MacRobert's Reply
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MacRobert's Reply was the name given to a famous World War II, Royal Air Force aircraft, a Short Stirling bomber, serial N6086 operated by No. 15 Squadron. The aircraft was paid for by a generous £25,000 donation from Lady Rachel Workman MacRobert, and was named 'MacRobert's Reply' in commemoration of her three sons, all of whom were killed whilst serving with the RAF. The eldest son Alasdair died in a flying accident in 1938, whilst Roderic and Iain were both killed in action during 1941. A second Short Stirling, serial W7531, was also named 'MacRobert's Reply' after the first aircraft N6086 was written off in an accident
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[edit] Short Stirling N6086
Short Stirling N6086 was the first aircraft to bear the name 'MacRobert's Reply' and was handed over to her crew at RAF Wyton on October 10, 1941, with Lady MacRobert attending the naming ceremony. The aircraft had the MacRobert coat of arms painted on to its nose, and was given the code LS-F, LS being the squadron code and the last letter identifying the aircraft as "F for Freddie", a designation all subsequent aircraft given the name 'MacRobert's Reply' have used.
The aircraft flew twelve missions between October 1941 and January 1942, before being written off in a collision with a Spitfire whilst taxiing along the runway at RAF Lossiemouth, in February 1942.
[edit] Short Stirling W7531
W7531 was the second Short Stirling to carry the name 'MacRobert's Reply'. It was not officially named 'MacRobert's Reply', until after entering service in March 1942.
The aircraft was lost during a minelaying raid against the Danish Sound in May 1942. The aircraft was brought down by anti-aircraft fire and crashed into Gals Klint Forest, near the town of Middelfart. Only one member of the crew survived the crash.
[edit] Post War
Since the Second World War, two other aircraft serving with No. 15 Squadron have carried the name 'MacRobert's Reply', and borne the MacRobert family crest; a Blackburn Buccaneer and a Panavia Tornado.
