F/L Robert “Doc” Henderson MRCS LRCP RAFVR.
103 Squadron Medical Officer 1942 to 1945
Above - Robert Henderson on the right pictured with Mike Frost when on a “Dodge” trip to Naples soon after VE Day
Doc Henderson was posted to Elsham Wolds in 1942 as the 103 Squadron Medical Officer under Squadron Leader John Gauvain, the Station Medical Officer, and became widely respected.
A former 103 Squadron officer recalled F/L Henderson with great affection. “ Those who flew knew him as a man of compassion, a great and caring doctor and to hell with the protocol. He had an insatiable appetite to go on ops and he was credited with going on 18 or 19. He may have well done more.”
Most of these trips were flown with Edgar Jones and crew. The purpose was to study first hand the effects on aircrew of flying under operational conditions using oxygen at altitude in unpressurised and partially heated aircraft.
All these operations were without formal authorisation and none are noted in the Squadron records. He was eventually told he had done enough and these operations were to cease.
“Because of that he was one of the problem boys in the Service but when he appeared before the CO he said it was part of his job as Medical Officer to study the effects of stress on the airmen under his care and to fully understand this he had to experience this for himself at first hand.”
He left the RAF after the war, returned to civilian practice and emigrated to Canada. He was a very good friend of former 103 Sqn Canadian pilot Edgar Jones DFC and bar. A dedicated doctor and most intelligent man he was also a very interesting and gifted speaker. He sadly passed away in Canada some years ago.
Written by David Fell.
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