- Born
- 5 February 1913
- Died
- 24 January 1996, aged 82
- Fate
- Served and survived
Biography
Flight Lieutenant (later Wing Commander) Roderick Alastair Brook ‘Babe’ Learoyd was one of the first two airmen of RAF Bomber Command to receive the Victoria Cross. Born on 5 February 1913, he was a pilot with No. 49 Squadron flying Handley Page Hampdens. On the night of 12 August 1940 he took part in a low-level attack on the heavily defended Dortmund-Ems Canal aqueduct near Munster, a vital inland-waterway link. Going in at around 150 feet through a barrage that had already brought down aircraft ahead of him, Learoyd pressed home his run with his Hampden repeatedly hit and large pieces torn from the wings, and dropped his bombs accurately. He brought the crippled aircraft home and, rather than risk his crew in a night landing, circled base until daylight before putting it down safely. He survived the war and died on 24 January 1996.
Timeline
- 5 February 1913 Born
-
20 August 1940
Gazetted: VC
Victoria Cross -
24 January 1996
Died
aged 82
Service
- Acting Flight Lieutenant, No. 49 Squadron
Awards
-
Victoria Cross (VC) — gazetted 20 August 1940
This officer, as first pilot of a Hampden aircraft, has repeatedly shown the highest conception of his duty and complete indifference to personal danger in making attacks at the lowest altitudes regardless of opposition. On the night of I2th August, 1940, he was detailed to attack a special objective on the Dortmund-Ems Canal. He had attacked this objective on a previous occasion and was well aware of the risks entailed. To achieve success it was necessary to approach from a direction well known to the enemy, through a lane of especially disposed anti-aircraft defences, and in the face of the most intense point blank fire from guns of all calibres. The reception of the preceding aircraft mig.