History of wireless telegraphy and broadcasting in Australia/Topical/Biographies/Robert Kelvin Allen/Notes

Non-chronological material
4PR's entry in the Australian War Memorial's Roll of Honour * ROLL OF HONOUR: Robert Kelvin Allen
 * Service number: 404945
 * Rank:	Pilot Officer
 * Unit:	No. 13 Squadron
 * Service: Royal Australian Air Force
 * Conflict/Operation: Second World War, 1939-1945
 * Conflict Eligibility Date: Second World War, 1939-1947
 * Date of Death: 01 January 1942
 * Place of Death: Maluku, Indonesia
 * Cause of Death: Accidental
 * Cemetery or Memorial Details: Ambon Memorial, Ambon, Maluku, Indonesia
 * Source: AWM148 Roll of Honour cards, 1939-1945 War, Air Force
 * Location on the Roll of Honour: Robert Kelvin Allen's name is located at panel 100 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial (as indicated by the poppy on the plan).

Entry for 4PR's fatal crash in Aviation Safety Network * Date: 01-JAN-1942
 * Time:	16:40
 * Type:	Silhouette image of generic L14 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different - Lockheed Hudson
 * Owner/operator: 13 Sqn RAAF
 * Registration:	A16-29
 * C/n / msn: 1880
 * Fatalities: Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 4
 * Other fatalities: 0
 * Aircraft damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
 * Location: Off Ambon - Indonesia
 * Phase: Initial climb
 * Nature: Military
 * Departure airport: Laha Airfield
 * Destination airport:
 * Narrative: Crashed after loss of control due to port engine fire and starboard engine failure. One survivor recovered by US Navy PBY.
 * F/O John Turnbull, 642 (pilot) killed
 * F/O Robert Kelvin Allen, 404945 killed
 * SGT Walter John Lay, 408079 killed
 * SGT B. E. Hack, 407102 survived
 * Sources:
 * http://www.adf-gallery.com.au//
 * www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/hudson/A16-29.html

Entry for 4PR's crash in Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives CRASH OF A LOCKHEED L-414 HUDSON I OFF AMBONE: 3 KILLED
 * Date & Time: Jan 1, 1942 at 1640 LT
 * Type of aircraft: Lockheed L-414 Hudson
 * Operator: RAAF
 * Registration: A16-29
 * Flight Phase: Takeoff (climb)
 * Flight Type: Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
 * Survivors: Yes
 * Site: Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
 * MSN: 414-1880
 * YOM: 1940
 * Location: Ambon-Pattimura Maluku
 * Country: Indonesia
 * Region: Asia
 * Crew on board: 4
 * Crew fatalities: 3
 * Pax on board: 0
 * Pax fatalities: 0
 * Other fatalities: 0
 * Total fatalities: 3
 * Circumstances: Shortly after take off, while climbing, the aircraft stalled and crashed into the sea few hundred yards off shore. Three crew members were killed while the fourth occupant was injured.
 * Crew (13th Squadron):
 * F/O John Turnbull, pilot, †
 * F/O Robert Kelvin Allen, †
 * Sgt Walter John Lay, †
 * Sgt B. E. Hack.
 * Probable cause: The loss of control was caused by a fire on left engine and a failure of the right engine during the initial climb.

Entry for 4PR in Royal Air Force Commands database Pilot Officer Robert Kelvin ALLEN (404945) of the Royal Australian Air Force
 * Circumstances of Death: Lost in aircraft Hudson A16-29
 * Death of Death 1942-01-01
 * Age : 25 years.
 * Served in 13 Sqdn RAAF
 * Burial/Commemoration Details : Column 9. at Ambon Memorial, Indonesia
 * More Details: SON OF ROBERT HARTLEY AND DAISY MAUD ALLEN, OF IPSWICH, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA.

Thumbnail history of the aircraft in which 4PR passed '''ADF-SERIALS. Australian & New Zealand Military Aircraft. Serials & History.'''
 * RAAF A16 Lockheed Hudson Mk.I/Mk.II/Mk.III/Mk.IIIA/Mk.IV/MK.IVA RAAF Serials
 * RAAF Serial: A16-29
 * Type: Mk.I
 * Const No.: 1880
 * USAAF Serial:	n/a
 * RAF Serial: (blank)
 * Delivered: 09/03/40
 * Aircraft History:
 * Delivered on SS Kaituna to Sydney.
 * Rec 2AD ex USA 09/03/40.
 * Issued to 14Sqn RAAF 04/04/40.
 * Issued 13 Sqn RAAF 28/12/41.
 * Accident and loss at 1640Hrs on the 01/01/42, after take-off from Laha, crashed into sea near Ambon, Indonesia when pilot lost control after an starboard engine stopped and then suffering fire in port engine.
 * Witnessed by crews of two other aircraft in flight, A16-84 and A16-96.
 * Crew; FLGOFF John Turnbull Serv# 642 (Killed), PLTOFF Robert Kelvin Allen Serv#404945 (Killed), and SGT Walter John Lay Serv#408079 (killed) and Sgt B E Hack Serv#407102 survived and picked up by USN Catalina Flying Boat but was seriously injured with right compound leg fracture, burns to body and cuts and placed into Ambon Hospital.

1882 09
Qld birth registration for 4PR's father
 * Qld BDM
 * Birth registration: Robert Hartley Allen
 * Birth date: 14/09/1882
 * Mother's name: Mary Jane Abbott
 * Father/parent's name: William Allen
 * Registration details: 1882/C/6075

Birth notice for 4PR's father '''BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, & DEATHS. BIRTH.'''. . . ALLEN.— On the 14th September, at her residence, Crescent Lodge, Rockhampton, the wife of William Allen, of a son.

1887 07
Qld birth registration for 4PR's mother
 * Qld BDM
 * Birth registration: Daisy Maud Cole
 * Birth date: 24/07/1887
 * Mother's name: Jane Haine
 * Father/parent's name: William Henry Cole
 * Registration details: 1887/M/1502

1912 07
Qld marriage registration for 4PR's parents
 * Qld BDM
 * Marriage registration: Robert Hartley Allen
 * Marriage date: 17/07/1912
 * Spouse's name: Daisy Maud Cole
 * Registration details: 1912/C/2885

1913 09
Qld birth registration for 4PR's brother Clive Hartley Allen
 * Qld BDM
 * Birth registration: Clive Hartley Allen
 * Birth date: 14/09/1913
 * Mother's name: Daisy Maud Cole
 * Father/parent's name: Robert Hartley Allen
 * Registration details: 1913/C/12431

1916 06
Qld birth registration for 4PR
 * Qld BDM
 * Birth registration: Robert Kelvin Allen
 * Birth date: 17/06/1916
 * Mother's name: Daisy Maud Cole
 * Father/parent's name: Robert Hartley Allen
 * Registration details: 1916/C/8582

1919 11
Qld birth registration for 4PR's sister Marjorie Lorna Jean Allen
 * Qld BDM
 * Birth registration: Marjorie Lorna Jean Allen
 * Birth date: 25/11/1919
 * Mother's name: Daisy Maud Cole
 * Father/parent's name: Robert Hartley Allen
 * Registration details: 1920/C/125

1929 06
4PR passes the State Scholarship examination at Goondiwindi "STATE SCHOLARSHIPS. EXAMINATION RESULTS. Country Successes. DEPARTMENTAL LIST. BRISBANE, Saturday.— Country results of the recent State Scholarship Examination, released by the Department of Public Instruction today, are as fellows:— . . . GOONDIWINDI. Robert Kelvin Allen, Robert Henry Doyle, Louis Arthur Eric McCorkell, Charles Albert Myers, Alan Clifford Palmer Smart, Leo Stephen Stratford, Eleanor Joyce Fletcher"

1932 01
4PR gains a good pass in the Junior certificate examinations "THE JUNIOR. EXAMINATION RESULTS. Downs Students. LARGE NUMBER OF PASSES. BRISBANE, Thursday.— There were 3689 entries for the junior public examination held in November last. The results have now been completed, except in the case of 67 candidates whose position in regard to the award of certificates requires further consideration in relation to the compulsory requirements in English. Owing to the abnormally large increase in the number of entries for 1931, extended time had to be granted to the examiners for the completion of their part of the work, and the detailed compilation of the results by the clerical staff has been correspondingly affected. The claims of the most successful candidates in regard to the award of the Byrnes Memorial medal and the Brunton Stephens Essay Prize are now being reviewed, and the names of the winners will be announced as early as practicable. Particulars in regard to percentage of candidates who have qualified for certificates will be afforded at the same time. In the particulars that follow the several subjects of the examination are represented by numerals, as indicated: (1) English; (2) French; (3) German; (4) Latin; (5) Greek; (6) English History); (7) Geography; (8) Arithmetic; (9) Algebra; (10) Geometry; (11) Chemistry; (12) Physics; (13) Geology; (14) Botany; (15) Physiology; (16) Art; (17) Music; (18) Freehand Drawing; (19) Theory of Music; (20) Pianoforte; (21) Violin; (22) Organ; (23) Singing; (24) Elocution; (25) Book-keeping and Business Methods; (26) Stenotyping; (27) Home Science (A); (28) Home Science (B); (29) Agricultural Mechanics; (30) Animal Husbandry; (31) Horticulture; (32) Principles of Agriculture; (33) Geometrical Drawing and Perspective; (34) Industrial A (Woodwork); (35) Industrial B (Metalwork); (36) Industrial C (Trade Drawing); (37) Trigonometry (S.P.S.). In the junior examination endorsed certificates are granted in the following sections, namely, general section, art, commercial, home science, agricultural, and industrial. In the detailed results the candidates who have qualified for endorsed certificates are indicated by the letters E.C. in brackets at the end of their results, and the respective sections are represented by the following numerals entered in brackets with the letters mentioned: (1) General Section; (2) Art Section; (3) Commercial Section; (4) Home Science Section; (5) Agricultural Section; and (6) Industrial Section. Following are the names (with details of results in each case) of the candidates from the centres (with the exception of the outstanding cases referred to in paragraph 1 above), who have fulfilled the requirements for certificates:—. . . WARWICK CENTRE. . . . SCOTS COLLEGE. Robert Kevin Allen: 1B, 2C, 4A, 6C, 8B, 9A, 10A, 12A (E.C.1.)."

1932 02
4PR awarded university extension as a result of his junior scholarship pass "EXTENSION WINNERS. UNIVERSITY JUNIOR. Successful Candidates. MANY FROM TOOWOOMBA. BRISBANE, Tuesday.— The following State Scholarship holders have qualified for extension scholarships, as a result of the University Junior examination:— . . . WARWICK CENTRE. . . . SCOTS COLLEGE. Robert Kevin Allen. . .."

1937 08
4AW participates in record breaking 5 metre experiments by the WIAQ, involved in Montville party "Queenslanders Make Record Short-Wave Transmission. An Australian record was established by members of the Wireless Institute of Australia (Queensland division) at the weekend when, working on a wavelength of 5 metres, a transmission was carried out between Montville and Sprlngbrook, a distance of 109 miles. The previous longest distance transmission on this wavelength was made recently between Sydney and Newcastle, a distance of 75 miles. Other transmissions made on the same wavelength at the weekend were between Springbrook and Toowoomba, a distance of 90 miles, between Brisbane and Springbrook, 58 miles, and between Brisbane and Montville, 52 miles. All the equipment used was of a portable type, in some cases a specially arranged beam aerial being used and in others an ordinary conventional aerial of the vertical type. According to Mr. A. E. Walz, the president of the Queensland division, the signal strengths received in the morning indicated that it would have been possible to extend the transmission for at least a further 100 miles. Those who took part in the transmissions were: Springbrook, H. Scholz; Montville, A. E. Walz (4AW); P. Hubsher (4UL), R. Allen (4PR), Toowoomba; H. Buzacott (4UZ), —, Blades (4RX) Mount Coot-tha, W. L. Herston (4RY), R. Chadwick (4GU); Mount Gravatt, the official station, 4WI."

Further details of 4AW's involvement above "Montville. . . . Wireless Experiment. Messrs. A. E. Walz (4HW) (sic, 4AW), P. Hubsher (4UL) and R. Allen (4PR), members of the Wireless Institute, visited Montville last weekend for the purpose of conducting experiments on the ultra-short wave for the purpose of endeavouring to establish a new long distance record between two land stations on the 5 meter wave length. Aerials were erected on the front of the range in Mr. Geo. Marshall's paddock. During Saturday evening and Sunday contact was made with several places. The standing record was 75 miles between Newcastle and Sydney, but by making contact with a party at Springbrook, led by Mr. H. Scholz (4HP) (sic, 4HR), a calculated distance of over 100 miles, the previous record was broken. Contact was also made with parties at Mt. Cootha, and Mt. Gravatt (Brisbane). Mr. Scholz's party at Springbrook also established contact with a party at Toowoomba (4UZ), a distance which would also break the previous record."

1940
Caption of photo of aircrew colleague Turnbull, notes 4PR killed with him in crash of Hudson A16-29 "Group portrait of Aircrew trainees; amongst this group is 642 Aircraftman (later Flying Officer [FO]) John Turnbull of Toorak, Victoria. FO Turnbull later served with 13 Squadron and was killed on operations over the Netherlands East Indies on 1 January 1942. The airfield in the Northern Territory was named Turnbull Field in his honour. FO Turnbull was piloting A16-29, one of three Hudson aircraft which had been sent on a mission to locate shipping. Flying back low at 100 metres to avoid detection by the Japanese, his starbord engine failed and he made an attempt to jettison his bombs and gain some height; his aircraft stalled and crashed. FO Turnbull, 404945 Pilot Officer Robert Kelvin Allen and 408079 Sergeant Walter John Lay were all killed in this crash. The badly burned gunner, Sergeant Bernie Hack survived the crash and was picked up by Air Sea Rescue."

1941 09
4PR promoted from Leading Aircraftman to Pilot Officer "ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE. HIS Excellency the Governor-General in Council has approved of the following changes being made:— CITIZEN AIR FORCE. General Duties Branch. The following Leading Aircraftmen are appointed to commissions on probation with the rank of Pilot Officer with effect from the dates indicated:— . . . No. 404945 Robert Kelvin Allen . .."

1942 01
Qld death registration for 4PR
 * Qld BDM
 * Death registration: Robert Kelvin Allen
 * Death date: 01/01/1942
 * Mother's name: Daisy Maud Cole
 * Father/parent's name: Robert Hartley Allen
 * Registration details: 1943/S/961

First newspaper report of 4PR killed in action "Magistrate's Son Killed In Action. Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Alien, of Townsville, have been informed that on January 1, last, their second son, Robert Kelvin Allen, who was aged 25 years, was killed on active service in an aircraft accident at Laha, N.E.I. Mr. Allen, who now is Stipendiary Magistrate at Townsville, formerly filled that post at Innisfail, where, with Mrs. Allen, he has many friends who will extend the bereaved parents and their family sincere sympathy upon the loss of a galant young Australian."

Another report of 4PR's death, location now suppressed "QUEENSLAND AIRMEN DEAD. . . . Mr. R. H. Allen, S.M., and Mrs. Allen, of Townsville, have been advised of the death of their second son, Pilot Officer Robert Kelvin Allen, of the R.A.A.F., in an aircraft accident while on active service in the Near East. Pilot-Officer Allen, who was 25, was educated at the Scots College, Warwick, and subsequently was employed in the Treasury Department, Brisbane. He entered on R.A.A.F. training in January, 1940, and after his appointment to commissioned rank he was transferred to Townsville, a month later went to Laverton for a navigation course, and was sent to Darwin in December."

As previous, some further detail "KILLED IN ACTION. Townsville Pilot. TOWNSVILLE, Monday.— Mr. R. H. Allen, Stipendiary Magistrate, and Mrs. Allen, of Townsville, have been advised of the death of their second son, Pilot-Officer Robert Kelvin Allen, R.A.A.F., in an aircraft accident whilst on active service in the Near East. Pilot-Officer Allen, who was 25 years of age, was educated at Scots College, Warwick, and then employed in the Treasury Department, Brisbane. He entered on R.A.A.F. training in January, 1940, and in August, 1941, secured the highest average in the final results in 44 trainees of No. 3 Service Flying Training School. He secured his wings and was appointed to commissioned rank. He was transferred to Townsville and a month later sent to Laverton for the navigation course. He went to Darwin in December."

As previous, further detail again "PERSONAL. . . . Mr. R. H. Allen, Stipendiary Magistrate and Mrs. Allen, of Townsville, have been advised of the death of their second son, Pilot Officer Robert Kelvin Allen, R.A.A.F., in an aircraft accident while on active service in the Near East. Pilot Officer Allen, who was 25 years of age, was educated at The Scots College, Warwick, and, prior to entering on his training course in January, 1940, was employed by the Queensland Government in the Treasury Department, Brisbane. He entered Amberley and, on graduating, went to Tamworth Flying School and secured an A.A. course. Returning to Amberley he secured the highest points, 2238, for all examinations and topped 44 trainees in the No. 3 Service Flying Training School. Securing his wings and commissioned rank. Pilot Officer Allen was transferred to Townsville in August last. A month later he was sent to Laverton for a navigation and reconnaissance course, and then transferred to Darwin in December,"

As previous, further detail from St George perspective "KILLED ON ACTIVE SERVICE. FORMER P.M.'s SON. Mr. R. H. Allen S.M., and Mrs. Allen, of Townsville, have been advised of the death of their second son Pilot Officer Robert Kelvin Allen, of the R.A.A.F., in an aircraft accident while on active service in the Near East. Pilot Officer Allen who was 25, was educated at the Scots College, Warwick. and subsequently was employed in the Treasury Department, Brisbane. Mr. R. H. Allen was for many years Police Magistrate stationed at Goondiwindi, and visited St. George, on numerous occasions."

1944 11
Qld death registration for 4PR's, not long after his son's passing
 * Qld BDM
 * Death registration: Robert Hartley Allen
 * Death date: 15/11/1944
 * Mother's name: Mary Abbott
 * Father/parent's name: William Allen
 * Registration details: 1944/C/4819

1967 02
Qld death registration for 4PR's mother
 * Qld BDM
 * Death registration: Daisy Maud Allen
 * Death date: 24/02/1967
 * Mother's name: Mary Haine
 * Father/parent's name: William Henry Cole
 * Registration details: 1967/C/860