Rank & Name: W/O Rhoderic Norton Pike | ||
Date of Death: N/A | ||
Details: | ||
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Further Information | ||
"Four Aces" - RAF Sywell - 1939 Update Dec. 2012: Rod was a member of F/L Thomas' crew on 59 Sqdn that sunk U-844 on 16/10/1943. After this attack upon returning to base they sighted another U-boat (U-540) and attempted an unsuccessful attack that was fought off with heavy A.A fire. I guess having already been hit by U-844 in the port engine and towards the end of their patrol (thus low on fuel) they hadn't pressed home the matter with U-540. It's most likely that Thomas & crew in S/59 had already spent their load of DC's (normally 8-12 in total were carried and 8 had been used on U-844) and were attacking with M.G fire only, without the capability of sinking it... In France, 57 Sqdn was part of the "Air Component" of the British Expeditionary Force - (BEF) as part of the Army Co-Operation "70 Wing". They were in the role of "bomber" along with 18 Sqdn. All Blenheim squadrons in France suffered heavily, especially 57, which lost over 30 aircraft. He was very lucky to have survived... He later joined 221 Sqdn - Coastal Command Sqdn operating the Vickers Wellington, aka "Wimpy". Between Jan-March 1942 - 221 were reassigned to the Middle East - arriving to base at L.G 86 in Eygpt.
Training - RAF Sywell - 1939
In Eygpt - With 221 Sqdn - (bottom left)
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Rest In Peace |