Operation: Rodeo 168

Date: 13th February 1943 (Saturday)

Unit No: 485 Squadron RNZAF

Type: Spitfire Vb

Serial: BM482

Code: OU:W

Base: RAF Weshampnett, Sussex

Location: English Channel off France

Pilot: Fg Off. Ian Allan Charles Grant 391351 RNZAF Age 27. MiA

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off from RAF Weshampnett in Sussex at 11:40 hrs the squadron were to carry out a sweep over Le Touquet, Northern France. In the Hardelot area they engaged some 15 enemy fighters at 12:15 hrs. They were in turn bounced by another larger group of enemy fighters and heavy combat took place.

The squadron commanding officer, Sqn Ldr. Reg Grant (his brother) saw that Fg Off. Ian Grant was being followed by a Fw190 and tried to warn him of the danger over the radio. He received no response, and Fg Off. Grant's Spitfire was hit and went down. Sqn Ldr. Reg Grant immediately engaged the enemy and shot him down.

He then turned back to try and see where his brother came down but sadly could find no trace.

The Squadron lost two other Spitfires during this operation, the others:

Spitfire Vb EP115 Flown by Sgt. Revell Jackson Steed 414354 RNZAF was KiA;
Spitfire Vb EP107 Flown by Fg Off. Anthony Ridley Robson DFM 403990 RNZAF taken PoW after being hit and crash landing near Bolougne.

610 Squadron who was also on this operation and under the command of Sqn Ldr. Reg Grant lost one of their Spitfires.
Spitfire Vb EN896 DW-W Flown by Fg Off. Jerzy Tadeusz Skibiński 784805 PAF MiA.

Notes: Their older brother, William Edward Grant died from an illness whilst serving with the RAF on the 2nd February 1932. On the 28th February 1944, Wg Cdr. Reginald Joseph Cowan Grant lost his life prior to an attack on a V1 site when his engine failed and he baled out with insufficient height for his parachute to deploy.

Fg Off. Anthony Ridley Robson DFM survived the war as a PoW No: 201, held at Stalag Luft 3 Sagan and Belaria. Born on the 10th August 1916 at Hastings, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. Passed away on the 4th April 1991 aged 74.

Burial details:

Fg Off. Ian Allan Charles Grant. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 197. Born on the 21st November 1915, the son of William Edward and Gertrude Isabella Grant, of Mission Bay, Auckland, New Zealand. 875 Flying hours logged and on his 22nd operational sortie.

Others mentioned within this report:

Sgt. Revell Jackson Steed. Abbeville Communal Cemetery. Plot 6, Row L. Grave 19. Son of Lynn Arthur Steed and of Olive Steed (née Jackson), of Gisborne, Auckland, New Zealand. A total of 320 flying hours logged and on his 21st operational sortie.

Fg Off. Jerzy Tadeusz Skibiński.. Polish War Memorial, Northolt. Born on the 15th November 1919 in Bielow, Russia, no further details - are you able to assist?

Wg Cdr. Reginald Joseph Cowan Grant DFM, DFC and Bar. Brookwood Military Cemetery. Grave 2.K.6. Born on the 3rd June 1914. A total of 673 flying hours logged and on his 205th operational sortie. Details as Fg Off. Ian Grant.

Researched by Kelvin Youngs (Webmaster) and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to the research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Cenotaph, Weekly News of New Zealand (Oct 2017). Correction to Sqn Code and other updates by Aircrew Remembered (Aug 2025).

Other sources listed below:

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