Warrant Officer Robert Bramley Cant
This is a website dedicated to the life of Warrant Officer Robert Cant, the crew of U-Uncle (PM-11 JA868) of 103 Squadron based at RAF Elsham Wold, Lincolnshire. and the brave members of the French resistance who risked their lives helping them back from behind enemy lines.
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This "above average" crew was made up of (from left to right):-
​Sgt. Syd Horton Wireless Operator
Sgt. Denys Teare Air Bomber
Sgt. Robert (Bob) Cant Pilot
Sgt. Bob Parkinson Rear Gunner
Sgt. George Thomas Navigator
Sgt. Bill Milburn Mid upper Gunner
Sgt. Eric Dickson (Dickie) Engineer
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After being branded as "likely to make a good bomber crew" they flew a total of 16 successful operations from the 24th June 1943 to 5th September 1943. Until like so many other bomber command crews, they "failed to return" after being forced to bail out over occupied France due to a failing plane.
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Of the 12 crews (84 men) which started operations together at Elsham Wood in June 1943, only nine survived the war. Giving 103 squadron a survival rate of 11%. Throughout the war Bomber Command crews suffered heavy looses with 55,573 killed out of a total of 125,000 aircrew (a 44% percent death rate).
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Seven of the survivors of 103 squadron was the whole crew of U-Uncle, with each member having their own inspiring and sometimes chilling story of how they survived behind enemy lines. What makes the story of the U-Uncle crew particularly interesting as the likelihood of all crew members surviving the parachute jump into darkness over occupied territory was slim but for all members to survive the war is truly unique.