Page 4 - Bertam William Roberts

The information and images in this profile were supplied by Cedric Roberts, whose
late Father was a 576 Squadron flight engineer.

He was Sergeant, later Flight Lieutenant Bertram William (Robbie) Roberts.

Bertram joined Bomber Command in 1944 after successfully gaining release from a
reserve occupation. Following training, Bertram arrived at 576 Squadron in January
1945 aged 33. Completing a total of 20 operations, he remained in the RAF following
the end of hostilities taking part in Operations ʺDodgeʺ and ʺMannaʺ. He then
became an air traffic controller and retired in 1966. Bertram 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 April 25 1996, the
th
certificate being signed by some 20 members of their Association.

This photograph was taken at Fiskerton in March 1945

The Lancaster is ME 801 N - Nan2

This Lancaster completed 114 operations with the Squadron, one of only 35
Lancasters out of 7,374 airframes produced by the Avro Group to exceed 100
operations.

Crew left to right are:

Sergeant Don Tyshing R.A.A.F - Navigator.

Sergeant Bertram William Roberts R.A.F - Flight Engineer.

Flying Officer Roy Vesterman R.A.A.F - Mid Upper Gunner.

Flying Officer Dave Croft R.A.A.F - Pilot.

Flight Sergeant Johnny D Musgrove R.A.A.F - Air Bombardier.

Flight Sergeant Harry Dale R.A.A.F - Wireless Operator.

Flight Sergeant David “Titch” Fowkes R.AF - Rear Gunner.
(It is believed he completed his second tour of operations with this crew)