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Born: 7th April 1906
Died: 10th August 1959, Hackney
Son of James and Euphemia (nee Maclean) Douglas, of Stirlingshire.
Next of kin recorded as brother, C. Douglas.
No. 362370, Leading Aircraftsman, 60 Squadron, Royal Air Force;
enlisted 1923.
On 13th June 1930 at Kohat on the North West
Frontier of India an aeroplane, on patrol with a crew of two and a load of
live bombs, stalled shortly after takeoff, crashed and burst into flames.
LAC Douglas was the first to arrive at the scene of the crash and found
the air gunner lying two yards from the wreckage, his clothes burning
fiercely.
LAC Douglas put out the flames with an extinguisher, disentangled part
of the gun equipment from the injured man and with the help of another
airman, dragged him clear of the aeroplane and got him into an ambulance.
He then turned his attention to the pilot who was still inside the burning
plane, being fully aware that the aircraft contained live bombs which were
likely to explode at any second.
He had approached to within 12 yards of the wreckage when the first one
went off.
RE Douglas served in Second World War. His commission was announced in
the London Gazette on 20th December 1940, p.7118: "362379 F/Sergt
Robert Ewing Douglas to be Flying Officer (44949) 22.11.40 with seniority
7.11.40."
In the London Gazette on 10th July 1942, p.3041, "R E Douglas
(44949) confirmed war.subs. Flying Officer, RAF. 22.11.41."
Final Rank: Flying Officer. He retired from the RAF in
December 1945. Other Decorations/Medals: R E Douglas was awarded the IGS Medal
with clasp "NW Frontier 1930/31" and was mentioned in despatches.
"The KING has been graciously pleased to
approve of the Award of the Medal of the Military Division of the Most
Excellent Order of the British Empire to the undermentioned:—
For Gallantry.
362370 Leading Aircraftman Robert Ewing
Douglas, Royal Air Force.
For conspicuous gallantry displayed in an
attempt to save the lives of two fellow airmen at Kohat, India, on the 13th
June, 1930.
An aeroplane proceeding on patrol with a
crew of two and a load of live bombs stalled shortly after leaving the
ground and crashed on the edge of the aerodrome, immediately bursting into
flames.
Leading Aircraftman Douglas, who witnessed
the crash, was the first to arrive on the scene of the accident and found
the air gunner lying two yards from the wreckage, his clothes burning badly.
These flames Douglas quenched with a hand extinguisher, and, after
disentangling part of the gun equipment from the injured man's person,
dragged him clear of the machine with the assistance of another airman who
had arrived on the scene, and, after subduing a renewed burst of flames in
his clothing, got him on board the ambulance.
He then turned his attention to the pilot in
the burning machine and had approached to within twelve yards of the
wreckage when the first of the bombs exploded. Realising then that there was
no hope of the pilot being still alive, he started to get clear and was some
thirty yards away when a second bomb exploded.
In
advancing so close to the flames this airman took a grave risk as he was
fully aware that the aircraft contained live bombs of a powerful type."
(London Gazette - 27 March 1931)
Further details on
Flying Officer Robert Ewing Douglas
would be very welcome
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