Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

P/O Robert Kelvin Allen, the son of Robert Hartley Allen and Daisy Maud (nee Cole), was born in Port Douglas, Queensland, Australia. He attended Scots College, Warwick, Queensland and later was employed as a Clerk in the Queensland Treasury Department.
P/O Allen enlisted on 5 January 1941 and after graduating from Amberley, went to Tamworth Flying School and secured an A.A. course. Returning to Amberley he secured the highest points, 2238, for all examinations, and topped 44 trainees in the No. 3 Service Flying Training School.
Securing his wings and commissioned rank, P/O Allen was transferred to Townsville in August 1941. A month later he was sent to Laverton for a navigation and reconnaissance course, and then transferred to Darwin in December.
Serving with 13 Squadron, he was killed on operations over the Netherlands East Indies on 1 January 1942 whilst flying a Hudson aircraft which had been sent on a mission to locate shipping. Flying back low at 100 metres to avoid detection by the Japanese, his starboard engine failed and although he made an attempt to jettison his bombs and gain some height, his aircraft stalled and crashed. F/O Turnbull and two others were killed.

Magistrate's Son
Killed In Action
Mr. and Msr. R. H. Allen, of Townsville, have been informed that on January 1, last, their second son, Robert Kelvin Allen, who was aged 25 years, was killed on active service in an aircraft accident at  Laha, N.E.I.
Mr. Allen, who now is Stipendiary Magistrate at Townsville, formerly filled that post at Innisfail, where, with Mrs. Allen, he has many friends who will extend the bereaved parents and their family sincere  sympathy upon the loss of a galant young Australian.