Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Richard Robert Whitaker, known also as Bob, was born in Geraldton Western Australia in September 1918 to parents Richard and Lilian Whitaker. Richard lived in Cottesloe, Perth with his family. On leaving school he worked as a clerk where he joined the Orient Steam Navigation Company becoming a shipping Clerk.
 
It was in August 1941 that Richard enlisted into the Royal Australian Air force (RAAF) in Perth conducting his training to become a pilot. He was 22 years of age when he enlisted. He achieved his pilot wings in April 1942 becoming a Pilot Officer. Shortly after he received his wings, he married Margaret Thomas where they reside in Mosman Park. It was about three months later that he embarked for overseas service.
 
On arrival in England Richard was posted to No 196 Squadron of the Royal Air Force (RAF) a British bomber squadron attached to Bomber Command flying two engine Wellington bombers against industrial centres within Europe. The squadron later received four engine Stirling heavy bombers.
 
In was on the 6th September 1943 that Richard was piloting a Stirling bomber type 111, number EE.964 call sign ZO-F, on an operation against Mannheim in Germany. Richard was the only Australian of the crew of eight which took off from its base in Witchford England at 8pm. The bomber and crew were never heard from again during the operation.
 
It was not until after the war that the only surviving member from the Stirling bomber, Sergeant Reginald Newman, the rear gunner who bailed out from the stricken bomber reported that it was at about 1pm the Stirling bomber crashed near the village of Bachenau with the seven other crew members killed, including Richard. Sergeant Newman was captured becoming a prisoner of war and interned in Stalag 4B prisoner of war camp at Muhlberg, Elbe.
 
Richard along with the six other crew members were buried in a communal grave in a local cemetery. It was not until after the war that all the crew members were exhumed and re interned next to each other in the Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany south of Munich. This cemetery contains 2934 Commonwealth burials.
 
Pilot Officer Richard Robert Whitaker was only 24 years of age and has not been forgotten.
 
His inscription on his head stone reads “God Shall Defend Thee Under His Wings”.