Flight Sergeant Robert Fairbairn

Flight Sergeant Robert Kerr Yule Fairbairn, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. He was killed in an accident on Active Service, aged 22. on the 31st January 1944. He had been born in Jedburgh and was the son of William and Jessie Fairbairn of 66 Headrigg, Jedburgh. Before enlisting he had worked for the North British Rayon Company in Jedburgh and joined the R.A.F. in 1942. He joined 91 Squadron, Fighter Command which was based at Tangmere in West Sussex and flew the Spitfire Mark X11 on reconnaissance and bomber escort duties. On 31st January he was escorting Allied aircraft on a mission to Dieppe when in bad weather he collided with a fellow Spitfire piloted by Derek Inskip. Both men were killed in the ensuing crash. He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, Surrey. Photo of Flight Sergeant Fairbairn courtesy of J. D. Smith.