Roderick Alastair Brook Learoyd
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Wing Commander Roderick Alastair Brook Learoyd VC (5 February 1913-24 January 1996) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
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He was 27 years old, and a Flight Lieutenant in 49 Squadron, Royal Air Force during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 12 August 1940 Flight Lieutenant Learoyd was one of the pilots briefed to bomb the Dortmund-Ems Canal in Germany. Of the four other Hampdens which had already made the attack on that night, two were destroyed and two were badly hit. Flight Lieutenant Learoyd took his plane into the target at only 150 feet, in the full glare of the searchlights and flak barrage all round him. The aircraft was very badly damaged but the bombs were duly dropped and he managed to get his crippled plane back to England where he flew round until first light finally landing without causing injury to his crew or further damage to his aircraft.
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He later achieved the rank of Wing Commander.
[edit] References
- British VCs of World War 2 (John Laffin, 1997)
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
