Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Bob was born on 6 Feb 1915 in Philadelphia (U.S.A.). The family had moved to the United States for work, stayed 2 years and then returned to Port Pirie (SA). Bob was the eldest of two children in the family, both boys. His younger brother was 10 years his junior 

Bob attended school at Port Pirie until year 12.  His father wanted him to seek employment at the Port Pirie Smelter; however, Bob continued his education in Business Management skills and accounting.

Bob enlisted in the RAAF on 24 Apr 1941 and went to Adelaide for processing before undertaking his training and being posted to No. 458 Squadron (Sqn) RAAF.

No. 458 Sqn was formed at Williamtown (NSW) on 10 July 1941.  In early Aug 1941, the 37 airmen (of which Bob was one) then sailed for the UK where they joined additional personnel from across the British Commonwealth being gathered at Holmes-on-Spalding Moor (UK). The Sqn was equipped with Vickers Wellington medium bombers, and as part of No. 1 Group Bomber Command, commenced operations over German-occupied Europe on 20 Oct 1941. For the next three months the focus of the Sqn's operations was the strategic bombing campaign against Germany.

In Jan 1942 the Sqn was reallocated to Middle East Command. Its relocation was a chaotic affair: the air and ground crews were separated and the Sqn's aircraft were commandeered for operations by other Sqns from Malta, where they had stopped on their way to Egypt. Finally arriving in the Middle East, the Sqn's ground crew worked on the maintenance of bombers operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the United States Air Force (USAF), while the air crew were attached to 37, 70, 104, 108, and 148 Sqns RAF.

No. 458 Sqn was not reunited until 1 Sep 1942.

Based at El Shallufa (Egypt) the Sqn was re-equipped with Wellington bombers and trained in the techniques employed for attacking ships and submarines with both bombs and torpedoes. Henceforth, No. 458 Sqn's primary role was to seek out and attack enemy shipping in the Mediterranean Sea. In this role, its aircraft operated from airfields in Egypt, Malta, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Sardinia, Corsica, and Italy. The Sqn also undertook conventional bombing tasks, most notably in support of the Allied invasion of France in Aug 44.

No. 458 Sqn relocated for the final time, to Gibraltar, on 26 Jan 1945. From Gibraltar, the Sqn escorted Allied convoys in the western Atlantic, which included searching for German submarines. The Sqn continued with these tasks until the war in Europe ended on 8 May 1945. No. 458 Sqn was disbanded on 9 Jun 1945.

Bob flew a total of 42 missions with this unit and enjoyed good luck with his crew.

Bob returned to Adelaide and took his discharge on 12 Dec 1945. He then returned to Port Pirie and spent 2 years at home relaxing and enjoying his family. 

In 1948 the family moved to Port Lincoln and Bob took employ at Chas Geddes Hardware. After 2 years in this position he was offered a promotion to management of the store at Tumby Bay, thus the family moved again. They remained here from 1950 to 1959; during this time their family grew to 5, 3 girls and 2 boys.

In early 1960 the family moved to Adelaide where Bob remained until his death on 26 Nov 1967 at the age of 53. His ashes are interred in Centennial Park Cemetery, Adelaide. His wife died on 15 Sep 1987; her ashes are interred beside him.