Sergeant Robert Edward Sloan (1089371) served in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve during the Second World War. He was the son of Robert Sloan and Catherine Sloan of Belfast.
He died on 13th May 1943 aged 24 years old when Avro Lancaster W4269 came down at Zuiderzeepark, Amsterdam, Netherlands. Sloan was a Navigator with RAF 61 Squadron. The crew took off at 0005hrs from RAF Syerston, Nottinghamshire on a bombing raid on an Aircraft Factory in Duisberg, Germany. The Lancaster came down at 0207hrs after exploding in mid-air having taken a hit from flak from 1./schwere Flak-Abteilung 428. All 7 crew members died as a result.
Remembering the crew of Lancaster W4269
| Last Name | First Name(s) | Rank | Role | Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alderton | Peter Henry | Flight Sergeant | Pilot | RAFVR 1331632. Killed. |
| Lupton | Sydney | Sergeant | Flight Engineer | RAFVR 633691. Killed. |
| Reid | William Joseph | Warrant Officer | Wireless Operator | RCAF R/93374. Killed. |
| Sloan | Robert Edward | Sergeant | Navigator | RAFVR 1089371. Killed. |
| Thomas | John | Sergeant | Air Gunner | RAFVR 1386883. Killed. |
| Whitehall | Charles Douglas | Sergeant | Air Gunner | RAFVR 1415511. Killed. |
| Wood | Julian Vernon Orison | Flying Officer | Bomb Aimer | RCAF J/22547. Killed. |
Robert Edward Sloan’s grave is in Plot 69, Row C, Collective Grave 10 of Amerstdam New Eastern Cemetery, Noord-Holland, Netherlands. His headstone bears the inscription:
They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old.