Pilot Officer Robert Herbert Chapman RAAF
As mentioned on the Caterpillar Club page, several of the crew on ED559 had bailed out of a crippled Wellington bomber - number Ic X9876 of 27 OTU (a training squadron for Wellington bombers). On the 16 September 1942, 12 bombers were sent on a bombing mission to Essen. The area around the city was a "primary target" designated for area bombing by the February 1942 British Area bombing directive due to the large amount of industrial premises including the Krupp steel factory.
After taking off from RAF Lichfield at 1948 hours their aircraft sustained serious damage over Essen. Flak had destroyed the port aileron, causing Pilot Officer Curle immense handling problems. He initially thought the damage was bad enough to make preparations to bale out over enemy territory.
However, Pilot Officer Curle managed to coax the bomber back to England and the crew all baled out at approximately 0315 hours over Wiltshire. The Wellington crashed at Collingbourne Ducis in Wiltshire.
The bomb aimer on that op was Robert Herbert Chapman RAAF (412481). Chapman, aged 20, was a British citizen, born in Calcutta. He enlisted at Sydney's No. 2 Recruiting Centre on 19 July 1941. He then trained at No. 2 Air Observers School in December 1941 to March 1942, followed by No. 8 Bombing & Gunnery School between March and April 1942, and lastly a month at No.1 Air Navigation School finishing in May 1942.
On 15 June 1942 he embarked for Canada and then disembarked in the UK on 24 June and was then initially posted to 3 PRC in Bournemouth and was then posted to No. 27 OTU on 7 July 1942 and then posted to C flight of No. 460 (RAAF) Squadron (Conversion Flight to Halifax bomber) at Holme-on-Spalding Moor on 26 September and then as a member of No. 460 Squadron on 29 September.
Chapman was sadly killed on Sunday, October 25, 1942 whilst a patient at the RAF Officers' Hotel in the requisitioned Park Hotel in Torquay, Devon. From Australian war records Chapman arrived at the hospital on 20 October suffering from tonsillitis. The hospital was attacked by German aircraft as part of a tip and run attack. Though the building had large red crosses, it suffered severe damage when a 500kg bomb demolished one wing.
In issue 118 of the magazine After The Battle, issue 118, there is an in depth article about the bombing of the hospital. The magazine and also the Commonwealth War Graves Commission both have Chapman as a member of 460 Squadron.
After taking off from RAF Lichfield at 1948 hours their aircraft sustained serious damage over Essen. Flak had destroyed the port aileron, causing Pilot Officer Curle immense handling problems. He initially thought the damage was bad enough to make preparations to bale out over enemy territory.
However, Pilot Officer Curle managed to coax the bomber back to England and the crew all baled out at approximately 0315 hours over Wiltshire. The Wellington crashed at Collingbourne Ducis in Wiltshire.
The bomb aimer on that op was Robert Herbert Chapman RAAF (412481). Chapman, aged 20, was a British citizen, born in Calcutta. He enlisted at Sydney's No. 2 Recruiting Centre on 19 July 1941. He then trained at No. 2 Air Observers School in December 1941 to March 1942, followed by No. 8 Bombing & Gunnery School between March and April 1942, and lastly a month at No.1 Air Navigation School finishing in May 1942.
On 15 June 1942 he embarked for Canada and then disembarked in the UK on 24 June and was then initially posted to 3 PRC in Bournemouth and was then posted to No. 27 OTU on 7 July 1942 and then posted to C flight of No. 460 (RAAF) Squadron (Conversion Flight to Halifax bomber) at Holme-on-Spalding Moor on 26 September and then as a member of No. 460 Squadron on 29 September.
Chapman was sadly killed on Sunday, October 25, 1942 whilst a patient at the RAF Officers' Hotel in the requisitioned Park Hotel in Torquay, Devon. From Australian war records Chapman arrived at the hospital on 20 October suffering from tonsillitis. The hospital was attacked by German aircraft as part of a tip and run attack. Though the building had large red crosses, it suffered severe damage when a 500kg bomb demolished one wing.
In issue 118 of the magazine After The Battle, issue 118, there is an in depth article about the bombing of the hospital. The magazine and also the Commonwealth War Graves Commission both have Chapman as a member of 460 Squadron.
Grave of Robert Herbert Chapman RAAF in Torquay Cemetery.
P/O Chapman's movements
From the Australian archives (AUS412481) detailed info regrading Robert Herbert Chapman's training and movements.
Militia/AIF service.
5th Battalion (Heavy), Royal Australian Artillery (Militia) - 26-May-38 - 18-July-41
Enlisted RAAF.
2 Reception Centre, Sydney - 19-July-41
1 Initial Training School, Somers - 19-July-41
2 Embarkation Depot, Bradfield Park - 11-October-41
Pre-Embarkation Leave -
Embarked Sydney, S.S."Monterey" - 13-Novemebr-41
Disembarked San Francisco - 1-December-41
By rail to Canada
2 Air Observers' School, Edmonton - 4-December-41
8 Bombing & Gunnery School, Lethbridge (No.39[AO] Course) - 15-March-42
1 Air Navigation School, Rivers - 26-April-42
(Awarded Air Observers Badge - 25-April-42)
Discharged from RAAF under A.F.A 115/? on being granted a commission - 24-May-42
5 Manning Depot, Lachine - ?
Pre-Embarkation Leave - 25-May-42 - 5-June-42
1 "Y" Depot, Halifax - 8-June-42
RAF Training Pool - 14-June-42
Embarked Canada (Halifax) - 15-June-42
Disembarked UK - 24-June-42
3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth - 25-June-42
27 Operational Training Unit, Lichfield - 7-July-42
460 Sqn RAAF (Conversion Flight to Halifax Bombers), Holme-on-Spalding Moor - 26-July-42
460 Sqn RAAF, Holme-on-Spalding Moor - 29-July-42
Admitted to Officers' Hospital, Torquay (Tonsillitis) - 20-October-42
Killed in Fighter-Bomber attack on Torquay Hospital - 25-October-42
Militia/AIF service.
5th Battalion (Heavy), Royal Australian Artillery (Militia) - 26-May-38 - 18-July-41
Enlisted RAAF.
2 Reception Centre, Sydney - 19-July-41
1 Initial Training School, Somers - 19-July-41
2 Embarkation Depot, Bradfield Park - 11-October-41
Pre-Embarkation Leave -
Embarked Sydney, S.S."Monterey" - 13-Novemebr-41
Disembarked San Francisco - 1-December-41
By rail to Canada
2 Air Observers' School, Edmonton - 4-December-41
8 Bombing & Gunnery School, Lethbridge (No.39[AO] Course) - 15-March-42
1 Air Navigation School, Rivers - 26-April-42
(Awarded Air Observers Badge - 25-April-42)
Discharged from RAAF under A.F.A 115/? on being granted a commission - 24-May-42
5 Manning Depot, Lachine - ?
Pre-Embarkation Leave - 25-May-42 - 5-June-42
1 "Y" Depot, Halifax - 8-June-42
RAF Training Pool - 14-June-42
Embarked Canada (Halifax) - 15-June-42
Disembarked UK - 24-June-42
3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth - 25-June-42
27 Operational Training Unit, Lichfield - 7-July-42
460 Sqn RAAF (Conversion Flight to Halifax Bombers), Holme-on-Spalding Moor - 26-July-42
460 Sqn RAAF, Holme-on-Spalding Moor - 29-July-42
Admitted to Officers' Hospital, Torquay (Tonsillitis) - 20-October-42
Killed in Fighter-Bomber attack on Torquay Hospital - 25-October-42
