Robert Floyd Nimmo ^608,1497

  General Notes:

According to Air Force reports, on November 30, 1944, 172 Halifax aircraft from many Squadrons were joined by 52 Lancaster aircraft on an attack at Duisberg, Germany. The crews were over the target at between 17,000 and 20,000 feet, releasing 1,869,000 pounds of high explosives and 169,000 pounds of incendiaries. According to reports the target was cloud covered and the attack was scattered. The Halifax III aircraft that Robert Floyd Nimmo and crew were in was carrying 16 X500 lbs MC Bombs when it left the base.

However, their crew, flying the Halifax III MZ-314 coded AL-W, failed to return from this operation. The aircraft went missing on operation on November 30, 1944 and particulars and cause were unknown at first.

When the aircraft was located, a telegram was sent to RCAF Headquarters in Ottawa, as follows:

"December 5th STOP Two repeat Two aircraft involved Seven men in each crew STOP No Repeat No RCAF in other aircraft STOP Crashed Believed result midair collision STOP Both aircraft completely disintegrated and spread over wide area STOP Policy re exhumation for burial in United Kingdom follows STOP.

They were in a mid-air collision with a 578 squadron Halifax aircraft. Fourteen bodies were recovered from the wreckage of two aircraft which had apparently collided and crashed. Both aircraft had completely disintegrated and were spread over a wide area. Six bodies were identified as members of the crew of Halifax NR. 193. Of the fourteen bodies, three were unidentified at the time, although identification did take place later. The crew of the Halifax III MZ-314 were:

F/O G. Clarke, RCAF (Pilot)
Sgt. L. Fry, RAF
P/O C. Short, RCAF (Navigator)
P/O F. Manchip, RCAF
P/O G. Pare, RCAF
P/O S. Ogilvie, RCAF, and
P/O R. Nimmo, RCAF (Air Gunner)