Leading Aircraftman Robert Dunlop (2211185) served in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve during World War Two. He was the son of Frank Dunlop and Winnie Dunlop of Belfast, Co. Antrim.
He died on 25th July 1946 aged 24 years old. At the time, he was with RAF 52 Squadron. Robert’s death came as a result of one of the biggest aviation disasters in Burma.
At 1200hrs on 25th July 1946, Douglas Dakota C-47 Skytrain KN585 took off from Yangon Airfield, Burma. As the plane climbed, it entered an area of thunderstorms. In severe turbulence, the left wing broke off the craft causing it to crash into a swamp around 25 miles northeast of Bassein, Burma. All 4 crew members and 18 passengers died in the incident.
Remembering the Dakota crew
Robert Dunlop’s grave is in Section 3, Row J, Grave 3 of Rangoon War Cemetery, Myanmar. His name is on the War Memorial of Fitzroy Presbyterian Church, Belfast, Co. Antrim. His headstone bears the inscription:
Amidst life’s changes we never forget.