Pilot Officer Norman Robinson (1917 1943) Killed in Action, World War II By James Robinson M.Phil. World War II was the most destructive war in world history. It claimed the lives of some 55 million people. At least 17 million Soviet people died together with three million more, who died as prisoners of war. British military casualties numbered some 326,000 plus over 60,000 civilians, almost 90% of the latter total dying in bombing raids 1. The ambitions of Germany, Japan and Italy to expand their national boundaries led to World War II. Hitler and Germany wished to dominate Central Europe and to reduce Poland and the USSR to vassal states. Hito and Japan sought domination over China and South East Asia. Mussolini and Italy coveted the Balkan states and the Mediterranean region. The League of Nations, primarily represented by Britain and France, attempted to appease the Axis powers. These efforts failed and when Germany invaded Poland, World War II began when Britain and France declared war on Germany on September 1, 1939 2. The Free State of Ireland, or Eire, remained neutral throughout the war. It is estimated that some 80,000 southern Irishmen fought with the allies during this conflict 3. This is the story of one such Irishman, Norman John Robinson, from Newberry Hall, Carbury, Co. Kildare. Born on May 21 1917, Norman was the second of three children born to John Robinson (1884 1966) and his wife Margaret, nèe Bodkin (1886 1959). As the name suggests, Newberry Hall is a demesne with a Palladian-style redbrick-fronted residence that dates from about 1760. It was supposedly designed by Nathaniel Clemence. The demesne was the country residence of Arthur Pomeroy, who married Maria Colley from nearby Castlecarbury in 1747. He was an M.P. for 22 years in the Irish House of Commons, who supported the Duke of Leinster s party and opposed the Act of Union. In 1783, Arthur attained the peerage as Baron Harberton 4 and in 1791, was advanced to the viscountcy of Harberton. In 1840, the ownership of the estate passed to Edward Wolstenholme and it was he who added the term Hall to Newberry. William Pilkington acquired ownership in 1870 and in 1911 the estate was purchased by Richard Robinson (1852 1912). At this time, the estate totaled 583 acres. An interesting feature of the Newberry Estate is that it is the source of the River Boyne, famous in Irish history as the site of the famous battle in 1690 at Donore, near Drogheda 5. Like his siblings, Norman Robinson was educated at home until he attended Clongowes Wood College, near Clane, Co. Kildare in 1928. Having obtained his Leaving Certificate, he left in 1935. At school he captained the 2 nd Division at rugby and won a - 1 -
silver medal for essays. Anecdotal evidence tells of his setting up as a bookmaker and taking bets on horse racing. Norman Robinson had strong family ties to Clongowes Wood College. His uncle Richard John Robinson, who died as a student of Clongowes in 1900, is commemorated by a plaque 6, inscribed in Latin, which is situated outside the boys chapel. Norman s English teacher was Fr. Mathias Bodkin, his uncle, who was prefect of studies. James Laurence Carew (1850 1903), Parnellite M.P. and second cousin of Norman s grandfather Richard Robinson, also attended the college. In the year of his death, 1903, he was appointed Sheriff of Kildare 7. Curiously, Richard, Norman s grandfather, was High Sheriff of King s County in 1908, when he resided at Jonestown, Edenderry, prior to his purchase of Newberry Hall 8. Norman s father and brother also attended Clongowes, as have his extended family down to the present day. By coincidence, Norman Robinson s maternal grandfather, Mathias Bodkin (1849 1933), was also a Member of Parliament at Westminster. He was elected for the Roscommon North Division on the Anti-Parnellite side in 1892. His accounts of the election campaign are a rare report on the rivalries during this turbulent time in Irish politics. The shillelagh of one of Bodkin s supporters flew like a flail and at every stroke, a policeman went down. Mathias Bodkin, who was also a noted journalist, author, barrister and judge, presented his election blackthorn stick to his grandson and it bears the inscription: To Norman Robinson from the North Roscommon Election 9. On completion of his secondary education, Norman returned to live and work on his family holding at Carbury. By 1939, he was employed as a shift supervisor at a nearby peat fuel company at Kilpatrick. He was now approaching his 22 nd year. His diary for this year contains the following representative cross-section of entries: Saturday January 7: Got petrol in morning and backed a couple of horses, one of which won. Had a second shift of 66 tons. Keeping press on until 12.00. On Sunday January 8 he wrote: A nose like a battered and leaky eave-gutter on a wet evening, overhung by a rotten thatch of hair For January 26 the entry reads: Fair run. Larry Daly was hit by a briquette in the eye, and after bringing him to nurse and doctor, sent him to Eye and Ear Hosp. Very cold. On February 28 he wrote: Left car at Corrigan s in morning and as a result, had to bike to factory in a blizzard. Position as regards factory very critical. For March 19 Norman entered: - 2 -
Late Mass, Derrinturn. Shot a couple of crows off wheat with Dad and mowed both tennis courts. On April 19 he wrote: Given a weeks notice and all men left go from factory. On April 26 he entered: Last day at factory. For May 12 the entry reads: Went to factory but no news. Put down two more lots of pheasant s eggs. Got two rats at hen house Sunday May 21 was Norman s birthday and he wrote: My birthday. Got 150 cigarettes and fountain pen from Nora. Late mass, Derrinturn. Later tried Bourke s and Carbury Hill for fox but no luck, though we saw one. On June 3 he wrote: Went to holy communion. Found that hen s had deserted pheasant s eggs due to outbreak of fleas. For July 8 the diary reads: Went over to tennis at Brown s with MOFs (More O Ferralls). Good tennis but lots of old fogies stayed to supper and not home til 12.30. On August 3 the entry reads: News that war broke out between Germany and Poland. Stacking oats in arch field. For October 1 st the diary records: Late mass, Derrinturn. Very long-winded with Dead List. Got three rabbits, a partridge and a corncrake in Coonagh. At the end of the diary, Norman records that he received 4-8-7 per week in pay when he worked for the Peat Company. From his 1939 diary, it is obvious that Norman was an avid sportsman who loved game hunting and shooting, as was his great interest in tennis and horse racing. His job loss is a feature of this diary, as is his diligence in attendance to his religious duties. It is ominous that the only external entry tells of the start of the World War II, an event which would ultimately decide Norman Robinson s fate. Norman s diary of 1940 continues in the same vein as the previous year. For February 22 he wrote: - 3 -
Spent most of the day fencing. Report in paper that 44,000 granted to the peat fuel company. Wrote to turf board. I am sure he hoped that the factory would, as a consequence, reopen. On June 6 he wrote: Sent in my name for the army. Friday June 28 read: Went to Curragh for my medical examination, but rejected on account of thumb. For August 9 the diary reads: Wrote to Eva and re job. Sold rifle for 2. The significant entry in his 1940 diary is Norman s rejected application to join the Irish army due to a thumb injury. In 1940, also, he joined the local security force (LSF). In May 1941, Norman joined the Royal Air Force as a volunteer aircrew member. From a posting in England in August to November, he then went to Canada and from there to Alabama, U.S.A. in December 1941. Next, he was posted to Florida and from there, to Terrell, Texas from February to August 1942. His log book lists his training aircraft as a P.T.18. His training included climbs, glides, coordinates, stalls and spins, take-offs, landings and instruments, not to mention night-flying. On March 17, Norman flew solo for the first time from Terrell to Sherman and back again. At this stage, his total flying hours were 26 hours and 28 minutes. By May 8 1942, his flying total was 69 hours 23 minutes flying time. His 9 th posting was to Canada and from there, he returned to Britain. Numerous other locations ended with Norman s final posting to Bardney, with 9 Squadron, in May 1943. From then on, he flew the Lancaster aircraft, the type he would fly during his entire Bomber Command operations. On March 19 1943, Norman recorded in his diary his pay as Paid 8 and previously on March 5 he wrote, Pay 7. On May 27 1943, Norman Robinson flew his first Bomber Command Mission to Essen, Germany. He was second pilot to flight Ft. Lt. Meyers in a Lancaster 3 bomber aircraft. This operation involved some 518 aircraft and included 274 Lancasters, 151 Halifaxes, 81 Wellingtons and 12 Mosquitoes. The weather was cloudy and sky marking was used, with many aircraft undershooting with consequent limited damage inflicted. Norman s logbook for this mission reads: Ops. Essen. Good trip. 4000 H.E. 40 x 90 incend. Norman s diary for this operation reads: 2 nd dicky trip to Essen. All 9Squadron ok. 5.00. German statistics reveal that 488 buildings were destroyed, 196 people were killed and 547 were injured. Bombs fell on ten surrounding Ruhr towns. The Allied casualties - 4 -
were 23 aircraft lost, which included 11 Halifaxes, 6 Lancasters, 5 Wellingtons and 1 Mosquito. These losses comprised 4.4% of the attacking force 10. Two nights later, on May 29 1943, Norman took part in his second bombing mission, when he was first pilot on a Lancaster 1 bomber, which attacked Wuppertal. This operation involved some 719 aircraft and was the outstanding success of the Battle of the Ruhr. According to German sources, five out of the six largest factories, 211 other premises and almost 4000 homes were destroyed. It is estimated that 3,400 people were killed in this raid. Norman s log book records: Ops. Wuppertal. 4000lb. H.E. 90 x 40 incend. Photo of fires and smoke. Losses of 4.6% of the aircraft that took part in this operation were recorded and included 7 Lancasters 11. His personal diary for this venture reads: Wuppertal 6.25. Frank on 2 nd deck. All 9Squad ok. June 11 was the next operation for this crew, when Düsseldorf was the target. 783 aircraft took part in this operation. This was the most damaging raid of the war on this city. Some 130 acres of property were destroyed. Norman s logbook for his Lancaster 3 bomber records: Ops. Dusseldorf. 1 x 4000 H.C. 4 x 500lb. 12 x 8 x 30 incend. Good trip. Photo plotted. His diary for this operation reads: Ops. Dusseldorf. 4.30. Photo plotted. 9 squad ok. 4.9% of the aircraft involved were lost on this mission and included 14 Lancasters 12. June 12 the following night was the next mission for Norman and his crew. This time, the operation was to Bochum. 503 aircraft took part. The target was completely cloudcovered but accurate Oboe sky marking enabled the bombing force to cause severe damage, with daylight photographs showing some 130 acres of destruction. Norman Robinson s Lancaster 3 logbook states: Ops. Bochum. 1 x 4000 H.C. 12 x 8 x 30 incend. His diary reads: 40 N.F.T. Ops. Bochum. 4.50. German losses were recorded at 312 people killed, with 449 buildings destroyed. Allied losses amounted to 4.8% of the strike force and included 14 Lancasters 13. The next day, June 13, Norman returned home to Carbury via London, on leave. He notes on June 19 in his diary: - 5 -
Dick (his brother) home. Confession. He returned to Bardney on June 22 nd. June 24 to Wuppertal was the next bombing operation for this crew. Again, Norman was 1 st pilot in a Lancaster 3 bomber. Some 630 aircraft took part and included 251 Lancaster bombers. 1,800 people were killed, 2,400 were injured and damage was done to 171 industrial premises. 3,000 homes were destroyed. Norman s log book reads: Ops. Wuppertal. 1 x 4,000 H.C. Good trip. Photo fires. 5.4% allied aircraft were lost, which included 8 Lancasters 14. His diary reads: N.F.T. 1.20. Ops Wuppertal 5.15 On June 28 this crew took part in a raid on Cologne, in which 608 aircraft took part. This mission included 267 Lancasters. This was Cologne s worst raid of the war. German sources tell that 43 industrial, 6 military and 6,348 other buildings were destroyed. Almost 1,500 other buildings were damaged. Cologne Cathedral was seriously damaged also. Casualties were reckoned at 4,377 people killed, 10,000 injured and 230.000 people were forced to leave their homes. The number of dead was greater than any other Bomber Command raid of the war on any target. Norman s log book states: Ops Cologne. Good trip but late on target. Wanganui. 1 x 4,000 H.C. 1 x 500 incend. Leaflets. His diary reads: 0.33 N.F.T. Ops Cologne 5.20. Losses totaled 4.1% of the strike force and included 8 Lancasters. 15 The reference to Wanganui may mean Wangerooge one of the Frisian Islands. In 1939 a German radar station had detected Allied Wellington bombers and had shot down 12 out of 22 attacking aircraft 16. Norman took part with his crew, in their next operation, on July 3 to Cologne. The raid consisted of 653 aircraft, of which 293 were Lancasters. It resulted in 20 industrial premises and 2,200 houses being destroyed. Casualties included 588 people killed, 1,000 injured and 72,000 people bombed out of their homes. Norman s log book states: Ops Cologne. 1 x 4,000. 4 x 500. 4 x 30lb. Incend. Photo dense smoke and fires. His diary records: 1.00 N.F.T. (v) Ops Cologne 6 hrs. Photos from Rita.3 Losses amounted to 4.6% and included 8 Lancasters. 17-6 -
Gelsenkirchen on July 9 th was the next operation for this crew. The strike force totaled 418 aircraft and included 218 Lancasters. This raid was not a success due to oboe equipment failure. Overall damage was light and fatalities were estimated at 41 people killed. Norman s log book reads: Ops Gelsenkirchen. 1 x 4,000. 4 x 500. 4 x 30lb. Incend. Wanganui. No camera. His diary reads: Ops Gelsenkirchen. 6.35. Again, as on June 28 th, he references Wanganui, which, I believe, refers to the Frisian Islands. Wangerooge controlled the approach to the ports of Bremen and Willhelmshaven. On this mission, 18 aircraft were detailed to mine-lay on the Frisian Islands without loss. Allied fatalities were 2.9% of the strike force and included 5 Lancasters. 18 On July 12 Norman commanded a unit in a bombing mission to Turin. This raid involved 295 Lancasters. 4.4% of the strike force, or 13 Lancasters, were lost in this operation. Italian reports state that 792 people were killed, with 914 people injured. This was Turin s highest number of fatalities, suffered from air raids undertaken by Bomber Command during the war. Norman s log book reads: Ops Turin. Early return due to engine failure off French Coast. 4,000lb jettisoned. 19 His diary for this operation reads: Boomerang from Turin. Ops 3.45. Hamburg on July 24 th was the target for this crew in their Lancaster 3 Bomber. 791 aircraft took part and included 347 Lancasters. 2,284 tons of bombs were dropped in 50 minutes. Fatalities numbered 1500 people killed. Norman s log book for this operation reads: Ops Hamburg. Good trip. 1 x 4,000. 4 x 500 incend. F/E + nav out through oxygen lack over target. Plotted ¾ m A.P. Photo Fires. Losses were 1.5% of the strike force and included 4 Lancasters. 20 His diary reads: Ops Hamburg. 5.25. This Lancaster 3 bomber and crew next took part in a bombing raid on Hamburg on July 29. There were 777 aircraft involved and included 340 Lancasters. Some 707 bombers dropped 2,318 tons of bombs in this operation. Fatalities numbered 370 people killed in a single incident. Norman s log book for this raid reads: - 7 -
Ops Hamburg. Nice trip rear turret U/S. 1 x 4,000 H.C. 4 x 30lb. Incends. Plotted 1½m from A.P. Losses were 3.6% of the strike force and included 11 Lancasters 21. His diary records: 0.35 N.F.T. v Ops Hamburg 5.00. Paid 9.10 Norman s diary records for August 2 nd 1943: 0.45 Monica test. The term monica refers to a radar device fitted to Allied bombers, which detected enemy aircraft approaching from the rear. 22 This crew next saw Bomber Command action on August 15 th when Milan was the target. The strike force comprised totally of Lancaster bombers and totaled 199 aircraft. Norman s logbook reads: Ops Milan. Very easy trip. Aiming point. No gee. 7 aircraft were lost on this mission 23. His diary reads: Mass + H.C. 0.45 N.F.T. Ops Milan 8.00 v. Two days later, on August 17, this crew took part in a raid on Peenemünde. Their Lancaster was one of 324 planes of this type, which comprised a total strike force of 596 aircraft. This was a special raid against the German research establishment, where the V- 2 rockets were built and tested. 560 aircraft dropped 1800 tons of bombs and it is estimated that the v-2 programme was set back at least two months. Norman s log book reads: Ops Peenemunde. Good trip. 8 x 1,000. 5 x 500. Photo fires & smoke. German fatalities numbered 180 killed together with approximately 600 Polish workers. 6.7% of the strike force were lost and included 23 Lancasters. 24 Norman s diary entry reads: Ops Peenemunde. 6.35 On August 22, Norman and his crew plus F/O English took part in a raid on Leverkusen. Their Lancaster was one of 257 which were part of strike force that totaled 462 aircraft. Cloud covered the target, which resulted in bombs falling over a wide area. 40 people were reported killed. Norman s log book for this operation reads: Ops Leverkusen. Unable to identify target due to cloud. Photo fires. - 8 -
3 Lancasters were lost, in which 1.1% of the strike force was casualties 25. At this stage, Norman s flying experience totaled 504 hours. Norman s diary reads: Mass 9.30. Ops Leverkusen 4.45 Nuremberg on August 27 was the next mission in which this crew took part. 674 aircraft participated and included 349 Lancasters. The target was cloud free but very dark. Bomber Command estimate that most of the bombing fell in open countryside. 65 people were killed. Norman s log book reads: Nuremberg. Good trip. Photo smoke and fires. 1 x 4000 + incends. His diary simply reads: Ops Nuremberg. 7.30 v. 4.9% of the strike force were lost and included 11 Lancaster bombers. 26 On August 31 st Norman Robinson and his crew took part in a raid on Berlin. 622 aircraft were involved and included 331 Lancasters. The raid was not successful, with the pathfinder flairs being dropped well short of target. 66 civilians and 2 soldiers were killed, 109 people were injured and 2,784 were bombed out of their homes. Norman s log book reads: Ops Berlin. Good trip. 1 x 4,000 + incends. No photo flash carried. His diary reads: Ops Berlin. 7.30 Y. Losses totaled 7.6% of the bomber force and included 10 Lancasters. 27 After this raid, Gauleiter Goebbles ordered the evacuation from Berlin of all children and adults not engaged in the war effort. Berlin on September 3 was the target for the next mission undertaken by this crew and their Lancaster. The strike force consisted of 316 Lancasters and 4 Mosquitoes. 422 people were killed in the raid. Berlin records also mention the death of 7 criminal assistants when two delayed action bombs exploded. Criminals could earn remission of sentence if they volunteered for this type of work. Norman s log book reads: Ops Berlin. Easy trip. 1 x 4,000 + incends. Plotted 2½ m from A.P. - 9 -
His diary reads: Ops Berlin. 8.00 N.F.T. 0.50v. Nearly 7%, that is 22 Lancaster bombers, were lost on this operation. 28 For September 16 th, Norman s diary reads: Out all night on find yourself. While on September 18, he notes, No flying. Shot partridge and pheasant. On September 22 this crew took part in a raid on Hannover. 711 aircraft participated in the mission, which included 322 Lancaster bombers. American B-17 bombers took part in this raid, their first night raid on Germany. Strong winds caused the marking and bombing to be off-target. No reports on casualties are available for this operation but it is considered unlikely that serious damage was caused in this, the first serious raid on Hanover for two years. Norman s log book reads: Ops Hanover. Good trip. Photo fires and smoke. His diary reads, 5.30 Ops Hanover v. W Cantrell as M/U. 3.7% of the strike force were lost, which included 7 Lancasters in this raid. 29 The following night, Norman and his crew s next operation was to Mannheim on September 23 rd. F/Sgt Argent also took part in this raid. The strike force consisted of 628 aircraft and included 312 Lancaster bombers. This raid was considered a success by the Allies. Apart from damage to property, some 102 people were killed, 418 were injured and 25,000 lost their homes. Norman s log book records: Ops Mannheim. Good trip. Photo smoke and fires. His diary reads for this mission: Ops. Mannheim. 6.20 Robertson M/U Argent. 2 nd Dick. The strike force lost 5.1% of its number, which included 18 Lancasters. 30 On September 27, Norman returned to Ireland on leave for the third time that year. His diary records shooting parties at Newbury Hall on October 1, 2 and 3. 9 pheasant, 9 part (partridge), 5 snipe, 1 pigeon were bagged on the last shoot. Norman left Ireland for the last time on October 6 and returned to his base at Bardney. On October 8 Norman and his crew, plus P-O Gould, took part in a raid on Hannover. 504 aircraft took part in this mission, which included 282 Lancaster bombers. This was the last Bomber Command raid in which Wellington bombers took part. Conditions were clear and this was Hanover s worst attack of the war. German casualties were 1,200-10 -
people killed and 3,345 injured. 3,952 buildings were destroyed and more than 30,000 houses were damaged. The German s guessed correctly that Hanover was the target and many defending night fighters arrived before the attack was over. Norman s log book for this operation reads: Ops Hanover. Good trip. Photo fires and built up area. His diary records: Ops. Hanover. 4.50 v. 2 nd Dick. 5.4% of the strike force was lost and this included 14 Lancasters. 31 On October 18, this crew took part in a raid again on Hannover. The strike force was composed entirely of Lancaster bombers, which numbered 360. The target was cloud covered and the pathfinders were inaccurate in marking the target. Consequently the raid was scattered. Norman s log book for this operation reads: Ops. Hanover. Easy trip. Photo fires and built up area. His diary reads: Ops Hanover. 5.10 v. 5% of the strike force or 18 Lancasters were lost in this raid. 32 Two nights later, on October 20, this crew was again in operation, this time to Leipzig. 358 aircraft, all Lancaster bombers, took part. This was the first serious Allied attack on this distant German city. Weather conditions were appalling which resulted in scattered bombing. No German statistics are available for this raid but it is considered unlikely that serious damage was caused. Norman s log book for this raid reads: Ops Leipzig. Washout. Heavy cloud. No P.F.F. flairs. Fuel shortage. His diary records: Ops. Leipzig. 7.10 V. Allied casualties were 4.5% of the strike force, which totaled some 16 Lancaster bombers. 33 On November 3 Norman and his crew, having taken part in an air test earlier that day, participated in a raid on Düsseldorf. 589 aircraft, including 344 Lancasters, participated in this mission. The centre and south of the city felt the brunt of the attack. It was difficult to obtain precise German casualties as their records started to show a deterioration under the pressure of severe Allied raids in 1943. Local reports suggest that - 11 -
118 people died with extensive damage being caused to industrial and housing premises. Norman s log book for this raid reads: Ops Dusseldorf. Easy trip. Photo fires only. His diary records: Ops Dusseldorf. 4.25 Photo fires N.F.T. V 1.25. 3.15% of the strike force was lost, which included 11 Lancasters. 34 Norman Robinson recorded his final entry in his personal diary on November 4 th the following day, when he wrote simply, Stand down. The pressure and tension felt by Bomber Command aircrew can only be imagined. Anecdotal evidence tells of Norman having lost weight and appearing pressurised when he made his final visit home. The following unfinished poem written by Norman and perhaps composed by him is recorded at the end of his diary. This perhaps reveals his feelings: Once only by the garden gate Our lips are joined and parted I must fulfil an empty fate And travel the unchartered Hail and farewell I must arise Leave here the fatted cattle And paint on foreign lands and skies.... On November 10, Norman, his crew and P.O. Porter took part in a raid on Modane. 313 Lancaster bombers comprised the strike force. The railway system was severely damaged as a result of this raid. There are no French reports on this operation. Norman s log book records for this venture: Ops. Modane. No defences. 8 x 1,000 H.E. Aiming point. No aircraft were lost on this mission. 35 Norman Robinson flew his penultimate mission on November 18 to Berlin. P.O. Porter was also on this assignment. 440 Lancaster bombers with 4 Mosquitoes comprised the strike force. The target was completely cloud covered and both marking and bombing were carried out blindly. German casualties were 131 people dead, 391 injured and 14 missing. 27 of the dead were foreign workers or prisoners of war. Norman s log book recalls for this raid: Ops Berlin. Easy trip. Landed Tangmere. Short of fuel. - 12 -
9 Lancasters were lost, which comprised 2% of the strike force. This was the first raid in an all out assault in Berlin, which would ensue for the next 4½ months. This phase of the war was known as, The Battle of Berlin. 36 On November 23 1943, Norman Robinson flew his last mission when he piloted his Lancaster 3 on a bombing operation to Berlin. Pilot officer Hinton was also on this mission. 469 Lancaster bombers comprised part of the 764 aircraft who participated in this raid. This was the largest force sent to Germany so far during World War II. Bad weather kept most of the German fighters on the ground and so the bomber forces were able to take a straight in, straight out route to the target. Berlin was cloud free and this was, in effect, the most effective raid on this city of the war. A vast area of destruction was reported. The damage inflicted was included with the details from a smaller raid, which took place the following night. At least 3,000 houses and 23 industrial premises were completely destroyed with thousands of other buildings damaged. It is estimated that 175,000 people were bombed out of their homes, more than 50,000 German soldiers or nearly 3 army divisions were diverted from normal duties to assist. Approximately 2,000 people were killed. Norman Robinson s Lancaster bomber crashed on return to Lincolnshire. The accident report form stated: A/C crashed into the ground. Probably caused by attenuation freezing up. (v) Pilot sound pilot and captain the Co. as above. A.O.C. causes remain obscure. Not considered likely that static vent iced up as no other instruments affected. A.O.C. in C. concurs. Based at Bardney (Lincs) crew. Sgt R.G. Taylor, Flt Sgt. T.F. Davis, Flt. Sgt. B. J. Pitman, Sgt. W. E. Jones, Flt. Sgt. L.E. Mitchell, Flt. Sgt. Casey. All killed except Mitchell and Casey (gunners). Curiously, the report did not specify the death of the pilot, Norman Robinson, or mention P/O Hinton, who was entered in the log book as having participated. 3.4% of the aircraft were lost on this operation, which included 11 Lancaster bombers 37. Norman s log book for his final mission reads, Ops. Berlin crashed on return. (In another person s handwriting) His grand total of flying hours after this entry was 574 hours, 35 minutes. The final entry in his logbook is a red stamp from the Central Depository Royal Air Force, May 1946. It states starkly, Killed in Action. The death of Norman Robinson was reported in the Irish Independent obituary columns as follows: Robinson (Carbury) November 23 rd 1943. Norman John, dearly beloved elder son of John and Mrs. Robinson, Newberry Hall, Carbury, Co. Kildare. Eternal rest grant to him Oh Lord, May he rest in Peace. 38 Reporting restrictions in neutral Ireland during the war were probably responsible for this low key death notice. - 13 -
Norman Robinson is buried, near his home, in Derrinturn, Roman Catholic Cemetery. His parents and sister were subsequently buried beside him. His Royal Air Force headstone reads: Per adua ad astra. Pilot officer N.J. Robinson Pilot Royal Air Force 24 th November 1943 age 26 May he rest in peace The following poem, written on a loose page in his own handwriting, was found in Norman s log book. It reads: We have no graceful form, no flashing shape To flicker, fish-like, in the dome of sky; No famous whine of motor glint of light Proclaim us to the earthlings ear or eye Darkly we go, unseen, by friends unsped, Leaving the homely fields that are our own, Up to the heights where sunsets early red Changes to blackness. We are there alone. No heat of battle warms our chilling blood No friendly soil beneath us if we fall; Our only light the stars, whose fickle mood Will lead them to desert us when we call. Death down below or stealing through the dark Awaits our coming with a silent grin; Bellowes fireworks curtained round our mark Form doors of fire, through which we enter in. Flame, smoke and noise surround us for a while. A shuddered jerk the load goes screaming down; Cold hands and feet move levers for escape; A chain of fire bespatters through the town Back to the darkness, friendly now we speed To count our wounds, and set a course for home. Speaking to base, attentive to our need, Watching for that far-friendly line of foam. - 14 -
Hour upon hour, the long-drawn journey seems; Fights and searchlights still our road proclaim. Salt-eyed, we watch the heaven for the Huns, Weary we dodge the heaven-splitting flame. Then, with no certain victory to impart, out of the dawn we drop from frosty light Welcomed alone by those who saw us start And watched and waited for us through the night. These lines well-describe Bomber Command aircrews feelings not knowing if or when they would return to base. There is no author s name to these lines. Perhaps Norman wrote them himself. Norman Robinson and his crew belonged to 9 Squadron, which was formed on December 8 1914, and is described as the senior squadron serving in Bomber Command. In Mason s History of 9 Squadron, it is noted that August 1943 was the most successful month of that year regarding combat. Intensive pilot training was rewarded with excellent results in the raid on Peenemunde and Norman was specifically mentioned amongst this group. This publication also features a photograph of Norman Robinson s Lancaster 3 bomber with the caption: Bardney 1943 Lancaster Number ED656 ws. V Waiting for take off. 39 In 5 Group, the Lancaster bombers flew 52,262 sorties with 1,389 aircraft lost. This was a loss rate of 2.7%. At least 253 Lancaster bombers were also lost in crashes. 40 Approximately 125,000 air crew served in the Royal Air Force. Nearly 60% of this number became casualties. Those who died on operations made up 85% of the total, with 15% being killed in training. The total aircrew casualties were 55,500. 41 Some 49,400 Irishmen were killed in the 1914/18 war and it is estimated that almost 500,000 Irishmen served in this conflict. Some 23,000 of the latter total came from Co. Kildare. 42 567 Kildare men lost their lives in World War I. In contrast, World War II saw some 80,000 Irishmen fight with the Allied Forces. It is estimated that 10,000 of them were killed. Thirty Kildare men lost their lives in this war 43. Of the 3,080 pilots who fought in the Royal Air Force, just ten came from Ireland. Norman Robinson was one of this number 44. Arguably, the most valiant Kildare man in World War II was Major Darby Michael Kennedy, or John, as he preferred to be called. From Bishopcourt, Kill, John was a member of the Irish Guards. He died on February 21 1945 on the German Dutch border in an engagement while leading No. 3 Company 45. His participation in the Italian campaign at Anzio saw Kennedy promoted from the rank of Captain to Major. He was also awarded the Military Cross for his part in stopping a German advance in January 1944. John Kennedy and Norman Robinson were related through the marriage of Major - 15 -
Kennedy s sister Maev to George Robinson (3 rd Cousin to John Robinson Norman s father). During 1943 1,000 British bombers were lost, 300 of them in attacks against Berlin. The majority of them were shot down by German fighters 46. Norman Robinson took part in 26 operations. It was normal for air crew to complete 30 missions. Few, however, did so. It is of interest to note that 8 Victoria Crosses, the British Empire s highest honour, were awarded to Irish Free State citizens who fought in World War II. As the war progressed, the Irish Free State became decidedly anti-german. This was caused by the sinking of 16 Free State ships by German submarines together with bombings of Ireland. The greatest loss of life occurred with the bombing of Dublin s North Strand. 34 people were killed in this event in May 1941 47. In February 1944 Jimmy Casey, one of the two survivors of the Lancaster Air Crash on November 24 1943, wrote to Norman Robinson s mother. The letter reads: 7 th February 1944. Dear Mrs. Robinson, I am so sorry that I have not wrote to you before now, but when my wife forwarded your letter on to me I was away on a Medical and I came on leave after that, so I hope that you will excuse me for not writing sooner. I wish to thank you very much indeed for your lovely Memoriam Card for I can t tell you how much I will cherish it, for Norman and I were the only two Catholics in the crew, and I understand and appreciate your love for Norman when I read those lovely verses on the card. I can t tell you how much all of the crew thought about Norman, both as a friend and as a pilot, for we had all been flying together for just on a year, and I will always regard Norman as having saved my life, for he was one of the best pilots to fly on operations on our Squadron, and one of the best liked too! There is not very much that I can tell you about the crash, for we were only about five minutes flying away from the Drome and losing height, when there was a sudden impact, and that was the last I remembered, and I awoke to find myself lying about 30 or 40 yards away from the plane. What happened as far as I have been able to gather since I came out, is that the Station gave us the wrong O.F.E. which has something to do with the height, and when Norman set the altimeter by this it was about a thousand feet or so wrong, and consequently we hit the ground when we should have been about a thousand feet up in the air. One of Norman s last wishes was for me to call my baby after him, for it is my wife s first and when I told Norman that my wife was expecting a baby at Christmas he was overjoyed and every other day he would say to me, Don t forget Jimmy to let me be the godfather and to christen him after me if it s a boy, and the night we crashed he asked me the same thing before we got into the plane to take off. As it happened it was a boy and the least I could do was for me to keep my last promise to Norman, so my wife called him Norman Anthony, and the only thing I wish now is for him to grow up as fine a chap as your son. If God spares me to see this war through and if I ever get the opportunity of going to Ireland I will bring him through to see you, for I know you will be pleased to see him. By the way Norman had some photographs of the crew which was taken when we were going to Hamburg some time ago, if however you failed to get one of these off him, I think that I have one that I could spare you. - 16 -
I shall have to close now so here s wishing you everything I could wish myself. Yours sincerely, J. Casey This heart-rending letter speaks for itself. From it, Norman comes across as a capable pilot and a loyal friend, well-liked by his fellow crew. Nothing was heard from Jimmy Casey by Norman s family since the receipt of this letter. An inquiry to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission did not reference this survivor of the 1943 crash. It is therefore assumed that he survived the war. The casualty search details regarding Norman Robinson in the same archive reveals his service number as 155261 and his regiment as Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve with the rank of Pilot Officer (pilot) 48. Norman Robinson did not speak of his Bomber Command operations, neither did he write of them. Perhaps he couldn t. The poems in his diaries were the nearest to describing the indescribable. Hastings vividly describes the terror of being a member of Bomber Command aircrew. He states that aircrew vigilance lessened when pilots flew a number of raids which did not experience German defence anti-aircraft flak or combat with defence fighter planes. He likens it to the tedium of drowning on a darkened motorway. Careful pilots banked their aircraft every few minutes, so allowing their gunners to scan the sky beneath for enemy fighters. No good pilot tolerated chatter on the intercom. The silence was reserved for the awesome moment when the rear gunner exclaimed, Fighter Port and then Corkscrew Port. At these words, the aircraft would spin the stomach churning routine of fighter evasion. The gunner directed the pilot who could not see the enemy, as the latter twisted the aircraft in torment. The pilot s confidence was vital in throwing the plane through the sky. Some bombers, banked cautiously, because of their fear of causing the aircraft to break up. They died. Others, the ones who lived, knew that enemy fighter cannon were a greater threat than a wing breaking off. They threw their aircraft about the sky, Steep bank to port, full left rudder, fall sideways for a thousand feet, wrench the controls to starboard, soar into a climbing turn to the right, then opposite and dive again. The speed varied between 200 and 90mph; the altimeter lost and gained 1,000 feet and the rate of descent and ascent varied between 1,000 and 2,000 feet a minute. The physical exertion of each pull at the bottom of each dive was about equal to pulling on a pair of oars in a boat race. The smell of vomit often wafted up from a navigator or bomb-aimer, overcome by fear and the violence of their movement as the fuselage shuddered as the gunners fired. Skilled pilots almost cart wheeled their Lancasters as they banked onto one wingtip. They raced the upper engine and cut the lower. They knew their bombers had little chance of shooting down a well-armoured German fighter. Their best hope of survival lay in escape. The true value of gunners was as lookouts. If they saw the Germans first they could survive. If not, they were probably dead men. - 17 -
The gunners smeared Lanolin on their necks to combat the soreness and aches of constantly scanning the sky. They took caffeine tablets to stay awake and faced instant dismissal if they were caught dozing. Always, boredom and the corrosion of fear and fatigue were deadly enemies. Always, a bomber was caught unawares 49. On their way home, some pilots nursed damaged engines or flak-torn controls, lost height over France and struggled to get across the sea to the bombers emergency airstrips. Often in the fuselage darkness, a crew member tended to a wounded colleague, doing his pathetic best to repair terrible wounds caused by shrapnel or cannon fire. Often they threw everything portable overboard to reduce weight as they drifted helplessly downwards into the north sea or channel. The chances of survival were improved if their wireless operator could tap out a ditching signal. Often they could not and lingered for days in their dingy before rescue or death overtook them 50. The crew of a stricken aircraft had a one in five chance of escaping alive. They had to fight the G-forces of diving and spiraling uncontrollable descent. They had to bale out before the bomber struck the ground. Also, they strove to avoid bailing out over a target area for stories abounded of bomber crews being killed by enraged civilians or soldiers. This was a fate not unknown to Luftwaffe airmen in the London blitz 51. As one airman succinctly put it: You live on the brink of death yourself, it is as if those who have gone before have merely caught an earlier train to the same destination. And whatever the destination is, you will be sharing it soon, since you will almost certainly be catching the next one 52. The airman who wrote these lines was shot down on November 3 1943 in a raid on Düsseldorf. He survived and made a successful escape across France to England for which he was awarded a D.F.C. 53 This was also an operation in which Norman Robinson took part. In 1940, Britain stood alone and seemed doomed to defeat. Bomber Command was the sole remaining tool for offensive action. Prime Minister Winston Churchill said, We have no continental army who can defeat German military power. There is one thing that will bring him (Germany) down and that is an absolutely devastating exterminating attack by very heavy bombers from this country upon the Nazi homeland. 54 The controversial area bombing cost almost 56,000 members of aircrew their lives. A further 10,000 were shot down or killed. Bomber Command losses amounted to almost 1/7 of all British deaths between 1939 and 1945. The Royal Air Force s Commander in Chief, Sir Arthur Harris, argued that this policy saved the flower of the youth of this country and of our Allies from being mown down by the military in the field, as it was in Flanders in the war of 1914-1918 55. It is curious that Bomber Command aircrew were never awarded their own campaign medal, after surviving the extraordinary battle they fought for so long, against such odds, - 18 -
and in which so many died. With the benefit of hindsight, and in the safety of victory and peace, it appears that many politicians and civilians preferred to forget the airmen s war contribution 56. Indeed, in the Battle of Britain, which lasted from July to October 1940, the R.A.F. pilots took to the skies with as little as ten hours training in their single seater fighter planes. Furthermore, the air force comprised 640 planes, whereas the more experienced Luftwaffe s bombers numbered 2,400. Disproportionately large numbers of the latter were shot down, however, and Hitler changed tactics. 57 Norman s diary of 1943 reveals correspondence with two girls. One was an Irish girl, Eva, and the other, Rita, a girl he met while training in Texas. To this day, almost 62 years after his brother s death, Norman s brother still receives an annual Christmas card from Rita. In the 1970s, Rita and her husband visited Ireland and Newberry Hall, to see where Norman lived. The endurance of the human spirit is truly marvelous. Many Royal Air Force bomber crews did not allow their aircraft to be photographed as they believed it brought them bad luck. However, Norman and his crew had no such reservations. It is an irony that Norman s brother, who worked as an aircraft engineer in Handly Pages in England, came home and was accepted in the Irish Air Force, which he served in for the duration of World War II. Leaving aside the question of his motivation, necessity also drove Norman to join the war effort. The closure of the Peat Fuel Company, his inability to gain further employment in war time Ireland and his rejected application to join the Irish army are all factors that make it seem almost destiny that Norman Robinson would join the conflict of World War II and pay the supreme sacrifice. He was 26 years of age. - 19 -
References 1. Richard G. Bard, The Complete Idiot s Guide to World War II, Alpha, ISBN 1-5927-04-09 2. Bradley Lightbody, Ambition to Nemesis, The 2 nd World War, Rootledge, Taylor Francis Group, London, 2004 3. James Durney, Far From the Short Grass The Story of Kildare Men in Two World Wars, Leinster Leader Ltd., 1999, p123 4. James Robinson, The Robinsons of North Kildare 300 Years of Family History, McRobin Publications, Dublin, 1997, p278 5. J. Robinson, Ob. Cit., p282 6. The Clongownian, Volume 3, 1902 04, p79 7. The Clongownian, Ob. Cit., p59 8. Ulick Sadlier, Journal of the Kildare Archaeological Society, Volume 8, 1915-17, p30 9. James Robinson, James L. Carew M.P. (1853 1903), Dublin, Historical Record, Volume LVII, No. 2, 2004, p219 10. Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt, The Bomber Command Diaries, Midland Publication Ltd., 1985, p393 11. M. Middlebrook and C. Everitt, Ob. Cit., p394 12. M. Middlebrook and C. Everitt, Ob. Cit., p396 13. M. Middlebrook and C. Everitt, Ob. Cit., p397 14. M. Middlebrook and C. Everitt, Ob. Cit., p401 15. M. Middlebrook and C. Everitt, Ob. Cit., p403 16. M. Middlebrook and C. Everitt, Ob. Cit., p26 17. M. Middlebrook and C. Everitt, Ob. Cit., p404 18. M. Middlebrook and C. Everitt, Ob. Cit., p406 19. M. Middlebrook and C. Everitt, Ob. Cit., p406 20. M. Middlebrook and C. Everitt, Ob. Cit., p411 21. M. Middlebrook and C. Everitt, Ob. Cit., p414 22. Max Hastings, Bomber Command, Pan Books Ltd., London, 1979, p285 23. M. Middlebrook and C. Everitt, Ob. Cit., p422 24. M. Middlebrook and C. Everitt, Ob. Cit., p422 25. M. Middlebrook and C. Everitt, Ob. Cit., p424 26. M. Middlebrook and C. Everitt, Ob. Cit., p426 27. M. Middlebrook and C. Everitt, Ob. Cit., p427 28. M. Middlebrook and C. Everitt, Ob. Cit., p428 29. M. Middlebrook and C. Everitt, Ob. Cit., p432 30. M. Middlebrook and C. Everitt, Ob. Cit., p432 31. M. Middlebrook and C. Everitt, Ob. Cit., p437 32. M. Middlebrook and C. Everitt, Ob. Cit., p439 33. M. Middlebrook and C. Everitt, Ob. Cit., p439 34. M. Middlebrook and C. Everitt, Ob. Cit., p441 35. M. Middlebrook and C. Everitt, Ob. Cit., p443 36. M. Middlebrook and C. Everitt, Ob. Cit., p452 37. M. Middlebrook and C. Everitt, Ob. Cit., p453-20 -
38. Irish Independent, Volume 52, No. 283 39. T. Mason, 9Squadron, The Lincolnshire Chronicle, Lincoln, 1965, p64 40. M. Middlebrook and C. Everitt, Ob. Cit., p783 41. M. Middlebrook and C. Everitt, Ob. Cit., p708 42. J. Durney, Ob. Cit., p117 43. J. Durney, Ob. Cit, p258 44. J. Durney, Ob. Cit, p197 45. J. Durney, Ob. Cit, p223 46. Wilbur H. Morrison, Fortress Without a Roof The Allied Bombing of the Third Reich, W.H. Allen, London, 1982, p169 47. J. Lee Ready, World War II Nation by Nation, Arms and Armour Press, London, 1945, p147/8 48. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission, 2002 2003, ISBN, 0 33026236 X 49. M. Hastings, Ob. Cit., p193 50. M. Hastings, Ob. Cit., p199 51. M. Hastings, Ob. Cit., p197 52. M. Hastings, Ob. Cit., p231 53. M. Hastings, Ob. Cit., p263 54. M. Hastings, Ob. Cit., p137 55. M. Hastings, Ob. Cit., p10 56. M. Hastings, Ob. Cit., p425 57. John Paul Flintoff, The Last of the Few, The Sunday Times Magazine, June 5 th, 2005, p36 I am particularly indebted to Richard Robinson for making available his family papers and photographs, which were vital to the production of this paper. - 21 -