ALEXANDER, ROBERT WILFRED S/L(P) J2833 D.F.C. From Sarnia, Ontario. Killed in Action Sep 21/44 age 24. #437 Husky Squadron (Omnia Passim). Dakota aircraft #KG 387 was shot down while dropping supplies at Arnhem. S/L Alexander maintained control of the aircraft long enough for most of his crew to bail out, both he and F/O W.S. McLintock went down with the aircraft and were killed. S/L Alexander had graduated as an observer in late 1940 and completed over 50 ops. in North Africa. In March of 1942 he was awarded the D.F.C., he then returned to Canada to remuster to pilot. He graduated at #5 SFTS, Brantford, Ontario in July of 1943. Squadron Leader Pilot Alexander has no known grave, his name is inscribed on the Runnymede War Memorial, Englefield Green, Egham, Surrey, England.  Distinguished Flying Cross – No.148 Squadron – Award effective 7 April 1942 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 611/42 dated 24 April 1942. Born in Norwich, Ontario, 1920, home there or Paris, Ontario; enlisted London, Ontario, 16 April 1940. Trained at No.1 ITS. Graduated from No.1 AOS, 17 August 1940 and No.1 ANS, Trenton, 26 October 1940. Medal presented April 1943. The citation reads – “As an air observer this officer has carried out 51 operational sorties against the enemy. He has participated in many attacks against objectives in Libya, Syria, Greece, and in the whole Mediterranean area. Flight Lieutenant Alexander is a fine bomb aimer and an exceptionally good navigator. Over a long period he has been carrying out duties of Squadron Navigation Officer with great success and his experience as an observer combined with his ability as an instructor have enabled him to attain a very high standard of navigation in the squadron. This officer has displayed consistent keenness, coolness and determination and has set a fine example to all.” Detail provided by H. Halliday, Orleans, Ontario.

ALEXANDER, F/L Robert Wilfred (J2833) – Distinguished Flying Cross – No.148 Squadron – Award effective 7 April 1942 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 611/42 dated 24 April 1942. Born in Norwich, Ontario, 20 August 1920, home there or Paris, Ontario (attended University of Western Ontario and was an elementary school teacher for 21 months); enlisted London, Ontario, 16 April 1940. To No.1 ITS, 29 April 1940. Posted to No.1 AOS, 23 May 1940; promoted LAC, 24 May 1940. To No.1 BGS, 18 August 1940 and to No.1 ANS, Trenton, 29 September 1940. Commissioned 25 October 1940. Immediately posted overseas. To No.11 OTU, 30 November 1940. To No.214 Squadron, 20 January 1941. To Middle East, February 1941. To No.148 Squadron, 21 February 1941. Promoted Flying Officer, 5 September 1941. Promoted Acting Flight Lieutenant, 4 November 1941. To No.231 Wing, 10 January 1942. Reverted to Flying Officer and posted to United Kingdom, 27 May 1942. To No.2 Personnel Despatch Centre that date. To No.1 Personnel Despatch Centre, 4 August 1942 Repatriated to Canada and posted on 19 August 1942 to No.31 ANS, Port Albert. Remustered to pilot and posted to No.12 EFTS, Goderich, 8 January 1943. To No.5 SFTS, Brantford, 20 March 1943. Graduated as pilot, 9 July 1943. Promoted Flight Lieutenant, 17 July 1943. To No.45 Group, Dorval, 24 July 1943 and assigned to Transport Command Unit, Nassau, 18 October 1943 and Ferry Command Training Unit, North Bay, 21 October 1943. To United Kingdom, 28 January 1944. To No.512 Squadron, 29 January 1944. Attached to No.1513 Beam Approach Training Flight, 27-31 July 1944. To No.437 Squadron, 14 September 1944; promoted Squadron Leader, 15 September 1944. Killed in action, 21 September 1944 (Dakota KG387, No.437 Squadron, Arnhem). Photo PL-1819 shows P/O U.L.J.L. Bezaire, P/P J.H. Percer and P/O R.W. Alexander at Ottawa’s Union Station, November 1940; PL-16042 shows him at Government House for investiture (medal presented April 1943). // As an air observer this officer has carried out 51 operational sorties against the enemy. He has participated in many attacks against objectives in Libya, Syria, Greece, and in the whole Mediterranean area. Flight Lieutenant Alexander is a fine bomb aimer and an exceptionally good navigator. Over a long period he has been carrying out duties of Squadron Navigation Officer with great success and his experience as an observer combined with his ability as an instructor have enabled him to attain a very high standard of navigation in the squadron. This officer has displayed consistent keenness, coolness and determination and has set a fine example to all. // NOTE: Public Record Office Air 2/8754 has slightly different text: // As an air observer this officer has carried out 51 operational sorties against the enemy involving 456 flying hours. He has participated in many attacks against objectives in Libya, Syria, Greece, and in the whole Mediterranean area. He also took part in mine laying and supply dropping operations in Greece. Flight Lieutenant Alexander is a fine bomb aimer and an exceptionally good navigator. Over a long period he has been carrying out the duties of Squadron Navigation Officer with great success and his experience as an observer combined with his ability as an instructor have enabled him to attain a very high standard of navigation in the squadron. This officer has displayed consistent keenness, coolness and determination and has set a fine example to all. // Circumstances of Death: Dakota KG387 departed Blakehill Farm at 1314 hours, 21 September 1944. Aircraft was engaged in pannier drop to airborne forces in Holland. Heavy small-calibre flak was reported in the area and enemy fighters attacked en route home. The crew were reported as J2833 F/L R.W. Alexander (pilot), J38773 F/O W.S. McLintock (co-pilot and navigator), J28238 F/O J. Rechenuc (WOP/AG, survived) and 1378949 Flight Sergeant A. McHugh (Navigator, injured and hospitalized as of 30 Sepember 1944). // As of 12 November 1944 the following statement had been obtained from F/O Rechenuc: // The aircraft had done the run in on the D.Z. and on the return flight the aircraft was attacked by six FW.190s. On the first burst F/L Alexander was hot and the second pilot, F/O W.S. McLintock, although himself hit, took over control. He ordered the remainder of the crew to bale out. F/O Rechenuc and FS McHugh parachuted safely to earth, where they were picked up by some American Army unit and taken to hospital. According to F.O Rechenuc the Americans state that no one else jumped from the aircraft and it crashed in flames further forward. // RCAF Press Release No.779 dated 25 August 1942, transcribed by Huguette Mondor Oates, reads: // After a year and a half of operational flying in the Middle East, F/L R.W. Alexander, DFC, of Norwich, Ontario, has returned to England, and is now hoping that he will get a trip to Canada, but on one condition only. That is that he be given a long navigation course. “I do not want to go to Canada and become an instructor,” said the Norwich boy. “I would rather stay in England and do more operational work.” He arrived in England in November 1940 with the first class of observers from Canada, and is, as far as he knows, the only one of that first class still in England. // Alexander enquired after F/L Florence who was for some time instructor at Trenton, Ontario, after flying with the first class. Alexander, apparently not affected by his long stretch of unbroken service in England and the Middle East, would not discuss his” adventures” there but said he had been flying bombers. // He left England for the East in February, 1941, as a pilot officer with the RCAF but attached to the RAF. He was the only Canadian with the squadron. His good work brought him quick promotion, for in September of the same year, he was promoted to flying officer and the next month raised to flight lieutenant. Alexander graduated at Borden then went to Jarvis for bombing and gunnery course and Trenton for astro navigation.