Leading Aircraftwoman (LACW) Nan Menzies Roberts 2116233 WAAF (Women’s Auxiliary Air Force) was the daughter of David and Annie Duncan Menzies Kirk, 20 County Place, Perth and the wife of LAC Albert Pearson Roberts, 7 Polnoon Avenue, Glasgow.
On 25 March 1945, a Hawker Typhoon Mk. Ib MN236 of RAF No. 55 Operational Training Unit at RAF Aston Down, piloted by Warrant Officer Robert Thomson RAFVR, crashed into a dispersal hut whilst making a forced landing and exploded. Warrant Officer Thomson was instantly killed along with two others on the ground, Leading Aircraftman Robert Henry Gunn 1537902 RAFVR, age 24, and Leading Aircraftwoman Nan Roberts, age 20.
Two others died in the RAF Hospital at Cosford, Aircraftman 1st Class John Wightman 2214447 RAFVR, on 2 April 1945 and LACW Minnie Nicholson WAAF 2111620, age 21, on 7 April 1945. In addition, 17 others required hospital treatment for serious injuries; eight were placed on the dangerously ill list.
Albert and Nan were married in St Ninian’s Cathedral, Perth, some five weeks earlier – 16 February 1945. Nan Menzies Roberts is buried in Wellshill Cemetery, Perth.
AIRCRAFT OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE 1939-1945: HAWKER HURRICANE. (CH 9220) Hurricane Mark X, AG162 ?EH-W?, of No. 55 Operational Training Unit based at Annan, Dumfriesshire, in flight. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205126957
Grave at Wellshill Cemetery, Perth
