The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. R I Mowat

Robert Innes Mowat was born at Lybster, Caithness, Scotland on 17th November 1915 and educated at the local school. Before the war he was a haulage contractor.

He joined the RAFVR on 8th December 1939 as an Airman u/t WOp/AG.

After completing his training Mowat was posted to 248 Squadron at Sumburgh on 9th October 1940.

He joined 53 Squadron at Bircham Newton on 10th July 1941 and on 11th December he went to a Hudson ferrying unit for service in India.

Mowat joined 353 Squadron at its formation at Dum Dum on 1st June 1942 and served with it in India and Burma until March 1944.

He then went to 294 Squadron, an ASR unit operating in Wellington and Walrus aircraft along the coast of North Africa, Egypt, Palestine and Cyprus.

After returning to the UK in February 1945 Mowat’s final posting was as a flying controller in the Orkneys.

He was released from the RAF on 30th October 1945 as a Warrant Officer.

He was awarded a MBE in 1998 for services to the Lhaidhay Croft Museum, Dunbeath.

Mowat died on 22nd October 2002.