Robert Burns CHARTERS (1918-

Name:	*CHARTERS, Robert Burns "Bob", DFM*
Nationality:	Canadian
Regiment/Service:	Royal Canadian Air Force
Rank:	Squadron Leader
Service No.:	R/115419 ~ J/18469
Unit Text:	No.199 Squadron/ No.171 Squadron
Date of Birth:	9 May 1923 - Toronto, York, ON

CHARTERS, Flight Sergeant Robert Burns (R115419) - Distinguished Flying Medal - No.199 Squadron - Award effective 3 April 1943 as per London Gazette dated 16 April 1943 and AFRO 809/43 dated 7 May 1943. Born 9 May 1918 (birth date on MI.9 report); home in Richmond, Virginia or in Brampton, Ontario; enlisted in Toronto, 22 July 1941 and posted to No.1 Manning Depot. To No.1 ITS, 20 August 1941; graduated and promoted LAC, 8 October 1941 but not posted to No.4 AOS until 26 October 1941; to No.4 BGS, 31 January 1942; graduated and promoted Sergeant, 14 March 1942 when posted to No.2 ANS; graduated 13 April 1942 and posted next day to "Y" Depot. To RAF overseas, 30 April 1942. Further trained at No.19 OTU. Commissioned 20 August 1943. Promoted Flying Officer, 1 March 1944. Repatriated via Rockcliffe, 7 June 1944. To "Y" Depot again, 17 July 1944. Taken on strength of No.3 PRC, Bournemouth, 3 August 1944. To RAF overseas, Promoted Flight Lieutenant, 1 October 1944. Repatriated 9 July 1945. To Mountain View, 15 September 1945. To No.66 OTU, 22 November 1945. To Release Centre, 2 April 1946; retired 9 April 1946. Award presented by King George VI 12 October 1943. Cited with Sergeant A.J.W.R. Coupar (RAF, also awarded DFM). Photo PL-19710 shows six Ontario personnel following investiture - Sergeant D.V. Smith (Toronto), P/O R.B. Charters (Brampton), P/O F.R. Zulauf (Milverton), P/O R. Dorland (Islington), F/L C.D. Perkins (Fonthill) and FS H.J. O’Connor (Napanee). Photo PL-19712 taken 5 November 1943 shows the following after investiture at Buckingham Palace: Front Row " Warrant Officer W.G. Evan of Makinak, Manitoba (no award but accompanying friends), FS H.J. O’Connor DFM of Napanee, Sergeant D.V. Smith DFM of Toronto, Warrant Officer E.A. Taylor DFM of Vancouver, FS D.J. McCoy DFM of Carruthers, Saskatchewan, P/O F.R. Zulauf DFM of Milverton, Ontario; Back Row: P/O R.B. Charters DFM of Brampton, Ontario, P/O E.H. Thomas DFM of New Westminster, P/O R. Dorland DFM of Islington, Ontario, F/L C.D. Perkins DFC of Fonthill, Ontario, P/O D.R. Pearce DFM of Edmonton, P/O E.C. Stewart DFM of Camrose, Alberta, and P/O R.A. Shannon DFM of Winnipeg.

One night in March 1943, Sergeant Coupar (RAF) and Flight Sergeant Charters were captain and navigator, respectively, of an aircraft detailed to attack Essen. On the outward flight one engine of the bomber became overheated but Sergeant Coupar flew on to the target and bombed it. Shortly after crossing the Dutch coast on the return journey the aircraft was attacked by an enemy fighter, sustaining much damage. The wireless apparatus was rendered unserviceable and the inter-communication and hydraulic systems were put out of action causing the bomb doors to open and the undercarriage to hang in a downward position. In spite of this, Sergeant Coupar coolly and skillfully evaded the attacker and set course for base. During the remainder of the homeward flight, Flight Sergeant Charters, who had been wounded in the chest, displayed great fortitude, remaining at his post to continue his navigational duties. Sergeant Coupar eventually flew the damaged bomber to an airfield where he effected a successful crash landing. Both these airmen displayed great courage and skill in harassing circumstances.

CHARTERS, F/L Robert Burns, DFM (J18469) - Croix de Guerre (France) - No.171 Squadron (AFRO gives unit only as "Overseas") - Awarded as per AFRO 1619/45 dated 19 October 1945. Later attained rank of Squadron Leader. Public Records Office document Air 2/9645 has citation.

This officer has taken a very active part as navigator in operations over France, both before and after D-Day. On the 3rd March, 1944, after being shot down over France, he eluded the Germans, with the ready assistance of the French people, walked back to his own lines and finally reached England. After a very short rest he returned to his unit. Flight Lieutenant Charters' work, both in the air and on the ground, have been of the highest order and his courage and tenacity of purpose have been an inspiration to his captain and crew.

NOTE: In January 1997 the Royal Air Forces Escaping Society (Canadian Branch) presented to the National Aviation Museum a "dossier" (actually more like an album) with extended autobiographical notes on members (catalogued in the museum as D.805 C3 L96 1995 NMM). This included much information on Charters' evasion. W.R. Chorley, Royal Air Force Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War (1944 volume) states that the aircraft on which he was shot down was Stirling EE957, EX-Q, of No.199 Squadron, which raises the question of why No.171 Squadron is associated with this award. Typographical error ??

Public Record Office WO 208/3319 has his MI.9 report (S/P.G.-1894) compiled from interview on 2 May 1944. It noted that he had left Gibraltar on 1 May 1944 and arrived at Whitchurch on 2 May 1944. Others in crew were F/L K.B. O’Connor (Pilot, RNZAF, killed), F/O E.G. Brown (Bomb Aimer, killed), Sergeant Green (Flight Engineer), Flight Sergeant D.A. Chisholm (WOP, RNZAF, POW), P/O A.P. Chisholm (Rear Gunner, RNZAF, POW) and Sergeant L.E. Crick (Mid-Upper Gunner, killed).

I was a member of a crew of a Stirling Mark III which took off from Lakenheath (Suffolk) on 3 March 1944 about 1730 hours on a special mission. On the return flight we were attacked by a night fighter about 2330 hours, and were ordered to bale out.

I came down in a wood at France 1:250,000, Sheet 17, O 1275. I was suspended by my parachute in a tree about ten feet from the ground, but managed to get over to the trunk, release myself and scramble to the ground. While I was coming down I saw the explosion of the aircraft which, I heard later, crashed near Is-sur-Tille (O 0884). I left my parachute in the tree, and having hidden my mae west and harness in some bushes in the woods, I started walking southeast. When I reached the next woods I heard people moving about, so I changed my direction to northeast till I reached the Forest of Velours (O 17). I walked the west edge of this wood for some distance, and then crossed the frozen fields to the main Langres-Dijon road. I by-passed Orville (O 1689) and rejoined the main road. Shortly afterwards I reached a railway crossing where I received help in the early morning of 4 March. I was later put in touch with an organization, and the rest of my journey was arranged for me.

Errol W. Martyn, in Volume 2 of For Your Tomorrow (Christchurch, 1999) elaborates by saying that the SOE mission was code named FONTAINE FRANCAIS (supply dropping). His account of the shoot-down differs from that of Charters but has some interesting extra details:

Stirling III EE957/Q took off at 2050, attacked by a night fighter at low altitude near the first drop zone, and again in the vicinity of the second, when the starboard wing was hit and set on fire. Four of the seven crew successfully baled out before EE957 crashed between Is-sur-Tille and Gemeaux, two villages located about 20 kilometres north-north-east of Dijon. The pilot and the RAF mid-upper gunner, who perished in the crash, are buried at Is-sur-Tille, while the air bomber rests at Gemeaux. The RCAF navigator successfully evaded capture, but his three surviving comrades were taken prisoner, including RNZAF wireless operator Flight Sergeant D.A. Chisholm and rear gunner Pilot Officer A.P. Chisholm. After landing, Donald Chisholm saw at least three night fighters circling in the area, suggesting that the operation had been betrayed and a trap set to shoot them down.

For the record, the website “Lost Bombers” describes the final sortie thus. Stirling EE957, No.199 Squadron (EX-Q) on SOE operations, 3/4 March 1944. This aircraft was initially delivered to No.196 Squadron on 11 August 1943. To No.199 Squadron on 27 August 1943. Airborne at 2050 hours, 3 March 1944 from Lakenheath on Operation Fontain Francaise and set course for France. Shot down by a Me.110 in the general vicinity of the DZ. Due to low altitude, only four were able to bale out before the Stirling crashed between Gemeaux (Cote d'Or) and Is-sur-Tille, two small villages 20 km and 23 km respectively NNE of Dijon. Crew was F/L K.B.O'Connor, RNZAF (killed), Sergeant G.W.Green (POW), P/O R.B.Charters, DFM, RCAF (evaded), F/O E.G.Brown (killed), Flight Sergeant D.A.Chisholm, RNZAF (POW), Sergeant L.E.Crick (killed), P/O A.P.Chisholm, RNZAF (POW).

Bob was born on May 9, 1923 at Toronto. He attended Brampton Public and High Schools.

He enlisted on May 1941 in Toronto. Did his Manning Depot in Toronto, his ITS at Toronto; No.4 AOS London; B&G School at Fingal; Astro Nav. School at Pennfield Ridge, N.B. and received his Observer Wing, Jan. 1942.

Posted to UK, March 1942; AFU Dumfries, Scotland; OTU Kinloss, Scotland. Served on Ingham, Lincs; Lakenheath, Suffolk; North Creake, Norfolk on squadrons No.199 and 171, RAF. Bob had several different crews because of wounds and shot down on first tour.(22nd trip.)

Joined Armstrong Brothers construction in April, 1946 and remained until retirement.

Bob married Kathleen McKillop of Brampton, March 13, 1947 and they have a son Thomas Victor and a daughter Lorie Louise

March 1943, intercepted by enemy fighter as we left Essen. Badly damaged, limped home one engine, crash landed at Woodall Spar, Lincs. Hospitalized RAF hospital at Rauceby. Awarded immediate DFM. (In 1945 Bob was also awarded the French Croix-de-Guerre).

Shot down near Dijon on March 3, 1944. Three of crew were killed, three were POW’s. Bob evaded successfully and was hidden in the Cote d’Or, France. The “Underground” supplied false I.D. and travel documents. After walking over the Pyrenees and eventual release by Spaniards to the British Air Attache in Madrid, flew back to England from Gibraltar about May 1, 1944. Returned to ops from June/44 to May/45.