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
| Last Name | First Name(s) | Rank | Role | Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown | George Hamilton | Leading Aircraftman | RAFVR 3023986. RAF 52 Squadron. | |
| Campbell | Christopher Nicholas | Aircraftman 1st Class | RAFVR 1901322. RAF 52 Squadron. From Dublin. | |
| Church | Russell Thomas | Flight Lieutenant | RAFVR 153067. RAF 267 Squadron. | |
| Coles | Alan George | Leading Aircraftman | RAFVR 3209755. RAF 52 Squadron. | |
| Conlon | Jack | Flight Lieutenant | Wireless Operator | RAFVR 183556. RAF 267 Squadron. |
| Cursons | Grahame Walter | Warrant Officer | RAFVR 1603390. RAF 267 Squadron. | |
| Donaldson | William Henry | Warrant Officer | RAFVR 1568647. RAF 267 Squadron. | |
| Dunlop | Robert | Leading Aircraftman | RAFVR 2211185. RAF 52 Squadron. From Belfast. | |
| Enever | Raymond Frederick | Aircraftman 2nd Class | RAFVR 1603114. RAF 52 Squadron. | |
| Evans | Dilwyn | Leading Aircraftman | RAFVR 1835931. RAF 267 Squadron. | |
| Guthrie | Alfred James | Flight Sergeant | Navigator | RAFVR 1861716. RAF 267 Squadron. |
| Heap | Albert Edward | Warrant Officer | RAFVR 1677506. RAF 52 Squadron. | |
| Heffron | Jack | Aircraftman 1st Class | RAFVR 1768314. RAF 52 Squadron. | |
| Mills | William George | Aircraftman 2nd Class | RAFVR 1872485. RAF 52 Squadron. | |
| McGhee | Patrick Charles | Flying Officer | RAFVR 181954. RAF 267 Squadron. | |
| Robinson | Thomas Stanley | Leading Aircraftman | RAFVR 3009535. RAF 52 Squadron. | |
| Rowley | Clifford Arthur | Warrant Officer | RAF 1581476. RAF 52 Squadron. | |
| Scott | Walter Alan Thomas | Flight Sergeant | RAFVR 1651236. RAF 267 Squadron. | |
| Sivell | Robert Alfred Charles | Leading Aircraftman | RAFVR 1819281. RAF 52 Squadron. | |
| Smedley | Raymond | Leading Aircraftman | RAFVR 3051773. | |
| Tonner | Edward Thomas | Leading Aircraftman | RAFVR 1665582. RAF 267 Squadron. | |
| Treacy | Robert Francis | Flight Sergeant | RAFVR 1796178. RAF 267 Squadron. From Belfast. |
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.