCU), Riccall, Yorkshire for Flight Engineer familiarisation training, flying as 2nd Flight Engineer with experienced crews (Dates in Log Book are 27 May 1944 to 30 June 1944; Leave may account for the difference in dates.)
30 June 1944 – Posted to Acaster Malbis, Yorkshire, for amalgamation with an operational crew, Pilot Robertson (Log Book records this Posting as 4.G.A.T.S.)
14 July 1944 – Posted to 1652 HCU Marston Moor, Yorkshire, with the 7-man crew, Pilot Robertson
23 August 1944 – Posted to 462 Squadron, Driffield, with the Robertson Crew, for Operational flying
29 December 1944 – Relocated with 462 Squadron to Foulsham, Norfolk
29 December to 25 April 1945 – Ops at 462 Squadron, Foulsham (Log Book dates)
....... Unknown, (possibly non-flying duties at 462 Squadron, Foulsham, or on Leave) ........
May 1945 – F/Sgt Daughters was posted FROM 462 Squadron, Foulsham (as recorded in 462 Squadron ORB)
02 June 1945 – Posted to A.C.A.C. Catterick, to 08 June 1945 (Air Crew Allocation Centre)
18 July 1945 – Posted to 2 S of TT, Cosford (School of Technical Training)
27 December 1945 – Posted to Boscombe Down to 16 April 1946
........ Unknown .........
15 March 1947 – Release Authorisation and departure from 101 Personnel Dispersal Centre, RAF Kirkham; followed by 56 days Leave.
12 May 1947 – Last day of RAF Service (see 5 pages of his RAF Demobilisation Booklet in a previous section)

Information from his son Ken.
Ralph is named in the November 1944 group photo of Flight Engineers at Driffield, middle row, 7th from left (i.e. 6th from right). A copy of the same photo, was sent by Ralph to Marie when they were courting. The only reference on the back was written by Ralph and says ‘Joe’s all!’ and points out his position in the photo, with the comment that he’s the ‘bloke smirking at the Engineer Leader’ (i.e. William Folger Readhead, seated directly in front of Ralph/"Joe") 
15 March 1947 – RAF Certificate of Service and Release
Next-of-Kin prior to marriage – Henry and Mabel Daughters (his Father and Mother)
June 1947 – marriage to Marie
Ralph was the last surviving member of his crew and passed away in October 2015 aged 90.

Ralph frequently met up with his ‘Skip’ Dave Robertson and his Navigator Percy Dermond (see 2 photos in previous section).
In 2005, Ralph arranged for his wife Marie, son Ken and his wife, and daughter Wendy and her husband, to visit the Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington for a guided tour inside the restored Halifax. Needless to say the tour guide volunteered to adopt an observer's role when he learnt of Ralph’s knowledge of the plane, and listened with great interest to his recollections and the information he provided (see series of photos in previous section).
A full transcript of the events surrounding the crash landing of LL600 Z5-C as told by Ralph Daughters, and which relates to the photo on the ‘Halifax III’ photo page, is included in his Memoir (link included below).
Ralph carried out 33 Ops – 31 with Pilot Robertson, 1 Op with Whatling, and 1 with Britt. An additional 2 Ops were early returns, so were not counted in the final tally.
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Memoir written by Ralph Kenneth DAUGHTERS, last amended November 1995, a 9 page document ....... link to pdf file .....

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Crew Ops at Driffield from 23 August 1944 to 29 December 1944; and at Foulsham from 01 January 1945 to 08 May 1945.

Following is a summary of this crew's Ops at Driffield with the usual crew of seven, and Ops at Foulsham with a crew of eight.
For detailed information, please refer to the Memoir by Ralph Daughters (link provided in the previous section).

The following table lists all of the Ops for Robertson and crew – with 2 Ops abandoned by Master Bomber; one a non-starter; 2 early returns due to hydraulic failure; and 3 landings away – one with an aircraft written-off.

Robertson's first Op was as 2nd Pilot with the Jackson crew. The Op numbers refer to Robertson's Ops, so differ slightly from those recorded in the Memoir by F/Eng Daughters.

Ops 1 to 19 were from Driffield for Bombing, and Ops 20 to 36 were from Foulsham, on Special Duties. Robertson's final total was 34 Ops, as those 2 Ops with early returns would not have been included in the Ops tally. He carried out 33 Ops with his usual crew, with a few substitutions.

W/Op Wilson was substituted by W/Op Hale on 2 consecutive Ops (04 and 06 November 1944).
F/Eng Daughters was substituted by Soames and Reynolds on consecutive Ops (18 November and 21 November 1944).
Wilson carried out one catch-up Op as SD/WINDOW Dispenser with McGindle's crew (02/04/1945).
Daughters had 2 catch-up Ops, one as SD WINDOW Dispenser with Whatling Crew (02/01/1945) and one as Flight Engineer with Britt crew (15/03/1945). In his Memoir, Daughters recorded himself again as SD/WINDOW for BRITT, however the ORB lists the SD/WINDOW crew member as McLean.
All other permanent members of Robertson's Crew carried out all of their Ops with Robertson, with no substitutions.

Serial Numbers are from the ORB and F/Engineer's Memoir.
Z5 Code from various Log books, including that of F/Eng Daughters as recorded in his Memoir. (There are discrepancies within the ORB, and between the ORB and various authors.)
In the ORB, there were the usual variations in spelling of Surnames, initials, and Service Numbers for crew members.

Times up and down in black are day flights, and times in red are night flights.
Target "Le Havre (1 of 12)" means 12 aircraft were tasked from 462 Squadron to the target of Le Havre, with Robertson's crew being one of those 12 (and so on for the other dates, some ops had two Targets and show a higher aircraft total).
There is some variation in the spelling of Target names in the original ORB.

Code for Op Type – B Bombing; SD Special Duties; SP Spoof; W WINDOW; F Flares; TI Target Indicators; I Incendiaries.
The Special Duties 8th crew member for dispensing WINDOW is named in the comments column.
This crew did not carry out any Ops using Special Equipment for Radio Counter Measures (RCM).

Of the Halifax aircraft listed above .......

Robertson Crew completed 12 Ops in NA147 Z5-G, as well as 1 x "early return", 1 x "non-starter", and also flew in NA147 when the Squadron relocated from Driffield to Foulsham.

LL599 Z5-E later lost on Op with NELDER Crew;
LL610 Z5-U later lost on Op with JUBB Crew;
MZ467 Z5-C later lost on Op with LODDER Crew;
MZ370 Z5-L lost on Op with James Crew.

On the Halifax page, photos of the following aircraft flown by this crew may be seen –

LW440 Z5-B
LL599 Z5-E
LL600 Z5-C (also below, with description of Loss)
MZ341 Z5-G (later re-branded as Z5-P)
MZ370 Z5-L (in background only)
NA147 Z5-G
NR239 Z5-D
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Loss of Aircraft – Halifax LL600 Z5-C (photo also on Halifax page)

From the 462 Squadron Operational Record Book, September 1944, Form 541, page 59, and Form 540 page 10.
This was one of 14 aircraft from 462 Squadron detailed for a night Op to target Neuss (Ruhr valley). Take off for LL600 was at 1858 on the 23 September, and the primary target was bombed from 17,500 ft., at 2229. When landing at Sudbury at 2355, LL600 overshot and crashed, with the aircraft category A.C. Ten aircraft returned to Base, and four landed away (including LL600 at Sudbury, one at Manston, and two at Stradishall).

Photo from the Aviation Heritage Museum of Western Australia, Catalog No. P025875, with the caption ....

"Halifax LL600 / Z5-C, crash landing at Sudbury, 23 Sept., 1944."

The following has been transcribed from pages 2 and 3 of the Memoir by Flight Engineer Ralph Daughters, which also included notes from Pilot Dave Robertson. (Link to the complete 9-page pdf in previous section). Transcription in italics ..... quote ......

Op. No: 5. Date: 23/09/44. Target: Neuss (Ruhr).
Take off: 18.59 hours. Duration: 5 hours.
Aircraft: Halifax B.III, LL600 "C".
Details: Out of fuel, overshot on crash-landing at Sudbury. Resulting from the undercarriage being torn off aircraft LL600 Z5-C, damaged beyond repair, was Struck off Charge.

Dave Robertson and Ralph Daughters have vivid recollections of their fifth op.
For Dave the story begins shortly after take off:-

After take off and a normal climb to cruising altitude it was discovered on throttling back to cruising power that the pitch control of the propeller on the (I'm pretty sure) starboard inner would not bring the engine's speed below 2400 rpm. No matter what was tried with the Pitch Control Lever, the propeller remained jammed at or nearly Fully Fine.

Various combinations of trim and engine power were tried until the yaw was eliminated as much as possible and at the same time the required cruising speed was maintained. Three engines needed a little more power than usual, and the fourth, (in an analogy with the motor car, was running in "second gear" and) was using considerably more fuel than it normally would at cruising revs. (An alternative, not seriously considered, might have been to feather the starboard inner, but we would then not have been able to keep up with the bomber stream and in any case would probably have used more fuel overall). The target at Neuss was attacked without further problems.

On return over the English coast near the mouth of the Thames the fuel state dictated that we had to land at the first available open airfield. It was some time before an airfield's lights were sighted, but they could not be raised by radio. Valuable time was wasted as we circled the field for a growing number of minutes, trying to establish radio contact or attract the attention of the Tower by firing off the Colours of the Day with Very lights.

While we continued circling the runway lights were suddenly switched off! It transpired later that ATC had been warned that Enemy Intruders were in the area. Fortunately the perimeter track lights remained faintly visible showing where one runway end jutted out from the main part of the airfield revealing its approximate threshold and direction. With fuel gauges now reading in the unreliably low regions, it was decided to land while we still had the help of the perimeter track lights. Despite the light from a flare we had dropped earlier, it was not possible to see the runway surface and we touched down a prudent halfway along the runway but too fast, and over-ran the boundary fence at the far end, across a road, and, much damaged, came to rest in a ditch in the next field.

(Perhaps, Ralph, you remembered all this too, but didn't put it in because it's all too long and spoils a good tory, and you could be right. But I remember the agonising five hours with a hottish engine running at climbing revs, and our concern at the galloping consumption of fuel. I had quite forgotten the presence of the "hydraulic" fluid all over the main spar that you mention.) ................................................... Dave Robertson.

For Ralph the story begins at the end of the homeward leg:-
This was our fifth op and on the return we were low on fuel and the hydraulics were leaking fluid all over the top of the front main wing spar. I remember hydraulic fluid on the main spar, because I literally put my foot in it whilst climbing over the spar on my way to my crash position. I slipped, and when the aircraft hit the deck, I apparently did a back somersault forwards towards the cockpit, coming to rest in the aisle alongside my station. (The pitch control linkage was mechanical. I removed all the covers down the centre of the 'plane, and out to the point where the linkage disappeared into the wing. There was no break, so it had to be between that point and the engine. So we had to put up with it as they say.)

We decided to attempt a landing at a drome whose lights we could see – they were the only things visible at the time! As we made our approach the runway lights were suddenly extinguished so we circled and I fired off all the colours of the day that I could find. The response from the ground was zero. So then, on instructions from Dave, I fired off everything else that I could lay my hands on. All this time we were circling the drome. Finally Dave told me to fire off a flare cartridge – the last one we had. So off it went, to be met with zero response once more. Dave, in the bright light of the flare, lined up with the runway and in we went.

It later transpired that we had hit the runway in the middle, which happened to be its highest point, and bounced off into an adjoining field. We made a hasty exit from the aircraft and staggered to the edge of the field where we clambered aboard a U.S. army truck which took us to the Control Tower of what turned out to be the airfield, USAAF Sudbury, the base of the American 486th Bomb Group.

As we entered the building one of the staff turned and asked the skipper who he was. On being told that we were the crew of the aircraft that had just attempted a landing on their runway the response was "What aircraft?" That was the last straw for Dave and using rich Australian descriptive language he told them exactly which aircraft and what we had been doing to attract their attention. He ended his explanation with some freely offered comments about their ancestry and parentage of which they had previously been totally ignorant! Finally, it was admitted that we were seen but the Yanks had thought we were a German intruder – this despite my efforts with the colours of the day!

We were debriefed by the C.O. himself, and he said he would tell his men where they got off. At the debriefing Dave requested that our aircraft be guarded because of the secret equipment on board. After this we were fed etc. and allocated a hut for the night.

The next morning we went to survey our wrecked aircraft, which appeared to be unguarded. However, as we neared the aircraft a figure, with a rifle slung across his shoulder, rose from the central hatch. Despite the shattered fuel tanks and lines the guard was smoking a cigarette! Dave had another attack of apoplexy. This problem was also sorted out by the C.O.

However, despite the fraught beginnings the rest of our stay there was superb. We were fed, supplied with cigarettes, chewing gum, playing cards and everything we could have wanted. We were flown back to base after a day and a half, bad weather preventing an earlier return. Our Halifax, C – Charlie, was damaged beyond repair. The undercarriage had been torn away and the starboard-inner had sheared off. One blade of the prop was embedded in the ground just inches away from Fred's rear turret. ....................... Ralph Daughters.

.....end of quote from Memoir ......
In the photo, the twisted blade of the propeller can be seen projecting from the ground beside the rear turret.

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