Graham David "Robbie" Robertson

_________________________________________________

Nazis Refuse to Come Up -
To Great Disappointment Of Young Canadian Flyers.
Veteran Vaughn Corbett, of Montreal, Leads Dominion Lads

R.A.F. Station Somewhere in England, July 23, 1941 —(CP)— The Royal Canadian Air Force Fighter Squadron, led by the veteran Vaughn Corbett, of Montreal, has moved closer to the new "sky front" over Nazi-occupied northern France and already has taken a nick out of the German air machine.
The squadron has taken part in one of Britain's smashing offensive sweeps on the other side of the English Channel, and the youthful flyers are aching to play a bigger part in the drives.
Sqdn.-Ldr. Corbett, who was shot down over London during the Battle of Britain last fall while he was with one of the Canadian fighter squadrons, said the "boys are keen to get into action, either as bomber escorts or in fighter sweeps over France."

"No Excitement"
"We went over on one sweep, but the Germans were afraid to come up and see us that day, and there was no excitement."
Since the squadron moved to this corner of the country, the airmen have been engaged on patrol flights over the channel protecting convoys from enemy air attack or ready to intercept German fighters attempting to fly inland over the English coast.
It was during two of these patrols that two German aircraft were damaged by members of the squadron Towards the end of June Sgt-Pilot Graham Robertson, of Toronto, son of Dr. D. E. Robertson, of Moose River mine disaster fame, damaged a Junkers 88, which made off towards France. Earlier, Flying Officer Bob Morrow, of Vancouver, was credited officially with damaging a German machine during a convoy patrol.
The shoe, though, almost was on the other foot for Corbett when he came back from another flight.
A Nazi airman swooped down on him as he was about to land at the airport, peppering him with cannon shells.
"I didn't see anything during the flight," Corbett said. "But this fellow nearly shot me down. He fired at me as I landed, but the shells missed me altogether, and a piece of shrapnel hit a British officer standing in the flare path."
Some of the airmen are newcomers to Britain and the squadron and, in the words of P.O. B. R. Walker, 23, of London, Ont., "haven't got into any mischief yet."
"But we're hopeful," interjected P.O. Jimmy Thompson, of Listowel, Ont.
P.O. David Smith, 22, of Toronto, felt the same way.
"I hope we get over France soon," he said. "That's what I'm waiting for, and it can't come too soon."
One of the most eager men in the squadron is Sgt.-Pilot B. D. Murchie, of St. Stephen, N.B., who was preparing to go up on his first patrol over the channel. At 20, he is one of the youngest flyers in the outfit.
"I taught school at St. George, N.B., for two years before I joined up," he said. "Things are a bit different now, but this is a dandy life."

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

RAF Sends 600 Planes Against Five Countries
Lose Only Five Per Cent of Attacking Force in 36-Hour Offensive

London, Sept. 22, 1941 — (CP Cable) — The Royal Air Force used more than 600 bombers and fighters in its great weekend offensive, authoritative sources said today in describing the 36-hour day and night blows against vital targets in five countries.

Four Lost Over Berlin
The successful attacks on targets scattered over Germany, Norway, Holland, Belgium and France were made with a loss of only about five per cent of the attacking force. The R.A.F. lost 20 fighters and seven bombers, four of them over Berlin.
Canadians have been playing a bigger role in the R.A.F.'s increasing offensive.
Sgt. Graham Robertson, of Toronto, son of Dr. D. E. Robertson, of Moose River fame; Sgt. George McClusky, of Kirkland Lake, Ont. and Flt.-Lt. Bob Morrow, of Vancouver, each got one Nazi plane while escorting a squadron of Blenheims in a sweep over northern France earlier in the week.
P.O. W. H. Pentland, of Calgary, and Sgt. K. B. Handley, of Sudbury, Ont., damaged two others in the same sweep.
One of the three Blenheim bombers lost in Saturday's big attacks was piloted by Sgt. Jack Nickleson, of Toronto, veteran of the biggest daylight attack on Cologne, in which he won his spurs. The youthful airman has been reported .missing and believed killed.
In mild retaliation for the ever-growing R. A. F. smashes, Nazi bombers dropped explosives last night on east and southeast coast points in England.
The R.A.F. started great fires at a power station near Bethune Sunday and swung as far inland in France as Lille, large industrial centre, where rail facilities were blasted.
The attack was the anniversary of the day a year ago when Britain's outnumbered fledglings carried their first mass offensive deep into Germany and along the Nazi held coast.
In churches, the anniversary was observed with prayers for the RA.F. Before taking off for the attacks, airmen participated in parades of commemoration at all air stations.

_________________________________________________

FIRST RCAF COMMUNIQUE MENTIONS OAKVILLE AIRMAN
Stories on Exploits of Canadian Flyers To Be Released
LEADER OF SQUADRON

Nov. 7, 1941 — Wing Cmdr. D. G. Morris, D.F.C., of Oakville, leading a Royal Canadian Air Force squadron in night fighting operations over Britain, destroyed three enemy aircraft, two of them within half an hour on one night, the air ministry announced last night.

Individual Deeds
This information, and an account of some other exploits of individual airmen overseas, was contained in the first official communiqué of the air ministry.
Air Minister Power, giving its content to the House of Commons, said it had been decided that communiqués dealing with activities of Canadian airmen would be issued from time to time.
The communiqué gave credit for two victories during offensive, sweeps over Nazi-held territory to Pilot Officer G. McClusky, of Sudbury, and Sergeant G. D. Robertson, of Toronto.
Of Wing Commander Morris' victories the communiqué said a "Dornier blew up in the air when hit by cannon fire from the wing commander's guns and pieces of it struck his own aircraft, putting one engine out of action. But he managed to return safely to his base on the remaining motor."
Also mentioned for outstanding work were Sergeant Rix, Flight Lieutenant F. W. Hillock, Toronto, and his observer, Sergeant L. G. Bell, of Montreal, and Pilot Officer Robert Wadds, of Toronto; Flight Lieutenant W. A. Anderson, of Winnipeg, and Sergeant-Pilot J. K. Abbott, of Toronto, and Wing Commander H. M. Tyles.

Communiqué
Following is the air ministry's communiqué No.1:
Daylight sweeps by fighter aircraft, escort duties during bombing raids on northern France, heavy night attacks on German territory, and large-scale attacks on enemy shipping have been included in recent activities of squadrons of the Royal Canadian Air Force overseas.
During offensive sweeps over Nazi-held territory one R.C.A.F. fighter squadron accounted for three Messerschmitt 109's and damaged a fourth. Another squadron, acting as escort for formations of Blenheim bombers in a successful raid on Mazingarbe, northern France, destroyed two enemy aircraft which tried to interfere. Credit for these two victories went to Pilot Officer G. McClusky, of Sudbury, Ont., and Sergeant G. D. Robertson, 3 Lambert Avenue, Toronto.
In night fighting operations over Britain, a Royal Canadian Air Force night fighter squadron, commanded by Wing Commander D. G. Morris, of Oakville, Ont. destroyed three enemy raiders and damaged a fourth. The three aircraft destroyed — a Junkers 88, Dornier 17 and Heinkel 111— were all shot down by Wing Commander Morris himself, two of them within half an hour on one night. The Dornier blew up in the air when hit by cannon fire from the wing commander's guns, and pieces of it struck his own aircraft, putting one engine out of action, but he managed to return safely to his base on the remaining motor.
Wing Commander Morris has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, and his observer, Sergeant Rix, has received the Distinguished Flying Medal. Credit for damaging the fourth raider is given Flight Lieutenant F. W. Hillock, 14 Walmsley boulevard, Toronto, and his observer, Sergeant L. G. Bell, of Montreal.
A bomber squadron of the R.C. A.F. took part in heavy raids, on Stettin, Hamburg, Essen and Ostend, successfully bombing the targets allotted to it.
Three veteran crews of this squadron were assigned to participate in a severe raid on Bavaria and reported that the target had been badly damaged.
In recent operations against enemy convoys off the coasts of Northern France, Holland and Denmark, a Royal Canadian Air Force squadron of the coastal command scored direct hits on supply ships and tankers.
Wing Commander H. M. Tyles, commander of the squadron, scored direct hits on at least three occasions and holds the high score in his squadron. Pilot Officer Robert Wadds, of Toronto, is credited with direct hits, along with Flight Lieutenant W. A. Anderson, Winnipeg, and Sergeant Pilot J. K. Abbott, of Toronto.
Two R.C.A.F. squadrons co-operated with the Imperial and Canadian armies in the recent maneuvers, recognized as the most extensive in the history of the British army.

_________________________________________________

Johnson Bags 2 More, Boosts His Total to 35

LONDON, July 5, 1944 - (CP) - Canadian Spitfire pilots, their 28-year-old English leader, Wing Cmdr. John E. (Johnny) Johnson again setting the pace, destroyed seven German aircraft over Normandy today, raising to 65 the number of enemy planes knocked down by Canadian fighter wings in one week. Johnson, leading Allied air ace in the European theatre, shot down two planes today to bring his score to 35. FO. R. T. McRobert of Calgary also got two "kills" in today's triumphant sweep by the Canadian fliers that followed their spectacular success of July 3 when they got 19 of the 21 German planes destroyed over Normandy that day. The Canadians shot down 13 planes on June 30, and 26 on June 28.
One aircraft was missing after the day’s operations by the Canadian fighters, which culminated an active 24 hours for airmen of the R.C.A.F. Canadian-manned Typhoon and Mustang fighter-bombers attacked bridges over the Orne and broke up a road leading to that river, while Bomber and Coastal Command crews also saw action, and intruders were out over France. Johnson's kills today brought his score to three more than the mark set during the Battle of Britain by Group Capt. A.G. (Sailor) Malan, who is not now on active operations, and the late Paddy Finucane, lost in action last year. Unofficially, Finucane was credited with 33 planes.
Lt.Col. Francis Gabreski, 25-year-old fighter pilot, today became the leading ace of the United States Air Forces when he shot down an Me-109 near Evreux, France, for his 28th victory. He now will take a delayed leave and go home to Oil City, Pa., to get married. He had postponed his departure until he broke the American record.
Air records also were broken in Russia, it was announced today. It was announced in Moscow that the record of 53 German planes shot down by Major Alexander Pokryshkin has been equaled by two other Soviet fliers, Lieut. Nikolai Gulayev and Capt. Gregory Rechkalov
Johnson recently returned to active operations at his own request after a period of ground duty during which he aided in the planning of aerial coverage of the invasion. He previously had command of a Canadian wing and was given another on his return to active flying, which he prefers to desk work. The Canadians now are flying new Spitfires, armed with twin cannon and four machine-guns in the wings.
Top Canadian fighter ace is Flt. Lt. George Beurling of Verdun,, Que., with 31 shot down, most of them over Malta. He now is back in Canada.

Little Opposition
Aircraft of the R.A.F. 2nd Tactical Air Force had flown nearly 500 sorties by 6 p.m. with little opposition. A train with 15 tanks aboard was left in columns of dust and debris by bomb and rocket carrying Typhoons operating from Normandy bases.
Flt. Lt. J. B. Kerr of Trenton, Ont., brought the number of aircraft destroyed in the air by the City of Edmonton Intruder Squadron to 90 when he shot down a JU-88 over Northern France early today. This squadron's grand total now is 136, including planes destroyed on the ground.
Three kills and several damaged, credited to R.C.A.F. airmen yesterday, also were reported tonight. Flt. Lt. H. C. Trainor, Charlottetown, P.E.I., got two German planes southeast of Caen, and shared in the destruction of a third with Sqdn. Ldr. G. D. Robertson of Toronto
McRobert's victims today were ME-109's. Both fell near Bernay.
Other kills yesterday were recorded by Flt. Lt. R. K. Hayward, St. John's, Nfld., who destroyed a FW-190, and damaged a FW-190 and a ME-109, and Flt. Lts. A. B. Whiteford, Midnapore, Alta., and R. S. Hyndman, Belleville, Ont., each damaged a ME-109.
In an attack on shipping early today, FO. J. H. A. Senecal of Rosetown, Sask., saw three bombs from his plane explode on an armed auxiliary off Dunkerque. Pieces of wreckage flew in all directions.

_________________________________________________

ROBERTSON, S/L Graham David (J15113) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.411 Sq.
Award effective 20 October 1944 as per London Gazette of that date and
AFRO 2637/44 dated 8 December 1944.

Squadron Leader Robertson's keenness and enthusiasm to engage the enemy have been an inspiration to all those under his command. He has completed a second tour of operational duty during which he has been responsible for the destruction of a large number of enemy vehicles and other targets on the ground. He has destroyed four enemy aircraft.

_________________________________________________

15 CANADIANS NAMED IN LIST FOR AIR HONORS

Ottawa, Oct. 19, 1944 - (CP) - Air Force headquarters announced tonight 15 awards to members of the RCAF serving overseas, including one Distinguished Service Order, 11 Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Distinguished Flying Medals and one British Empire Medal, Ontario winners of the DSO and DFM are named in the following list of recipients:

DSO
Wing Cmdr. G. C. Keefer, DFC and Bar, Charlottetown.
DFC
Sqdn. Ldr. G. D. Robertson, 3 Lamport Ave., Toronto.
Sqdn. Ldr. J. D. Somerville, Parry Sound.
Flt. Lt. G. Johnson, 102 Beechwood Ave., Hamilton.
Flt. Lt. G. E. Mott, Sarnia.
FO. B. W. Prange, Kitchener.
PO. S. A. Simmons, Copper Cliff.
DFM
PO, H. W. Robinson, Fenelon Falls.
BEM (MILITARY DIVISION)
PO. E. S. Neill, 347 Campbell Ave., Windsor.

Wing Cmdr. Keefer received the DSO for outstanding work on operations since receiving his Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross. Under his leadership 40 aircraft have been destroyed, eight of which he accounted for personally.
PO. Neill received the British Empire Medal for "exceptional coolness and courage" while rescuing his comrades after their aircraft had crashed on landing and burst into flames. On the same occasion he rescued two women and two children trapped in a nearby house set on fire by the crash.

_________________________________________________

Victories Include :

_________________________________________________

See photos :
PL-30263 (perched on Army truck with two soldiers).                       
PL-4662 Sgt KB Handley congratulates Robertson for his 1st success

_________________________________________________

--- Canadian Aces ---

_______________________________________________