Squadron Leader D. Stewart Robertson was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and joined the RAF in 1937. He served with 51Sqd. And 78 Sqd, completing his tour on Whitleys in November, 1940. He was awarded the DFC for his service during 1940 that included flying on the first raids to Berlin and the first raid against Italy. He was then assigned to #24 CAOS at Moffat, Rhodesia.
Following his return from Africa, S/L Robertson began training as a Stirling pilot on December 22, 1942. Just one month later he commenced operations with 149 Squadron which was based at Lakenheath in Suffolk. His crew was made up of F/O W. Beardsworth (navigator), F/Sgt W. Diamond (wireless/operator), Sgt. A. Smith (bomb aimer/front gunner) , Sgt. L. Arnold (mid-upper gunner), Sgt. J.H. Tales (flight engineer, and Sgt. S.E. Silvey (rear gunner). Stew was immediately placed in charge of "B" Flight, one of two groups within the squadron.
Bombing operations had changed dramatically from what Stew had experienced in 1940. Not only was the aircraft he was flying two and a half times as heavy as the Whitley, the raids now involved several hundred aircraft flying against a single target in a concentrated stream in an attempt to overwhelm the defences with their numbers.
His second operation with 149 Squadron must have been memorable. After the target was marked by the Pathfinders, 263 aircraft bombed Hamburg. Stew's reported that he bombed on "Sky Marker Flares" which would have been dropped by the Pathfinder Force which at this time in the war was marking targets for the main force aircraft. The crew saw, "red fires under the clouds over an area of twenty miles." His crew was one of the lucky ones as a staggering twelve percent (eight of the sixty-six Stirlings on the raid) were lost, almost all to enemy night-fighters.
Weather conditions were not good that night and the squadron operations record book reports that six of the thirteen aircraft dispatched by 149 Squadron returned early due to severe icing. As well, the enemy fighters were active and effective. S/L Roberston noted, "engaged Luftwaffe" in his logbook.
The "combat report" filed by his gunners elaborated on Stew's rather succinct logbook entry. Sgt's Silvey, Arnold, and Smith reported as follows: "Our a/c was flying at 14,000 feet when attacked three miles east on Maffan. The enemy aircraft was not seen and the first indication of the attack was tracer coming from below and astern. Before, during, and after the attack, the enemy aircraft was not sighted by our crew. The enemy aircraft opened fire at point blank range, as far as it is possible to ascertain, and fired two bursts. It is thought by our crew that the attacking aircraft was right below and slightly to port."
"Violent evasive action was taken as soon as the enemy aircraft opened fire, consisting of a steep diving turn to starboard whilst at 14,000 feet. The Stirling was pulled out at 9,500 feet. During this action the enemy aircraft was lost." "Our aircraft was hit in the port wing, port outer engine, and port outer propeller. Splinters also entered the aircraft around the pilot's seat. The port outer engine became u/s and the a/c had to return on three engines. There were no casualties on the crew."
The "evasive action" taken by S/L Robertson would have involved dropping the starboard wing and placing the Stirling into a near vertical dive for 4500 feet. Clearly this must have been a terrifying experience for all on board.
For two and one half hours Stew flew the aircraft on three engines. This, and the recovery from the dive, would have involved a considerable physical effort as the controls were manual with no hydraulic assistance. He recalled that his arms were sore for a long period of time after they returned to base and he successfully landed the damaged aircraft.
W/C Robertson's aircraft was attacked by a Luftwaffe pilot who exploited the "blind spot" of all of the RAF bombers. The fighters would slowly place themselves in position from below the bomber where the mid-upper and rear gunners could not see the aircraft. The enemy aircraft may even have been equipped with 20 mm cannons mounted on the fighter in an upward firing angle although this technique was not common until later in 1943.
Two nights later Stew flew a "gardening stooge" in the vicinity of the Friesien Islands. "Gardening" was the term used for dropping mines into waters frequented by enemy shipping and a stooge was a diversionary raid which, it was hoped, would divert the attention of enemy fighters away from the main bomber force. Of the nineteen Stirlings sent on the "stooge," two failed to return.
W/C Robertson's next operation was on February 26th and again he returned on, and landed with, only three engines operating. This time however it was due to mechanical problems.
On February 28th, W/C Robertson flew on the largest raid in which he had participated when he was one of 437 aircraft which caused widespread damage to an enemy submarine base at St. Nazaire. Stew's report noted "Visibility good. Red markers in bomb sight, and concentrated fires seen in target area."
Stew's forty-fourth and last operation was his longest Stirling flight, a six hour and fifty-one minute trip to Berlin and back. 149 Squadron sent six Stirlings as part of a 302 aircraft raid which caused more damage to the enemy capital than any previous raid. Stew's report stated that, "The glow of the fires were visible from Hanover, 150 miles away. The loss rate, however, was 5.6% including four of the fifteen Stirlings dispatched and two of the six from Stew's squadron.
S/L Robertson's last Stirling flight was a formation exercise on March 18th. He was posted to No. 81 Operational Training Unit effective March 25, 1943.
F/0 H. W. Beardsworth (navigator),
S/L Robertson's 149 Squadron crewmembers included:
Sgt. J.H. Tales (flight engineer),
F/S W.A. Diamond (wireless operator),
Sgt. A. Smith (bomb aimer/front gunner),
Sgt. L. Arnold (mid-upper gunner),
Sgt. S.E. Silvey (rear gunner).
149 Squadron aircraft were marked "OJ".
The following operations were flown by S/L Robertson with 149 Squadron. They were the 39-44th of his career.
#39 -23/01/43 Lorient (aircraft OJ-P) (5:35) one of 121 aircraft; claimed successful bombing; one Stirling lost
#40 -03/02/43 Hamburg (aircraft OJ-N) (5:45) one of 263 aircraft; target marked by Pathfinders; 6.1% of force, including eight of 66 Stirlings were lost, most to night fighters; DSR log notes: "Engaged Luftwaffe"
#41 -05/02/43 Mining Stooge (aircraft OJ-Q) (3:40) two of 19 Stirlings dropping mines in the Frisian Islands were lost; (Stooge means the mining was also a diversionary flight to confuse the defences)
#42 -26/02/43 Cologne (aircraft OJ-R) (4:00) one of 427 aircraft; 2.2 % lost
#43 -28/02/43 St. Nazaire (aircraft OJ-V) (5:20) one of 437 aircraft which attacked U-Boat base port; raid was reported to have caused widespread destruction
#44 -01/03/43 Berlin (aircraft OJ-V) (6:55) one of 302 aircraft; loss rate 5.6% including four of 60 Stirlings; caused more damage than any previous raid to Berlin
*The aircraft flown on S/L Roberstons' last two operations (OJ-V) was Stirling III BK696. This is the same aircraft that Dave Giacomelli's father, F/Sgt. Jake "Fritz" Giacomelli, was aboard the night it was destroyed - CLICK HERE for account of that mission, where they bailed out.
© COPYRIGHT 2001 - Dave Birrell (author) - dbirrell@telusplanet.net
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