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Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
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80 crest
21st July 1942 80 Squadron Hurricane IIB BN462 Fl/Sgt. Robb

Operation: Patrol

Date: 21st July 1942 (Tuesday)

Unit: No. 80 Squadron ((motto: 'Strike True') 244 Wing. 211 Group

Type: Hurricane IIB

Serial: BN462

Code: EY-?

Base: LG 92 Markaz Amriya, Egypt

Location: Marsa Matruh area

Pilot: Fl/Sgt. James Douglas Robb NZ/403989 RNZAF Age 22. Missing - believed killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 18:45 hrs on a patrol over El Alamein. 238 squadron Hurricanes were providing top cover.

After 25 minutes on the patrol both squadrons were attacked by enemy fighters. BN462 was thought to have been shot down crashing in the area of Marsa Matruh.

Sadly no trace of the pilot could be found.

Burial and personal details:

Fl/Sgt. James Douglas Robb. Alamein Memorial. Column 266. Born on the 20th July 1920 at Invergarville. A clerk for S'land Rarmers Co-op Association prior to service. Enlisted at Levin on the 27th October 1940. Trained in Canada with pilots badge and promotion to sergeant on the 09th June 1941. Conversion training to Hurricane at 52 Operational Unit before joining 135 squadron on the 25th August 1941. Then to 185 squadron on the 17th March 1942 where he completed 28 operational sorties. Flew a Hurricane off HMS Ark Royal for Malta on the 12th November 1942. Left for Egypt by a Sunderland on the 04th April 1942. Joined 73 Squadron on the 21st April 1942. Joining 80 squadron on the 20th May 1942. Flew a further 25 operational sorties, some with 73 squadron. Son of James and Margaret Warnock Robb, of Lochiel, Southland, New Zealand. A total of 313 flying hours logged with 53 operational sorties. Credited with 2/3 enemy aircraft destroyed with 1/3 damaged.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Jenifer Lemaire and to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, AWMM, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:

KTY 21-03-2021

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Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and Captain François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Andrew Mielnik: Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Polish graves: https://niebieskaeskadra.pl/, PoW Museum Żagań, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
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