Last Post - Flight Sergeant Roland James Saundercook
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Source: http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers
In Memory of
Flight Sergeant ROLAND JAMES SAUNDERCOOK
R/269079, 576 (R.A.F.) Sqdn., Royal Canadian Air Force
who died
on 17 March 1945
Remembered with honour
DURNBACH WAR CEMETERY
Commemorated in perpetuity by
the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Flight Sergeant Roland James Saundercook trained as an Airgunner. He and Edward James Peverley, who attended No. 3 B&G School with many of the crew in this site, joined the Dotten Crew 576 (R.A.F) Squadron. His plane was lost on a daytime operation to Nuremburg, Germany.
F/Lt. F. E. Dotten, RCAF
and crew flying Lancaster PB785 failed to return from this operation.
F/O WF. Nicol, RCAF
F/O D.S. Quinn, RCAF
F/S. J.S.M. Gibb, RCAF
F/S. R.J.Saundercock, RCAF
F/S E.J. Peverley, RCAF
All failed to return. .
Lost Bomber Report
Serial Range PA964 - PD196 This aircraft was one of 800 Lancasters ordered from A.V.Roe (Chadderton) apr43 of which 756 were delivered as 255 Mk.1s, 500 Mk.111s and one Lancastrian between May44 and Mar45. PB785 was a Mk.1 and was delivered to 576 Sqdn 30Nov44. Took part in the following Key Operations: Merseburg 6/7Dec44; Essen 12/13Dec44; Nuremburg 2/3Jan45; Munich 7/8Jan45; Dortmund 20/21Feb45; Cologne 2Mar45-Daylight; Essen 11Mar45-Daylight; Dortmund 12Mar45-Daylight; Nuremburg 16/17Mar45-Lost. PB785 was one of three 576 Sqdn Lancasters lost on this operation. See: PA265; ME317. Airborne 1715 16Mar45 from Fiskerton. all are buried in Dornbach War Cemetery. At 36, Sgt Eve was well above the average age for air- crew. It is believed F/O Quinn preserved his mother's maiden or family name by taking swallow as his second Christian name. F/L F.E.Dotten RCAF KIA Sgt J.Eve KIA F/O W.F.Nicol RCAF KIA F/O D.S.Quinn RCAF KIA F/S J.S.M.Gibb RCAF KIA F/S R.J.Saundercook RCAF KIA F/S E.J.Peverley RCAF KIA "
Source: www.lostbombers.co.uk. Click here to read the report and others referenced above.
Click here to read the ""They Shall Grow Not Old" entry for Flight Sergeant Roland James Saundercook.
The certificate issued by the Commonwealth War Graves commission is shown at left. Click here to see the certificate online.