Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Robert Eric Davey was born in Salisbury in South Australia in 1925. The son of Robert and Beatrice Davey. Hence he was named after his father.

Bob as he would have been called, attended Black Forest Primary School. He then progressed to Prince Albert College in Adelaide.

He aspired to be a Dentist at some point but found that the academics were a bit steep. Hence he decided to accept an apprenticeship as a Dental Mechanic.

He likely aspired to establish his own specialist business in the longer term.

However, he put his commercial ambition on hold to render overseas service. RAAF was his first choice. 

He volunteered for RAAF Aircrew in 1942. However was not accepted for Aircrew recruit enlistment until early 1943.

Following RAAF Aircrew appitude sorting, he was found to lack sufficient appitude to proceed with RAAF Pilot Training.

Hence he was streamed for RAF Bomber Command as a specialist. He would serve in the Wireless Operator and Air Gunner roles.  

He did his initial training Australia before being sent to the U.K. for advanced training. He served in various RAF Heavy Bomber training units before being posted to No. 460 Sqn RAAF.  

The end of the war was in sight when he departed for what was his first operational training mission in that famous RAAF Squadron. The outwart leg was uneventful and before long he returning to his RAF home base.  

RAAF Avro Lancaster NG502 AR-J was close to its RAF Binbrook home base when it was ambushed by a Ju-88G Night Figher. The intruder that had been lurking near their Lincolnshire RAF base.

The German Night Fighters had changed tactics due to Allied Air Supremacy. The Luffwaffe High Command called their new missions to ambush returning RAF Bombers near their U.K. bases, "Operation Geisela".

Bob was one of two RAAF Lancaster NG502 AR-J Aircrew KIA. He was the Wireless Operator. Hence his duties required him to transmit position before bailing out.

It was 01:30 hours on Sunday, 4th March 1945 when the Ju-88G intuder attacked NG502. The German pilot was flying back at tree top level, when 15 minutes later he struck power lines and crashed. 

The four man Ju-88G who were killed were interred in the Commonwealth War Cemetery at Scampton with appropriate military honours as is HM Forces custom. 

The RAAF Lancaster NG502 Airmen killed, including 437403 FSGT Davies, R.E. were interred with full military honours in Commonweath War Cemetery graves in the Cambridge City Cemetery.

Reference links provided.