Robert Bissett was born in Edmonton, Alberta, joined the RAF in 1937. Bissett flew Whitley Mk. III aircraft in No. 102 [Ceylon] Squadron and completed his first operation on the second night of the war, 4/5 September 1939, dropping propaganda leaflets on the Ruhr.

When No. 405 Squadron was formed on 23 April 1941, it formed a nucleus of trained Canadian personnel who had served in RAF units.

S/L Bissett transferred to the new Canadian squadron and painted his Wellington Mk. II with the Indian Head, named "Thunder-Cloud". This aircraft is believed to be W5497, which flew 31 operations from 22 June 1941 to 17 April 1942.

On the night of 30 November 1941, S/L Bissett and crew were assigned to fly Wellington Mk. II, serial W5476, code "H" which had completed 26 operations since 18 June 1941. This aircraft had a large red Maple Leaf under the pilot window and three rows of white operation bombs painted on her nose. The crew left to bomb Hamburg and were never seen again, the 12th Wellington Mk. II lost in the squadron.