Flight Lieutenant Robert Hudson Henderson IRELAND (47491)
11 Squadron Royal Air Force

Date of birth: 23rd April 1917
Date of death: 20th April 1945

Killed in action aged 27
Buried at Taukkyan War Cemetery Plot 25 Row H Grave 1
He was born in London on the 23rd of April 1917, the only son of Robert Henderson Ireland, businessman, and Mary Isobel (nee Banks) of 71, Kenway Road, London SW5.

He was educated at St Hugh's School, Bickley, and at the King's School Canterbury from September 1930 to April 1933, where he was in The Grange. He was an entrance scholar and Junior King's Scholar in 1930.

On leaving school he went to work as a publicity agent. He was married at Kensington in 1938 to Margaret Ross Sutherland (nee Lister) and they lived at 19, Basil Street in Chelsea.

On the outbreak of war, he enlisted as Private 2570796 in the Royal Corps of Signals before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Intelligence Corps on the General List. He transferred to the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and was appointed as a Pilot Officer on the 29th of November 1941. He was promoted to Flying Officer on the 1st of October 1942 and to Flight Lieutenant on the 29th of November 1943.

He was posted to 11 Squadron who were operating Hurricane IIC aircraft from an airfield at Sinthe in a ground attack role supporting the 14th Army's advance in Burma.

On the 20th of April 1945 Robert Ireland took off with his squadron at 10.45 hours in Hurricane Mk IIC EX-K to bomb and strafe enemy positions which surrounded a pagoda.

They arrived over the target at 11.30 and the first six Hurricanes flew in dropping 12 250lbs bombs on the target which they followed by two strafing runs over the same area. They were followed by the other six aircraft from the squadron, which included Robert Ireland, who dropped a further 11 250lbs bombs which they followed up with three strafing runs although the effect of these was unclear as there were so many trees in the target area. During his run Ireland had only managed to release one of his bombs and despite his attempts to shake it loose during the homeward journey, it would not fall clear of the aeroplane.

He decided to attempt to land at base with the bomb still attached and when he touched down the bomb exploded killing him and destroying his aircraft.
The Grange

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