Roderick Alastair Brook Learoyd 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.

Details

He was 27 years old, and a Flight Lieutenant in the 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 aircraft 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.

Further information

He later achieved the rank of Wing Commander.

The medal

please update if you know where his medal is publicly displayed

Reference

• British VCs of World War 2 (John Laffin, 1997)
• Monuments To Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)

See also

External links

• Location of grave and VC medal (West Sussex)

This page has been migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference with permission.