Library Reference Number: 113
Sgt. Robert McNab, No.42 Squadron, R.A.F.
One of the "Five Brothers Go To War."
Robert McNab was one of the brothers mentioned in the story "Five Brothers Go to War" which appears in the Aircrew Association's Saltire Branch Website Library ( No.100), and will no doubt appear in future publications. Many aspects of Robert McNab's service life and his loss during operational flying have more recently come to light, and for people interested in WW2 history, it's a privilege for Scottish Saltire Branch to record those events.
Born on 5th February 1920 in Grangemouth, Scotland, and coming from a military family (Mr McNab senior was an Army officer in WW1), it was no great surprise when Robert decided to become a regular member of the Royal Air Force on 15th March 1939, and signed up for a six-year period. He was allocated the RAF service number 637612, and on being accepted as a Wireless/Operator (later W/Op/AG) he was posted to No.2 Wing RAF Yatesbury for training during the pre-war months of 1939.
To meet the Air Ministry's requirement for a general reconnaissance flying boat, Short developed the S.25 Sunderland from their famous S.23 'Empire' flying boat. The S.25 first flew on 16th October 1937, and on completion of his aircrew training, Robert flew on Sunderland aircraft based at Oban, Scotland, and was billeted in the Marine Hotel in Oban.
As a member of No.612 (County of Aberdeen) Squadron Robert gained even more experience of operational flying. No.612 Ansons operated from the site of RAF Stornoway while it was still under construction (it had previously been a golf course). By November 1940, the aircraft from 612 Squadron had been posted to RAF Wick, and Ansons were gradually replaced by Whitley V aircraft.
Tracing Robert's final transfer to No.42 Squadron, it was discovered that No.42 reformed at Donibristle on 14th December 1936 from B Flight of No.22 Squadron equipped with Vildebeeste 111s and became only one of two torpedo strike units in the UK. It exchanged its Vildebeests for Beauforts in April 1940, with which it specialised in anti-shipping and mine-laying along the coasts of northern Europe. Arriving at RAF Leuchars on detachment from 42 Squadron in December 1940, Robert was joined by the remainder of No.42 Squadron which arrived at RAF Leuchars on 1st March 1941. Little did anyone realise at that time, that RAF Leuchars was to be Robert McNab's final posting as the following details will show.
It was during the Beaufort period in their history that Sgt Robert McNab, Wop/AG flew with No.42 Squadron, RAF Coastal Command. He was credited with shooting down a ME109 German fighter plane over Norway on 24th July, 1941. This occurred when Robert's crew attacked enemy shipping on the Norwegian coast, and in return were attacked by two Me109Ts. Being the air-gunner, Robert shot down one of the enemy aircraft - the other fled. This was also the period when the Luftwaffe was revelling in its faster, modern aircraft.
An official report published at that time stated "Shortly after 04.00 hours, just off Lindesnes, two Bf 109s came into attack from the rear, one from each side. These were the aircraft of Leutnant Werner Minz as Rottenfuhrer and Unteroffixier Werner Schramm as his Rottenflieger (wing-man) of the 2nd Staffel who had taken off on an Alarmstart from Lister to intercept the reported intruder. The gunner Sergeant Robert McNab allowed the Messerschmitt on the port side to close in to 180 yards then fired one burst of 120 rounds using both guns, hitting the Messerschmitt which crashed into the sea and disappeared. The second enemy aircraft broke off the attack and was seen to fly off." Robert McNab was interviewed on the radio shortly after this. His brother (Graham) then a gunner on Wellingtons, heard this broadcast by chance while having a 'cuppa' in the NAAFI at Boscombe Down, three of the five servicemen brothers being members of RAF aircrew.
Just before midnight on 12th August 1941, nine aircraft took off from RAF Leuchars heading for operations over Norway. Sergeants McNab, Morison, Gibbon and Harcourt flying in Beaufort AW200, but one aicraft was lost on take-off. Six aircraft had been briefed to lay magnetic mines in the Karmsund (the sound between the town of Haugesund and the island of Karmoy, and three to bomb the docks as a diversion. There was no moon, and with low cloud and bad weather, only three aircraft found the target. Robert's aircraft Beaufort AW200 failed to return - he and all his crew perished on that night 13th August 1941, with only Harcourt's body being recovered.
From Sgt Harcourt's recovered body, a note was found indicating the Beaufort had suffered engine trouble, and the crew were looking for a place to land. Norwegian Erling Jorgensen stated he saw signs of tracer, and several others told of hearing engines coughing and in obvious difficulty, a 'VAKT' boat was also seen on the Fjord nearby. Some Norwegians had been getting up to go out fishing, and Sigurd Barane was returning home when he first of all heard an aircraft, then a crash - then silence. It took about an hour to reach the wreckage where he also found Sgt Harcourt whom they brought ashore along with the dinghy, and other bits and pieces.
On sending for the Sheriff, he in turn informed the Germans who were at Leiruik on Stord Island. They had trouble finding the wreckage, and it was two days later when the Sheriff and some Norwegian men took the Germans to the exact spot. Kare Steinsland laid Sgt Harcourt in a coffin which was then taken to Mosterhamn to be buried. Most of the above details originated from the research carried out by Mrs Bente Svaasand.
Mrs Svaasand who was a pupil at Rose Green and Bognor comprehensive schools in the 1970s, had painstakingly tracked down details of the last flight of Bristol Beaufort AW200 in 1941. Her efforts were marked by a service on the 50th Anniversary of the aircraft's crash, when my brother Graham and I were invited to attend. A memorial plaque was to be unveiled by the Lady Mayoress of Bomlo,and a Nimrod of 42 Squadron carried out a flypast salute. This gesture on the part of the Norwegian Authorities was greatly appreciated, as up to this point, all the family at Grangemouth had received was the wartime dreaded telegram addressed to our parents. "Regret to inform you that your son Sgt Robert McNab is missing as the result of air operations on 13th August 1941. Any further information received will be immediately communicated to you" signed C.O. 42 Squadron. Needless to say, nothing more was learned regarding the fate of our brother until 50 years later.
In addition to the Nimrod flypast, the present C.O. of 42 Squadron was invited to Norway, along with families of other members of the aircrew and President of the Beaufort Association. Another interesting person to attend this event on 13th August 1991 was an elderly Norwegian gentleman who approached Graham and myself to say how delighted he was to meet us. He went on to say he was part of the 'Shetland Bus' Group, and related that on the night of our brother's crash, this diversion made it easier for his group to exit from Norway to cross over to Shetland. It will be remembered that 'Shetland Bus' was the nickname given to members of the Norwegian fishing fleet who carried out secret hazardous return crossings between Norway and Shetland with weapons and secret agents on such a regular basis, that it became known as the Shetland Bus.
Finally, my brother Graham and I wish to put it on record, our appreciation to the Norwegian people who were excellent throughout in arranging this memorial service, the 42 Squadron Nimrod Flypast, and permitting an RAF diving team to attempt reaching the wreck of AV200. Although unable on the day to reach the aircraft, that along with the acts of Norwegian hospitality and all other gestures of goodwill, were greatly appreciated.