Robert was born on 17 Mar 1915 in Fulham to Jack and Marie nee Darsa who was born in Istanbul. Robert was the oldest of three children, a sister Beatrice and brother Samuel.

Robert enlisted originally into the Army at the end of 1939 and then transferred into the RAF. In the 1939 Register, Robert is listed as working as an omnibus conductor.

On 21 December 1941, the aircraft Blenheim IV Z6350 of 5 AOS was on its way to Tiree on a training exercise when it ran short of fuel and tried to make a cloud break to land at Machrihanish. It flew into high ground on Mull of Kintyre, Argyllshire, killing all crew. The actual place of the crash is a 329m hill 3 miles southeast of Tayinloan on the Kintyre Peninsula. It hit the hill and travelled up and along a ridge before stopping. The engines were removed by the RAF shortly after the crash. Small pieces are still visible on the hill. (aviation-safety.net)

Pilot, Sgt Arthur John Gearing 550938.
Pilot, Sgt John Edward Orton 1013757.
Cpl Robert Sidney Cohen 655638 (observer under training)
AC2 Peter Gibson Woodward 1377654 (wireless operator/air gunner under training)

The 5 AOS Operational Record Book states: On December 21st 1941, Blenheim Z6350 crashed and was completely wrecked on Mull of Kintyre.

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