576 Sqn Flt/Lt Bertram W. Roberts

The information and images on this page were supplied by Cedric Roberts, whose late Father was a 576 Sqn Flight Engineer. He was: Sgt. later Flt. Lt. Bertram,(Robbie) William Roberts. All the images were taken at Fiskerton.Robbie joined Bomber Command in 1944 after successfully gaining release from a reserve occupation. Following training,he arrived at an operational squadron in January/ February 1945 aged 33.Completing a total of 20 ops, He remained in the RAF following the end of hostilities taking part in Operations Dodge and Manna. He then became an air traffic controller and retired in 1966. He died in 1989. Cedric Roberts was appointed Honorary Flight Engineer by the surviving members of 576 Squadron at a meeting in Sydney, Australia, on Anzac Day, 25th. April 1996, the certificate being signed by some 20 members of their Association.
	Croft's Crew. This crew consisted of five Australians and two Englishmen, Bertram Roberts and Titch Faulkes. They completed at least 20 ops in 5 different Lancasters- only getting their own Lanc just before the end of hostilities. On one op, the Bomb-Aimer/Front Gunner Johnny Musgrove was officially credited with shooting down a German ME 262.At the end of hostilities, the Australians returned home. It is believed the only crew member alive today is Johnny Musgrove who became a Doctor/Surgeon after he returned home to Sydney following V.E day and still is to this day. This photograph was taken at Fiskerton in March 1945. The Lancaster is LM 227. Crew left to right are: Sgt. Don Tyshing RAAF -Navigator. Sgt. Bertram William Roberts RAF- Flight Engineer. F/O Roy Vesterman RAAF-Mid-Upper Gunner. F/O Dave Croft RAAF-Pilot. Flt. Sgt. Johnny D.Musgrove RAAF-Bomb aimer. Flt. Sgt. Harry Dale RAAF-Wireless Op. Flt. Sgt David "Titch" Fowkes RAf- Rear Gunner. (It is believed he completed his second tour of ops with this crew)
Croft's Crew Crew photo taken by Johnny Musgrove,Bomb Aimer. The Lancaster was RA594, UL-V. She was built by Metropolitan-Vickers Manchester and was delivered to 576 Sqn. in Jan-Feb 1945. Croft's crew completed 5 ops in her, Daylight raids:Heligoland, Bremen, Rotterdam 3 times. Night op: Valkenburg. This aircraft like her crew, survived the conflict and was Struck-Off- Charge on 15th April 1946.
	Croft's Crew. This crew photograph taken in March 1945 with Lancaster ME801. This Lanccompleted 131 operational sorties and was S.O.C in October 1945 following a crash.Ground crew names unknown.
HAPPY SURVIVORS. This image was taken on 24th July 1945 prior to taking off for a flight to Naples for what was to become Operation Dodge-the repatriation of British troops from Italy. The Lanc was UL-U, serial number to follow. This Lanc was the first to land in Italy. Crew are left to right: Bert Roberts now P/O- 2nd Flight Engineer. F/O Danny Brunchez- W/O-A/G. F/O Maurice "Dicky"Burdett-2nd Pilot. Flt.Lt. Jim Lewis-Captain & Pilot. Sgt. name unknown-Bomb-Aimer. F/O Jack Wilkinson-Navigator. Sgt. name unknown-Air Gunner. F/O Reg Mansfield-Flight Engineer. AT THE TIME THIS PHOTOGRAPH WAS TAKEN, THE AUSTRALIAN MEMBERS OF CROFT'S CREW HAD RETURNED HOME TO AUSTRALIA.
	The 576 Sqn. Memorial Poem. "Listen To The Wind" This poem called: "Listen To The Wind" was written by Cedric in 1995 and appears on the 576 Sqn.memorial stone. In addition to his own late Father and Croft's crew,it is dedicated to all who fought from Fiskerton.