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Bryant, Robert Murray (Sergeant)

Killed in Action 1941-July-23

Birth Date: 1914-February-12 (age 27)

Son of Joseph Wilfred and Mary Ellen Bryant, of Toronto.

Home: Toronto, Ontario

Service
RCAF
Unit
118 Sqn- Squadron
Rank
Sergeant
Marshal
Air Chief MarshalA/C/M
Air MarshalA/M
Air Vice MarshalA/V/M
Air CommodoreA/C
Group CaptainG/C
Wing CommanderW/C
Squadron LeaderS/L
Flight LieutenantF/L
Flying OfficerF/O
Pilot OfficerP/O
Warrant Officer 1st ClassWO1
Warrant Officer 2nd ClassWO2
Flight SergeantFS
SergeantSGT
CorporalCPL
Senior AircraftmanSAC
Leading AircraftmanLAC
Aircraftman 1st ClassAC1
Aircraftman 2nd ClassAC2
Position
Pilot
Service Numbers
R/65736
118 Canadian Squadron, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Sgt Bryant was killed when Grumman Goblin aircraft 336 crashed at Lawrencetown, Nova Scotia.

Canada Source Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Find-A-Grave.com Find-A-Grave.com

Canada Primary Source Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Burial
Google Map Park Lawn Cemetery, Canada
Sec G Lot North half 26 Grave 1 Tier 49

Grumman Goblin

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, PL1948)(Source Harold A Skaarup Web Page)Canadian Car & Foundry G-23 Goblin, RCAF (Serial No. 342), ca 1941.
One is preserved in the National Museum of Naval Aviation, Pensacola, Florida.

The Grumman FF "Fifi" (company designation G-5) was an American biplane fighter flown by the United States Navy during the 1930s. It was the first carrier aircraft with retractable landing gear. It was produced under licence in Canada and known as the Goblin in Canadian service and Delfin ("Dolphin") in Spanish service. Wikipedia

The Canadian Car & Foundry Company acquired a manufacturing licence for the Grumman G-23, and improved FF-1, of which it completed a total of 52, some of which were assembled from US-built components. Although initially rejected as a fighter by the RCAF as outdated and too slow, with the advent of war, the last 15 of the CC&F production batch were taken on strength as the Goblin I. The aircraft type served with the RCAF from 17 September 1940 until 21 April 1942. "A" Flight of No. 118 RCAF Squadron was equipped with Goblins at Rockcliffe in Ottawa, and subsequently became No. 118 (Fighter) Squadron, later stationed at Dartmouth, Nova Scotia where the Goblins for a time constituted the sole fighter force on the east coast. One CCF-built G-23 was sold to the Nicaraguan government where it saw limited service before being relegated to a scrap yard at Zololtan Air Field in 1942, destined to remain there until 1961 when it was purchased and shipped to the USA. In 1966, Grumman restored the aircraft before passing it to the US Navy where it is currently on display at the National Museum of Naval Aviation at Pensacola, Florida. Harold Skaarup web page

YouTube Goblin Fighter

Wkikpedia Wikipedia Goblin Fighter

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

Kestrek Publications Grumman Goblin - Kestrel Publications

CASPIR Aircraft Groups:
RCAF On Strength (15), Canadian Aircraft Losses (1)
last update: 2023-10-16 19:20:03

Goblin 336

First assigned to the School of Army Cooperation in Rockcliffe, ON. To No. 118 (F) Sqn, in Rockcliffe, ON as of 21 Feb 1941 and then to Dartmouth, NS as of Jul 1941. A week after the Sqn’s arrival at Dartmouth from Rockcliffe on 23 Jul 1941, #336 took off to practice low-flying “surprise" attacks with Sgt R.M. Bryant at the controls. At approximately 16:00 hrs, the a/c was seen diving towards Lawrencetown Lake at very low level. The a/c struck a electric power pole bordering a nearby road, ripped one wing off, and then crashed into the swampy shore of the lake about 350 yards away. The pilot was thrown clear of the wreckage but had been fatally injured upon impact. The airframe was totally destroyed. The poor forward visibility from the cockpit was noted as a contributing factor for the accident.

source: Kestrel Publications


1940-10-15 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
1941-July-23 Accident: 118 Fighter Squadron Loc: Aerodrome Names: Bryant
1941-09-22 Struck off Strength - Cat "A" write-off 2023-10-16

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