Robert Reginald Sanderson, DFC RIP

Kyt · Mar 25, 2009

A bit belated but....

Doodlebug hunter buzzed along | theage.com.au

PILOT, CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT, EDUCATOR
19-7-1918 — 22-12-2008

BOB Sanderson, a decorated RAAF pilot in World War II who became a successful chartered accountant and company secretary, and gave his time to community service, especially in education, has died at a Brighton nursing home. He was 90.

Bob was born in Sydney into a maternal family of early settlers, and was educated at Brighton Grammar School after his family moved to Melbourne.

He became both captain and dux of the school, a lieutenant in the Cadet Corps, and the school's representative at the Lord Somers Camp — the not-for-profit youth organisation promoting leadership and acceptance of others.

When war broke out, Bob was already in the national militia, but after about a year he transferred to the RAAF. Ten of the 25 trainees in his elementary flight training course at Essendon were killed during the war; the survivors included John Gorton, who went on to be prime minister of Australia.

Bob arrived in Britain in 1941, and was soon seconded to No. 414 Royal Canadian Air Force squadron, and then to No. 168 Royal Air Force fighter reconnaissance squadron. He made his most intense contribution in the latter squadron, operating at very low level over enemy territory in north-western Europe to gather photographic and visual information about V1 flying bomb sites, enemy naval and troop movements and locations, and results of previous bombing raids — often in the face of heavy enemy gunfire.

Bob was commended for making what was considered a risky manoeuvre to achieve better photographs: diving from high altitudes down to below 1000 feet and sometimes to near-treetop altitude, at speeds up to 800 km/h, he would apply rudder briefly to his Mustang to slow the wing carrying the camera and so reduce blur on the resulting image.

In 1944, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for exceptionally informative photographs of flying bomb sites (V1s killed 6184 people in England and injured 17,981) and radar installations near the north-western French coast. His DFC citation noted, "He has displayed great determination and devotion to duty and has proved a most courageous and spirited leader."

After serving as a senior photoreconnaissance instructor with the RCAF, Bob returned to Australia in 1945 and retired from the RAAF as a squadron leader. He had flown 16 different classes of aircraft, including Wirraways, Tomahawks, and the legendary Mustang and Spitfire, and had landed at 61 different wartime airfields across Britain and Europe.

After the war he completed a commerce degree at Melbourne University, which set him up for a career in civilian life. He became a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and an associate of Company Secretaries Australia. His ability led him to partnerships, first in the long-established practice of Cook, Tomlins and Mirams, and later in Peat, Marwick, Mitchell and Co (now KPMG), whose merger with Cook, Tomlins and Mirams he helped to negotiate.

Bob's main commercial interest was the mining industry, at a time when it was booming. He was a valued adviser to several leading companies, and while trips in corporate aircraft to remote mining locations in Queensland and Western Australia took him back close to the cockpit, flying never became a peacetime hobby. However, he could not drive past an airport without stopping to watch flight operations.

In 1961, client companies made it possible for Bob to attend the advanced management program at the Harvard Business School in the United States, an experience that laid the foundation for the remainder of his career.

Alongside his work, Bob maintained an active involvement in Brighton Grammar School. He was on the school's council for 41 years from 1949 — chairman for 22 of those years — and in 1980, BGS named its new school hall the Robert Sanderson Centenary Hall, in gratitude for his service.

In addition, Bob became a tutor at Trinity College at Melbourne University, and for 33 years was also on the the college council.

He contributed significantly to establishing Trinity's foundation studies program for incoming international students, and in 1989 he was elected a fellow of the college.

When Bob retired in 1982, he became a student once again and graduated from Melbourne University with a master of environmental studies degree in 1984. He completed the course for enjoyment and interest and, in part, to take an environmental perspective on the mining industry in which he had been involved.

On his 80th birthday, Bob turned the clock back and flew as a passenger in a vintage Mustang, ironically registered VH-BOB. His was a life full of achievement, with dedicated service to country and community, and to enjoying his family and friends.

He is survived by Ruth, his wife of 60 years, daughters Penny, Kate and Pru, and three grandchildren.

Professor Penny Sanderson is Bob Sanderson's daughter; Peter Isaacson, a highly decorated World War II Pathfinder pilot and former publisher, was a long-time friend.
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Antipodean Andy · Mar 25, 2009

What a pilot. Melbourne chap too. RIP.

IIRC, Peter Isaacson is the bloke who flew a Lanc under the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Kyt · Mar 25, 2009

"Q" for Queenie - The first Lancaster to fly to Australia

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