"TO LIVE IN THE HEARTS OF THOSE YOU LOVED IS NOT TO DIE"
In a letter to his sister Jean, a few months prior to his death, Hamilton writes from his Operational Training Unit base in Cottesmore, United Kingdom that he is sick and tired being in the Air Force. He complains about long shifts. 5 days off in 9 months. He has no good words for the Flight Commander, Flight Lieutenants and Squadron Leaders.
The crew of Hampden Mk 1 X3066, 144 Squadron was shot down during an operation flying from RAF Hemswell, Lincolnshire, United Kingdom to attack targets near Dusseldorf, Germany in the Ruhr Valley. This aircraft was shot down at 23:32 by Lt Hans-Dieter Frank I./NJG 1 and crashed near Neeroeteren, Belgium. All of the crew were killed.
Pilot Officer Noel James KERR 81041 (Pilot) Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Pilot Officer Robert James HAMILTON 85676 (Navigator) Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Sergeant Jack HOWELL DFM 552601 (Wireless Operator/ Air Gunner) Royal Air Force.
Hans-Dieter Frank and his crew were killed in action in a mid-air collision with another German night fighter on the night of 27/28 September 1943.
**Additional information/ Service records requested to complete this profile**