Sergeant Air Gunner - Royal Air Force - 42 Squadron - Service No. 650686
Roy Longden Robinson was born on 3rd June 1919 in Blackburn, Lancashire. His father was James A Robinson, an Analytical Chemist, and his mother was Ethel (née Almond). He previously attended Blackburn County School.
In 1930 Roy Robinson joined The County School for Boys – now known as Gravesend Grammar School. The Head Master at that time was the Reverend Samuel Lister. The County School for Boys was located in Darnley Road, Gravesend close to the Railway Station (now the Victoria Centre for Education). In 1938 the School moved to brand new premises in Church Walk, Milton, Gravesend opposite to Milton Church.
The School’s Admission Register lists Roy’s address as 4 Lennox Road East, Gravesend.
In 1932 Roy moved to Dartford Grammar School. On leaving School he went to work for the Orient Line as a Steward at sea for two years, then hairdressing for a year in Gravesend. In July 1939 Roy enlisted with the Royal Air Force, Service Number 650686, joining 42 Squadron as a Sergeant Air Gunner.
Roy Robinson flew many sorties over the Norwegian coast with 42 Squadron. At 2pm on 16th October 1941, he took off with his crew on a Rover (1) patrol from R.A.F. Leuchars, Fife, Scotland. Nothing more was heard from them. This was the only Coastal Command aircraft lost on this particular operation. Roy Robinson was 22 years old. He is remembered at the Runnymede Memorial.
Three other students from the same Form as Roy Robinson were killed in action during World War Two – Barry Jarvis, Bertie Kemp and Victor Phillips.
There are links below to Newspaper Clippings and Photographs from the Gravesend Grammar School Archives.
Below are links to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website and a few other websites that might be of interest:
https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2940442/robinson,-roy-longden/
http://www.rafcommands.com/database/wardead/details.php?qnum=106702
http://aircrewremembered.com/turner-godfrey.html