Sgt K. Roderick & Stirling R9314

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Dave_Richardson
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Sgt K. Roderick & Stirling R9314

Post by Dave_Richardson »

This request for information came from the 'guestbook'

for Kev

This information is from The Commonwealth War Graves Commission:

Name: RODERICK, KEITH
Initials: K
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant (Air Gunner)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 149 Sqdn.
Age: 21
Date of Death: 06/06/1942
Service No: 927348
Additional information: Son of William George and Madeline Roderick, of Ogmore-by-Sea, Glamorgan.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Ref: XVII. B. 5.
Cemetery: CEMENT HOUSE CEMETERY
Country: Belgium
Locality: Langemark-Poelkapelle, West-V.


This information from the Squadron Operational Record Book for 1942:

5/6 June, Stirling MK1 R9314 coded OJ-T
Crew:
F/Sgt E.W. Whitney Captain
F/Sgt P.C. Jones Observer
Sgt B.G. Cheek W/Opr
Sgt R. Shields F/Eng
Sgt W.L. Martin W/Opr. (F.G.)
Sgt K. Roderick A.G. (R.G.)

Time up 23:46
Time down 03:15 (Ditched)

Details of Sortie or Flight
“Target ESSEN. Bombs dropped East of Kruppe Works and incendiaries seen to ignite. Aircraft was forced down in sea after being in collision with Wellington. Rear turret taken away by Wellington and rear gunner killed. Rest of crew escaped in dinghy and were sighted at 1400hrs 8 miles from the Belgian coast and picked up by Air/Sea Rescue Service, Ramsgate at 18:15 hrs.”

The Squadron Operational Record Book contradicts the Squadron history book ‘Strong by Night’ and a certain other website which both state that the collision was with a Messerschmitt 110 rather than a Wellington. Does anyone have any further information?

With regard to the shooting down of a Bf 109:
There’s no mention of the shooting down of a Bf 109 on the return leg from the 1000 bomber raid on Cologne, in fact the ORB is very brief for that mission. Does anyone know how to confirm if a 109 was claimed by this aircraft?

30/31 May, Stirling MK1 N6082 coded OJ-Q
Crew:
F/Sgt Whitney Captain
PO White Observer
Sgt Cheek W/Opr
Sgt Shields F/Eng
Sgt Martin A.G. (F.G.)
Sgt Roderick A.G. (R.G.)
Sgt R**her A.G. (M.U.)

Time up 23:06
Time down ?
Details of Sortie or Flight
“Target KOLN. All bombs dropped in built up area near the centre of town. Fires observed covering whole town, especially fierce on west side of river.”

Note the use of a different aircraft on both dates.

Dave
Last edited by Dave_Richardson on Wed Dec 29, 2010 10:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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smudgersmith218
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Re: Sgt K. Roderick & Stirling R9314

Post by smudgersmith218 »

Hi Dave,

Cannot help with the Bf109 claim, but have this document on file regarding the encounter with the Wellington. Ref Air25/65

Hope of use mate. ;)
Attachments
IMG_0221.JPG
IMG_0221.JPG (87.17 KiB) Viewed 6015 times
No.218 (Gold Coast) Squadron 1918-1945
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Dave_Richardson
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Re: Sgt K. Roderick & Stirling R9314

Post by Dave_Richardson »

Cheers Steve

Did you get the email about the ORB?

Dave
Terry Lawson
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Re: Sgt K. Roderick & Stirling R9314

Post by Terry Lawson »

Smudger

Can't open attachment re Wellington collision :(

I'm researching Keith Roderick 927348, d. 6th June 1942, for my old school WWII memorial (Purley Grammar School)

What am I doing wrong?

Regards


Terry Lawson
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K4KittyCrew
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Re: Sgt K. Roderick & Stirling R9314

Post by K4KittyCrew »

Hi Terry and welcome to the forum.
Some of the images posted have 'locked' themselves and or become corrupted ( it's ok, they can't hurt you ).
The process happened one day when site changes were being made. Unfortunately, we can no longer open them unless they are removed, saved under a different file name and re-posted.

I've started to do some but only members who posted the images can 'upgrade' their photos.
On a more positive note, we still have 1000's of images active on the forum, located throughout the many threads.
Cheers,
John
K for Kitty Crew - Winthorpe, 1661 HCU's - stirlingaircraftsoc.raf38group.org/
630 Squadron - East Kirkby
" There is nothing glorious about war with the exception of those who served us so valiantly"
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