Photo : Hans Houterman with thanks

Basil Vernon Robinson was born in 1912 at Gateshead the son of Samuel Vernon Robinson and Eileen Marjorie Robinson, of Carlisle. He was educated at Newcastle Grammar School. He joined the Royal Navy. After leaving HMS Conway in 1929, [we must assume he went to sea but later] he joined the RAF as Acting Pilot Officer (Probationary). He was commissioned into the RAF in 1933, promoted to Flight Lieutenant by April 1938. Also was with the 19 OTU. Promoted from Squadron Leader to Wing Commander in September 9th 1941. He had joined No. 35 Squadron RAF in March 1941 after completing a tour of duty as a pilot on Whitley bombers. On 1 May 1943 Robinson was promoted to Group Captain. Also appointed commander of RAF Graveley. He also played Rugby for the RAF as a wing three quarter and his Home County XV's.

He has been described as an ebullient character with a distinctly unorthodox approach to certain RAF customs and procedures, his trademark was a generously proportioned ginger Moustache.
Source: Wings of War Martin W. Bowman.

On the 18th December 1941 Capt. Robinson was involved in an air raid on the German battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau and was awarded the DFC for his actions.

In March 1942 he was appointed commander of 35 Squadron which became a pathfinder unit.

No 35(B) Squadron Code TL was Reformed at Boscombe Down on the 5th November 1940. Received first Halifax 13th November 1940. Moved to Leeming (4 Group [from 1 Group], on the 20th November 1940. Moved again to Linton-on-Ouse, (4 Group) on the 5th December 1940. Converted to B Mk IIs in October 1941. Moved to Gravely (3 Group), as part of PFF in August 1942. Became 8 Group on the 8th January 1943. Converted to B Mk IIIs in December 1943. Converted to Lancaster's in March 1944, the last Halifax operation occurring on the 1st March 1944 against Stuttgart.

Simon Glancey has submitted the following:

Group Captain Robinson was killed when Handley Page Halifax II HR928 TL-R of 35 Squadron was lost on a mission to Berlin. The Halifax was shot down by a Luftwaffe night fighter, and crashed at Wensickendorf, some 20 miles NNW of Berlin. G/c Robinson was an experienced bomber pilot, and had recently been made Station Commander at R.A.F. Graveley.
Royal Air Force Bomber Command Losses of the Second World War: 1943; W.R. Chorley; 1996; Midland Counties Publications; ISBN 0 904597 90 3, page 280

His Halifax II HR928 was made by Handley Page Ltd. 200 Aircraft, Contract No ACFT/1688, requisition HA4/E11/40. Deliveries commenced 21.12.42. (HR654). B/GR Mk II, HR654-699, HR711-758, HR773-819, HR832-880, HR905-952, HR977-988.
Source : The Handley Page Halifax K. A. Merrick ISBN 629.133343.

His D.F.C. was gazetted in the London Gazette on July 18th 1941. The citation reads as follows:

"The above named officer, since he has been in command of No.78 Squadron during his stay at this station, has at all times displayed exceptional skill and determination in pressing home his attacks in spite of hostile opposition. His fine example and keenness have been an inspiration to his junior officers. Even during he move of his squadron he still maintained its operational effectiveness. The following report has been received from his last Commanding Officer: "He has always shown outstanding keenness to fly, and has produced some very good results. On one occasion he came down to 1,000 feet in a snow storm to light up the target at Merignac (Bordeaux). He got it in his third attempt in spite of heavy flak."

ROBINSON, Basil Vernon, W/C, DSO, DFC (34089, Royal Air Force) - No.19 OTU - Air Force Cross - awarded as per London Gazette dated 1 January 1943. Citation from Sotheby auction catalogue for 3 March 1983.

"Wing Commander Robinson has been employed as Chief Instructor to No.19 Operational Training Unit for the past eight months, following a distinguished tour of operational duty. By his untiring efforts and meticulous attention to detail, he has raised the standard of this unit to a high degree of efficiency. He has at all times set an outstanding example. This officer has now returned to operations in command of his old squadron."

His D.S.O. was gazetted in the London Gazette on January 8th 1942. The citation reads as follows:

“Wing Commander B.V. Robinson, DFC, was the captain and the leader of a formation of six Halifax aircraft of No 35 Squadron which attacked the German ships 'Gneisnau' and 'Scharnhorst' at Brest during daylight on the 18th December 1941. By virtue of the fact that his squadron was to lead the Halifax aircraft of two other squadrons on to the target he was in reality the leader of all the Halifax aircraft. The success or otherwise of the operation, therefore, depended very largely upon the officers leadership.

That it was a most successful operation there can be no doubt. Despite intense opposition from the ground defences, with the utmost courage and determination, he led the formation over the target in perfect formation and hits were seen on both ships. The words of his bomb aimer best describe his actions: He never wavered despite the fact that flak was bursting all around us and the run up to the target was a bomb aimer's dream'.

His aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire several times and he was eventually forced to land in the English Channel where he was picked up by a launch.

His leadership both before and during the operation was nothing less than magnificent and for this, and for the gallantry with which he pressed home the attack, in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire, he is strongly recommended for the immediate award of the Distinguished Service Order."

The Sunderland Echo of Friday, 09/01/1942 reported the D.S.O. award:

"D.S.O. for N.E. Hero of Brest Raid
One day in December 1941, a strong force of bomber aircraft crried out a determined attack on the German warships Gneisenau and Scharnhorst at Brest. The operation was carried out in the face of extremely heavy and accurate anti-aircraft fire and attacks by enemy fighters.

Nevertheless, the air crews engaged and pressed home their attacks to the utmost and succeeded in scoring hits on their objectives. Several enemy aircraft were shot down. Success of the operation, which demanded the highest degree of skill and courage, reflects the greatest courage on the efforts of the following officers and airmen who participated in various capcities as leaders and members of the aircraft crews:

Distinguished Service Order – Wing Comdr. Basil Vernon Robinson, D.F.C. (No. 35 Squadron).

Wing-Commander Robinson was born at Gateshead and educated at Newcastle Grammar School. He was promoted Wing-Commander in March, 1941, and was awarded the D.F.C. in July last year. His home is at How Mill, near Carlisle."

His Bar to the D.F.C. was gazetted in the London Gazette of January 8th 1943. The citation reads as follows:

“One night in November, 1942, during an operational sortie against Turin, this officer displayed great gallantry and determination when a dangerous fire broke out in his aircraft. Owing to the intensity of the names and smoke which filled the cockpit, Wing Commander Robinson saw no hope of bringing the fire under control, and therefore ordered his crew to abandon the aircraft. While preparing to follow them himself, the fire abated. Undeterred by the difficulty of the flight which involved crossing the Alps and flying many hundreds of miles over enemy occupied territory, Wing Commander Robinson continued alone, completed the return journey, and landed his large 4 engined aircraft successfully in this country despite very adverse weather, accomplishing a most praiseworthy and skilful feat of airmanship.
Third Supplement (LG 35855 dated 8 Jan 43) to LG dated 5th Jan 43 Whilst Captain of Halifax aircraft number DT488 TL-S on the night of 18/19 November, 1942, Wing Commander Robinson displayed great gallantry and tenacity in dealing with an extremely vicious aircraft fire. This fire was caused by a bundle of three reco flares failing to release properly when over the target area consequently becoming armed due to the draft in the bomb bay. The violent fire thereby caused filled the fuselage and cockpit with flames and smoke. The extent and intensity of the fire appeared to indicate that there was no hope whatever of keeping the flames under control. Wing Commander Robinson therefore, after due deliberation, was forced to order the crew to abandon aircraft. he then prepared to abandon the aircraft himself and was about to do so when the fire burnt itself out. He therefore continued alone and successfully conducted his large four engine aircraft over the 600 mile journey to England where he landed successfully in very poor conditions. This journey included a crossing of the Alps and many hundreds of miles over enemy occupied territory. For this most praiseworthy and successful flying feat I strongly recomend Wing Commander Robinson for the immediate award of a Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross."

The Sunderland Echo of Saturday,21/11/1942 had the following report:

County ‘Cap’
There will be many followers of the handling code in Sunderland and district who will be interested to learn that the airman who brought off one of the most amazing feats of the war in flying a Halifax bomber single-handed back all the way from Turin is a former County Durham player.

He is Wing Commander Basil V. Robinson, D.F.C., D.S.O., of Gateshead. He played for North Durham on the Ashbrooke ground on a number of occasions, and was capped as right wing three-quarter in 1934-35.

Thirty years old, he won the D.F.C. in 1941 and the D.S.O. early this year.

On Wednesday night, his Halifax [DT488 S], had just dropped its heavy load of bombs and flares on Turin when a large flare [One of the four flares], stuck in the bomb bay and caught fire, setting the plane ablaze. The crew were ordered to bale out, but as Wing Commander Robinson was preparing to follow suit the fire went out as it had begun – and he was left to fly the plane back single-handed over the Alps!

Halifax DT488 English Electric Co Ltd (250 Aircraft) Contract No B982938/39, requisition 116/E11/39. Deliveries commenced August 1942 (DT481). B/GR Mk II DT481-526, DT539-588, DT612-649, DT665-705, DT 720-752 and DT767-808.

His A.F.C. was gazetted in the London Gazette on January 8th 1943.

Also killed in the same incident were Ft.Lt. Webster and Ft.Sgt. Burke.

John Jones has submitted the following:

Claim by Uffz Rudi Fischer 1/JG300 - Berlin 5,000m at 00:53:
Coned by 1-3/Flakscheinw Abt 370 and 1/Flakscheinw Abt 339. Also claimed by Flak of 1/schw Flak Abt 528 (Halifax Wensickendorf at 00:54).Claim by Uffz Rudi Fischer 1/JG300 - Berlin 5,000m at 00:53.
Claim for Uffz Fischer not listed in OKL/RLM. 1/JG300 Confirmed Abschussubersicht.
Source: Nachtjagd Combat Archives 1943 Part 2 - Theo Boiten.

Bath Rugby World War 2 casualties.
25th August 1943.
Basil Vernon Robinson, Group Captain AFC, DFC and BAR, DSO

Killed in action over Germany. He was a Bath and Somerset wing threequarter, and a family friend to Major R A Gerrard who had died in January.

Basil Vernon Robinson is remembered in Durham in D47.142, page 5, and in County Football Players 1939-45

Bath Rugby WW2 Casualties
Bath Rugby
Group Captain Basil Vernon Robinson
The CWGC entry for Group Captain Robinson