Fraser RJ

459 RAAF Squadron Middle East Command

F/Lt Robert James Fraser

Service Number: 401031

Wireless Operator Air Gunner (WAG)

459 RAAF Squadron Middle East Command

Died 5th December 200l – 85 years of age.

Crew

Blake DFC (Dick) C(RAF) Pilot

Nicholson (Nick) (RAF) Navigator (B)

Fraser R J (Bob) (RAAF) WAG

Latta (Andy) (RAAF) WAG

A South Australian born in 1916 during WW!, in which his father was killed, Bob Fraser spent his youth in Victoria, qualifying with A Dip. In Agriculture at Dookie Ag. College. Having enlisted early in the RAAF , he trained in Aust. As a Wireless Operator Air Gunner with (a) No.9 Course at Ballarat and Pt. Pirie, then proceeded to the UK via Canada and the Atlantic. He completed a Radar Course at Preswick ( Scotland) and crewed up during a Hudson Operational Training Unit Course at Silloth. As was the practise before closure of the regular 459 Hudson Squadrons reinforcement route his crew flew from Portreath (England) via Gibraltar and Malta to Egypt with its operational crew, delivering their Hudson to help build up full strength.

Bob flew 353 operational hours in 459, Hudsons and is recalled by Squadron friends like Ross Rasheed (see photos of Squadron days at the desert base, or on leave in Cairo or Tel Aviv) as a reliable mate.

Andy Latta WAG (Left), Ross Rashecol WAG (Centre) and bob Fraser WAGE (Right) --- 459 RAAF Hudson Squadron , RAF 201 Naval Cooperation Group Middle East Command ---

"On our way for a swim" - the mud beach is in view behind.

Robert James FRASER