Operation: Armed Reconnaisance

Date: 06 October 1943 (Wednesday)

Unit: No. 145 Squadron (motto: Diu noctuque pugnamus - 'We fight by day and night') 244 Wing. Desert Air Force

Type: Spitfire LF.VIII

Serial: JF770

Code: ZX-?

Base: Tortorella, Foggia No. 2, Italy

Location: Campomarino, Italy

Pilot: Fl/Sgt. Roderick Albert Johnson NZ/414985 Age 20. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 05:55 hrs with the squadron as part of the leading section.

When over the target area of Termoli encountered heavy flak exploding amongst the section.

JF770 was seen to be flying erratically and streaming white smoke.

The section leader called him but there was no response. Shortly afterwards JF770 was seen to enter a steep dive and exploded when it hit the ground.

His body was discovered after the hostilities buried on the banks of the Biferno river near Campomarino and reinterred at the Sangro River War Cemetery.

Burial and personal details:

Fl/Sgt. Roderick Albert Johnson. Sangro River War Cemetery. XVI. C. 41. Born on the 09th January 1923 at Napier. An apprentice cabinet maker for A. Hannah and S. Taylor of Napier prior to service. Enlisted on the 24th April 1942 at Levin. Awarded his pilots badge and promoted to sergeant on the 06th September 1941. Son of Albert and Mary May Johnson (née Paterson) of Westshore, Napier, New Zealand. 378 flying hours logged and on his 32 operational sortie.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Jenifer Lemaire and to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, AWMM, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:

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