CAMPBELL Robert D Fl Lt 211 Sqn

                Fl/Lt Robert (Robby) Douglas Campbell
                         41373   1918 - 1994

Robby Campbell was born in Hamilton New Zealand. He travelled to England in 1938 to take up a position as a flying instructor with a London Aero Club only to be talked into joining the RAF by an old school friend he met by chance in London. He joined on the 6th Oct 1938.
When Italy invaded Greece, 211 Sqn was sent to aid the Greeks. After completing 25 raids, Robby was shot down over Valona harbour and ditched into the sea. With a broken leg, he swam 3 miles to shore , climbed a 400 foot cliff and after a short encounter with helpful partisans was captured by Italian troops. He escaped and made it through German occupied territory and safely back to England
His story as a Blenheim pilot is told by his son-in-law Peter A Wright in his book “The Elephant on my Wing
After the war, Robby was able to undertake several spells in and out of the RNZAF up to 1969