GRAVES, Robert Stanley
| Service Number: | 41326 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 16 June 1941, Melbourne, Vic. |
| Last Rank: | Flying Officer |
| Last Unit: | Air Force Headquarters |
| Born: | Kyabram, Victoria, Australia, 9 May 1921 |
| Home Town: | Merbein, Mildura Shire, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Manager, Shoe Shop, W Bowring & Co., Mildura, Victoria, Australia |
| Died: | Flying Battle, New Guinea, 21 August 1943, aged 22 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Ambon Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Kyabram & District Honour Roll WW2, Kyabram & District Memorial Community Hospital Honour Roll, Kyabram & District R.S.S. & A.I.L.A. Honour Roll, Kyabram Memorial Walkway, Kyabram Methodist Church WW2 Memorial Plaque, Merbein Memorial Gates |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Flying Officer, 41326 | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Jun 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 41326, Air Force Headquarters, Melbourne, Vic. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Mari Walker
Son of George and Ethel Gertrude Graves, of Merbein, Victoria, Australia.
Robert Stanley Graves enlisted in June 1941, serving with 23 Squadron flying Wirraways from October 1942 until April 1943. He also served in various other units before joining 31 Squadron in June 1943.
On 21 August 1943, seven aircraft were detailed to carry out an attack on a float plane base at Taberfane, Aroe Islands. The aircraft took off in formation and when they arrived at their target, a bi-plane type float plane had just become airborne from its base and was observed by the pilots of A19-47 and A19-63. Both planes converged on the float plane which resulted in a collision between the aircraft with both planes catching fire and crashing into the sea, about 4000 feet off Taberfane Village. Both aircraft sank and no survivors were seen by the remaining aircraft. F/O Graves was in Beaufighter A19-63 along with F/O VC Leithhead.
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