McManus, Rodney Lewis
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Rodney Lewis |
Surname | McManus |
Gender | M |
Age | 20 |
Date of Death | 14-01-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Thomas Gerald McManus and Annette McManus (née Beauchesne), of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster I |
Serial Number | ME585 |
Markings | UL-H2 |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Hanover War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 16. D. 2. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 72 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/179312 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 1 |
Squadron | 576 |
Squadron Motto | Carpe diem (Seize the day) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | All Saints Church, Elsham, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Tablet |
Memorial Text | Dedicated to all who served at RAF Elsham Wolds on 103 7 576 Squadrons 1941-45 |
Location | Water Treatment Works, Elsham Wolds, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Memo and Propeller Sculpture |
Memorial Text | In memory of those who served at R.A.F. Elsham Words 1941 - 1945 |
Location | All Saints Church, Elsham, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Tablet |
Memorial Text | In memory of the Airmen of 576 Sqn who gave their lives in 1939 - 45 War |
Miscellaneous Information
Rodney was born on 24 October 1923 at Regina, Saskatchewan. His father was born at Sydney, Nova Scotia and his mother in Quebec. He had siblings Thomas Gerald, John Alexander, Harvey Edward plus a sister Marie Therese. He attended Benson School, Regina 1930-1938 (grade 8) followed by Belford High School 1938-1939. Robert enjoyed sports of all kinds. Work wise, he was unemployed between 1939-1940 and then worked at the Garth Company as a clerk between 1940-1942. Robert enlisted on 31 July 1942. |
After training he was sent to the U.K. and embarked from Halifax on 16 June 1943 arriving at 3PRC on 24 June. He then went to 28 OTU 6 July 1943, 1667 CU 5 October 1943 and 576 Squadron on 13 December 1943. Sadly, Rodney lost his life just a few weeks later on 14 January 1944. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/2047/4 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/2047/3 |
Fellow Servicemen
Please note that this list gives all the losses aboard the quoted aircraft and occasionally these may have occurred on an earlier date when the aircraft was not itself lost. Please check the dates of death carefully.
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 14-01-1944 |
End Date | 15-01-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Elsham Wolds |
Day/Night Raid | Night (82% moon) |
Operation | Braunschweig |
Reason for Loss | Shot down, crashing at Bruchhausen in the Rhineland |