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Barr, Robert Benjamin (Flight Lieutenant)

Prisoner of War 1941-July-24

Male Head

Birth Date: unkown date (age unknown)

Home: Winnipeg, Manitoba

Service
RAF
Unit
144 (MB) Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Who Shall Stop Us
Base
RAF North Luffenham
Rank
Flight Lieutenant
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
Service Numbers
41147
PoW: 18391

Took off from North Luffenham in Hampden Mk I (Sqn code: PL- Bomber Command) on an operation to Brest France.

Aircraft was shot down and crashed at Ploudalmezeau near the target.

Killed: Pilot Officer Peter Gordon Anderson RAF KIA Ploudalmezeau Communal Cemetery Row 14. Collective grave 179-180. Sergeant Albert Bertram Cooper RAF KIA Ploudalmezeau Communal Cemetery Row 14. Coll. grave 179-180. Sergeant Donald Parkin RAF KIA Ploudalmezeau Communal Cemetery Row 14. Coll. grave 179-180.

POWs includes Barr: Sergeant James Ernest Wiggall RAF POW Stalag 357 Kopernikus.

Home
Google MapWinnipeg, Manitoba
Target
Google MapBrest

Handley Page Hampden

(RCAF Photo via Chris Charland)(Source Harold A Skaarup Web Page)
Handley Page Hampden (Serial No. P5428), of No. 32 Operational Training Unit at RCAF Patricia Bay, British Columbia, in the torpedo-bomber training role between May 1942 and February 194

Handley Page developed a modern stressed-skin mid-wing monoplane, powered by Bristol Pegasus radial air cooled engines, with its first flight in 1936. It had the most advanced wings available at the time, giving it a remarkably low landing speed of 73 mph for an aircraft of its size, with a top speed of 265 mph. The Hampden had a short, narrow but tall main fuselage with a very slender tail unit. This configuration led to the nicknames "Flying Panhandle" and "Flying Suitcase". At the end of the war, no complete or partial Hampden aircraft were retained for museum display.

The Hampden served in the early stages of the war, bearing the brunt of the early bombing war over Europe, taking part in the first night raid on Berlin and in the first 1000-bomber raid on Cologne. In Canada, Hampdens were built by six companies that formed Associated Aircraft. There were three in Ontario and three in Quebec, hence they were identified as the Ontario Group and Quebec Group. They supplied all the the components to the two assembly plants. The Ontario Group's assembly plant was at the Malton Airport, while the Quebec group's assembly plant was at the St. Hubert Airport. Canadian Museum of Flight and Harold A Skaarup web page

YouTube Handley Page Hampden in Flight

Wkikpedia Wikipedia Hampden Bomber

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

Kestrek Publications Hampden - Kestrel Publications

CASPIR Aircraft Groups:
RCAF On Strength (96), RCAF 400 Squadron (178), Canadian Aircraft Losses (239), Canadian Ferried (1), Canadian Manufactured (160)
last update: 2022-01-13 21:37:22

Hampden I AE225

With 144 Sqn. Shot down by fighter off Brest

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