The Airmen's Stories - F/Lt. A I Robinson

Andrew Ian Robinson was born on 1st January 1917 at Easington Colliery.

He was awarded Aero Certificate 13223 at Newcastle-on Tyne Aero Club on 6th September 1935.

Robinson joined the RAF on a short service commission and began his initial training on 21st December 1936. After completing his training Robinson joined 19 Squadron at Duxford on 23rd October 1937.

19 Squadron Duxford 1938

P/O JAG Gordon (CAN), F/O AJ Banham, S/Ldr. HI Cozens, P/O GL Sinclair

P/O GE Ball, F/Lt. JB Coward, P/O WG Clouston (NZ), P/O TG Pace

P/O AI Robinson, F/O LC Withall (AUS), P/O MCF Mee, P/O EH Thomas

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Above image courtesy of the family of P/O EH Thomas.

He was detached to Sutton Bridge from 6th February to 24th February 1939 for an Air Firing Instructors Course. Robinson was posted away on 6th March 1940 for treatment for appendicitis. He rejoined 19 on 26th April.

He joined 222 Squadron at Digby on 17th May 1940 as 'B' Flight Commander, with the rank of Acting Flight Lieutenant. Over Dunkirk on 1st June he destroyed a Me110 and may have shared in the destruction of a He111.

He probably destroyed a Me109 on 30th August and he destroyed Me109's on 31st August and 2nd September. On this day Robinson made a forced-landing back at Hornchurch in Spitfire I X4280, wounded in the leg after a head-on attack on a Me110. His next sortie was on the 4th.

On 30th October Robinson probably destroyed a Me109. He was posted away to CFS Cranwell on 8th December 1940 for an instructors course.

He commanded 501 Squadron from September 1942 to May 1943.

His subsequent service is currently undocumented until he was released from the RAF in 1946 as a Squadron Leader.

He married Alys Congreve Sandys in January 1948 in the New Forest.

Robinson died in March 1958 in Maidenhead.