Leon Charles De Castres

People Buried Here

Description

Name: <b>Robert Gordon Tyler</b>

Service number: 408892

Rank: Sergeant

Unit: 18 Squadron

Service: Royal Australian Air Force

Conflict: 1939-1945

Date of death: 18 February 1943

Place of death: Timor

Cause of death: Flying Battle

Cemetery or memorial details: Northern Territory Memorial, Australia

Mission History

One of six B-25s taking part in an operational mission over Dili. At approximately 1045 the formation was intercepted by five A6M2 Zeros with action lasting until 11:30. During the attack this aircraft received direct hits which killed the pilot, put the starboard engine out of action and damaged the tail. It is also probable that Sgt Tyler was killed during the attack as when he was ordered to proceed from the nose of the aircraft to the navigator's cabin in the centre of the aircraft he did not reply. This B-25 force landed into the Timor Sea approximately 140 miles south of Dili.