After completing his flight training the following year, he was sent to the United Kingdom to serve with the Royal Air Force.

Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), he returned to the United Kingdom later in the year as an instructor.

Robert Barson Cowper was born in Broken Hill in New South Wales, Australia, on 24 June 1922.

Cowper was educated at Queen's College in North Adelaide and once he finished his schooling, he found employment as a draughtsman.

Commissioned as a pilot officer in July, he proceeded to the United Kingdom the following month to serve with the Royal Air Force (RAF).

Training as a night fighting squadron, it became operational in December but in early 1942 began to re-equip with the twin-engined Bristol Beaufighter heavy fighter.

On the night of 18 April, Cowper made his first claim, for a Messerschmitt Me 210 heavy fighter that was damaged over the town of Marsala.

He and his navigator baled out; the latter, flying in Watson's stead, was lost at sea while Cowper, suffering severe cuts and a broken nose, apparently was in free-fall for some time in a state of unconsciousness before awaking and opening his parachute.

[2][5] He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) at the end of August; the citation, published in The London Gazette, read: This officer has completed 68 sorties and has displayed great courage and determination.

[2] It was based at Ford, carrying out night patrols over the south of England using de Havilland Mosquito Mk XVII heavy fighters.

Once Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of Normandy, commenced on 6 June, it flew at night over the landing beaches.

[9] Reunited with Watson as his navigator and radar operator, Cowper destroyed a Heinkel He 177 heavy bomber west of Cherbourg on the night of 9 June.

456 Squadron became involved in Operation Diver, the RAF's campaign against German V-1 flying bombs targeting the south of England.

At the end of the year it moved north to RAF Church Fenton and in the following months saw more action dealing with incoming Luftwaffe night fighter attacks on bomber bases in England.

456 Squadron began operating from RAF Bradwell Bay in March as bomber-support, a duty it performed until the end of the war in Europe.

[2] Cowper returned to Australia with his wife, Katherine née McCall, who he had met during his time at Ballyhalbert and married in 1943 and their daughter.

[2][6] One of ten Australian war veterans appointed a Chevalier (Knight) of the French Legion of Honour on 7 June 2004 in a ceremony in Canberra recognising the 60th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy, Cowper was later awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his work in veteran's affairs.