ROHDE, Douglas ..DFC
No. 108001, Squadron Leader (Pilot), Douglas Oscar ROHDE DFC
Aged 31
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Born in Wirral, Cheshire in Q4-1911 [Wirral 8a:734], son of Oscar and Emily Linton ROHDE (née ESKRIGGE) of Amistad, Rocky Lane, Heswall, Cheshire. Douglas married Jeanetta HALL (or REARDON) in Chelsea in Q2-1937. They were living at Bath Villas, Exning Road, Newmarket. Death registered in Cambridge 3b:672. His widow later moved to Egham, Surrey |
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Form 1180 for Piper Cub BV985 has S/Ldr (Pilot) Douglas O. ROHDE - DFC - 108001 killed starting up. G-AFXX Piper J-4A Cub Coupe. The pilot stationed an
airmen on each wing tip and swung prop himself but chocks were not in place and airscrew struck him. This is given in the burial register as at
RAF Waterbeach. (No 1651 Heavy Conversion Unit at the time) Gazette 18 Aug 1942 DFC citation Pilot Officer Douglas Oscar ROHDE (108001), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 115 Squadron. One night in July, 1942, this officer was captain of an aircraft detailed to attack Saarbrucken. The target area was obscured by heavy cloud but Pilot Officer Rohde, determined to release his bombs over the target, immediately flew down through the cloud. In spite of considerable opposition from the ground defences, he eventually located the target and pressed home his attack from 3,000 feet. This officer also took part in an attack on Hamburg during which he showed great skill and determination. Pilot Officer Rohde has completed numerous sorties, mainly against heavily defended targets, and has set a fine example. |
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