Robert Douglas Albert Becker

Killed in Action 1945-March-14

Pilot Officer Robert Douglas Albert Becker RCAF

Birth Date: 1924-April-23

Born: Shavonna, Saskatchewan

Parents: Son of George Albert and Jean Lindsay Becker, of Pouce Coupe, British Columbia.

Spouse:

Home: Pouce Coupe, British Columbia

Enlistment: Edmonton, Alberta

Enlistment Date: 1942-June-16

Service

RCAF

Unit

201 Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Hic Et Ubique Here and everywhere

Base

RAF Castle Archdale, Northern Ireland

Rank

Pilot Officer

Position

Pilot

Service Numbers

J/94373
Prev: R/171656

Home

Pouce Coupe, British Columbia

Final Burial

Irvinestown Church Of Ireland Churchyard
Plot 2 Grave 71

201 Squadron (Hit Ec Ubique). Sunderland aircraft ML 743 was on anti-sub patrol when it crashed into Mt Crownarad, Ulster (at a height of 471m)and five miles north-west of Killy Begs, Ireland. Six RAF members of the crew, Flying Officer E.N. Cave, FSs N. Davison, S.B. Frith, G.R. Kennedy, Flight Lieutenant D.R. Hatton M.i.D., and Flight Lieutenant V. Howkins were also killed.

Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Sunderland serial: ML743

Source: Harold A Skaarup Web Page (DND Photo)
Short Sunderland, coded Z, 15 Apr 1943

The Short S.25 Sunderland was a British flying boat patrol bomber, developed and constructed by Short Brothers for the Royal Air Force (RAF). The aircraft took its service name from the town (latterly, city) and port of Sunderland in North East England.

Developed in parallel with the civilian S.23 Empire flying boat, the flagship of Imperial Airways, the Sunderland was developed specifically to conform to the requirements of British Air Ministry Specification R.2/33 for a long-range patrol/reconnaissance flying boat to serve with the Royal Air Force (RAF). As designed, it served as a successor to the earlier Short Sarafand flying boat. Sharing several similarities with the S.23, it featured a more advanced aerodynamic hull and was outfitted with various offensive and defensive armaments, including machine gun turrets, bombs, aerial mines, and depth charges. The Sunderland was powered by four Bristol Pegasus XVIII radial engines and was outfitted with various detection equipment to aid combat operations, including the Leigh searchlight, the ASV Mark II and ASV Mark III radar units, and an astrodome.

The Sunderland was one of the most powerful and widely used flying boats throughout the Second World War. In addition to the RAF, the type was operated by other Allied military air wings, including the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), South African Air Force (SAAF), Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), French Navy, Norwegian Air Force, and the Portuguese Navy. During the conflict, the type was heavily involved in Allied efforts to counter the threat posed by German U-boats in the Battle of the Atlantic. Wikipedia

Wikipedia Short Sunderland