Robert Birnie
Born 2 Mar 1917 - Died 9 Jan 1942
- Service number
- NZ403773 AWMM
- WWII 403773 AWMM
- Also known as
- —
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Last rank
- Pilot Officer (Observer) AWMM Royal Australian Air Force, No. 458 Squadron AWMM
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
About
- Title
- —
- Forenames
- Robert AWMM
- Surname
- Birnie AWMM
- Ingoa
- —
- Also known as
- —
- Service number
- NZ403773 AWMM
- WWII 403773 AWMM
- Gender
- Male AWMM
- Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
- —
- Religion
- —
Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 2 Mar 1917 RNZAF Biographies (R17845607)
- Date of birth
- —
- Place of birth
- —
- Birth notes
- —
- Address before enlistment
- —
- Post war occupation
- —
- Next of kin
- WW2 Parents: Mr & Mrs G. Birnie of Takapuna AWMM
- Relationship status
- Single/WWII AWMM
Wars and conflicts
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
- Campaign
- Europe (Air) AWMM
- Europe (Air) AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Service number
- NZ403773 AWMM
- WWII 403773 AWMM
- Military service
- —
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
- Royal Australian Air Force, No. 458 Squadron AWMM
Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
- —
Training and Enlistment
- Military training
- British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, No. 4 Air Observer School, London, Ontario, Canada AWMM
Course 1: Graduation Date: 30/04/1941. AWMM - British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, No. 1 Air Navigation School, Rivers, Manitoba, Canada AWMM
- British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, No. 4 Air Observer School, London, Ontario, Canada AWMM
- Branch Trade Proficiency
- —
- Enlistment
- —
- Age on enlistment
- —
- Occupation before enlistment
- —
Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW2 Vessel was Awatea AWMM Royal New Zealand Air Force AWMM
Prisoner of war
- Capture details
- —
- Days interned
- —
- Liberation date
- —
- POW liberation details
- —
- Liberation Repatriation
- —
- POW serial number
- —
Medical history
- Medical notes
- Killed in Action, Cause of Death AWMM
Killed on air operations AWMM
Last known rank
- Last rank
- Pilot Officer (Observer) AWMM
Royal Australian Air Force, No. 458 Squadron AWMM - Last rank
- —
Biographical information
- Robert Birnie was the son of George and Irene Birnie, of Murray's Bay, Auckland, New Zealand.
At the time of his death Birnie was attached to Bomber Command and his flying hours had totaled 301 hours and he was on his 5th operation. On his final operation he was flying as the observer.
The plane was shot down over on January 9th 1942 and downed at Golleville ,a small village about 20 miles south of Cherbourg.
Remembered on the Takapuna War Memorial, The Strand, Takapuna.
http://twgpp.org/downloads/news/TWGPP_Newsletter_Summer_2009.pdf pp13-14 about finding aircraft parts on farm in France. Barrass, M.B. (2001- 2008). Web site: Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. "Squadrons numbered in the 400 series were technically units of the RCAF, RAAF and RNZAF, but their members were placed under the operational control of the RAF and are usually considered to be part of the RAF's organisational structure". URL: http://www.rafweb.org/Sqn485-490.htm
Attended Helensville District High School (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845607))
301 hours as Observer (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845607)) AWMM
About death
- Death
- 9 Jan 1942 AWMM
Age 25 AWMM - Date of death
- —
- Age at death
- —
- Place of death
- —
- Cause of death
- Killed in Action AWMM
- Death notes
- —
- Cemetery
- Cherbourg Old Communal Cemetery, Manche, France AWMM Plot 6. Row C. Joint grave 1-2. AWMM
- Cemetery name
- —
- Grave reference
- —
- Obituary
- —
- Memorial name
- —
- Memorial reference
- —
Memorial
- Memorial name
- Golleville Memorial, near Cherbourg, Manche, France AWMM
- Helensville District High School (Kaipara College) Roll of Honour, Helensville, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM
- Kaipara Memorial RSA, 49 Commercial Road, Helensville, New Zealand AWMM
- Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 2 Hall of Memories AWMM
- Auckland Grammar School War Memorial, New Zealand AWMM
- Takapuna War Memorial, The Strand, Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM
- Takapuna War Memorial, (ex RSA Roll, on a boulder), The Strand, Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM
Related objects
Sources
- External links
- New Zealand History online: Takapuna War Memorial
https://nzhistory.govt.nz/memorial/takapuna-war-memorial
Further Reference - Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2846057
Sources Used - RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Ab - B. Archives New Zealand (R17845607).
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R17845607
Sources Used - New Zealand War Graves Trust
https://www.nzwargraves.org.nz/
Further Reference - Aircrew Remembered:
https://aircrewremembered.com/hickey-bernard-peter.htmlPublic - Antonio - Researcher - 3 September 2026 - Internet research
- New Zealand History online: Takapuna War Memorial
- References
- Chorley, W. (1994). Royal Air Force Bomber Command losses of the Second World War: Aircraft and crew losses 1942 (Vol. 3). Leicester, England: Midland Counties Publications.
- Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press.
- This record is a work in progress and was partially compiled from the “Database of New Zealand Airmen who took part in Advanced Air Training in Canada during WW2”. Researched by Ivan and Lorna Lindsey of Tauranga. N.Z. 2003 – 2012. Reproduced with permission.
- Information kindly provided by family
- RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Ab - B. Archives New Zealand (R17845607) - Former archives reference: AIR118
- List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - List of Personnel Killed or Missing in Various Theatres, 1940 - 1945. [Missing - But Presumed Dead on Lapse of Time - Officers, Airmen]. Archives New Zealand (R17845743)
- Please note that the 11 volumes of the "RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939-1945" held at Archives NZ (formerly known as AIR118) should be used in conjunction with Errol Martyn's "For Your Tomorrow". FYT reflects detailed examination of all of the AIR118 bios which contain many inaccuracies and omissions.
- Royal New Zealand Air Force. (1941–1945). Contact: National magazine of the R.N.Z.A.F.; the official organ of the Air Force Association (Inc.). Levin, New Zealand: Royal New Zealand Air Force.
V4,n5,p28 - Auckland Museum. Roll of Honour, Auckland Province, 1939 - 1945. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 93/139.
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