Tod, Robert Ernest Died

Back

Personal Information

Rank WO2
Forename(s) Robert Ernest
Surname Tod
Gender M
Age 23
Decorations DFM
Date of Death 23-06-1943
Next of Kin Son of Alexander and Mary Edith Tod, of St. Vital, Manitoba, Canada. His Twin Brother Richard Douglas Also Died On Service.
TOD RE

Aircraft Information

Aircraft Short Stirling III
Serial Number EH889
Markings AA-Z

Memorial Information

Burial/Memorial Country Netherlands
Burial/Memorial Place Medemblik General Cemetery
Grave Reference Grave 249.
Epitaph TO SAVE MANKIND - YOURSELF YOU SCORNED TO SAVE (he and his brother's epitaphs are from consecutive verses of O Valient Hearts)

IBCC Memorial Information

Map
Directions to panel 254
TOD RE

Location

Row -
Panel 254
Column -
Line -

Directions From the Chadwick Centre, take the central path towards The Spire.

Phase 2
Panel Number 254

Enlistment Information

Service Number R/91742
Service Royal Canadian Air Force
Group 3
Squadron 75 (NZ)
Squadron Motto Ake ake kia kaha (For ever and ever be strong)
Trade WOp/AG
Country of Origin Canada

Other Memorials

Location Tod Lake, Manitoba; 30km east of Reindeer Lake. The Tods were inseperable twins (probably identical) and it is fitting that they share the same natural feature
Country Canada
Memorial Type Lake
Memorial Text
Location Village Centre, Mepal, Cambridgeshire
Country United Kingdom
Memorial Type Inscribed Stone Memorial & Inscribed Metal Plaque
Memorial Text A stone memorial, donated by former members of 75 (NZ) Sqn RAF stationed at Mepal between 1943 and 1945
Location St. Andrews Church, Sutton, Cambridgeshire
Country United Kingdom
Memorial Type Roll of Honour in Wooden Case with brass plaque
Memorial Text Roll of Honour. Plaque, Presented by 75(NZ) Sqn Association - UK Branch in memory of Comrades named in the Roll of Honour
Location St. Marys Church, Feltwell, Norfolk
Country United Kingdom
Memorial Type Brick Piller and Marble Tablet
Memorial Text A memorial to 75 (NZ) Sqn, RAF. Formed at RAF Feltwell in April 1940 and flew from there until June 1942. The Sqn number was presented to New Zealand becoming 75 Sqn RNZAF in October 1946 until its disbanding in December 2001.
Location Newmarket Racecourse, Newmarket, Suffolk
Country United Kingdom
Memorial Type Inscribed Marble Tablet
Memorial Text Remembering No 75 (New Zealand) Sqn, No 3 Gp Bomber Command. RAF Newmarket Heath, November 1942 - June 1943

Miscellaneous Information

One of 23-year-old twin brothers from St Vital, Manitoba, Canada killed in the same aircraft
DFM Citation, London Gazette, 4 May 1943: "This airman was the wireless operator of an aircraft which was damaged by anti-aircraft fire during an operational flight over enemy territory. The aircraft gradually lost height and the pilot was eventually compelled to bring it down on to the sea. Meanwhile, Sergeant Tod coolly worked at his apparatus, maintaining wireless contact with base. His excellent work enabled the aircraft to be continuously plotted from the ground, and plans for rescue to be made. The ontire crew of the aircraft were picked up within 15 minutes of coming down on to the sea. This airman displayed great coolness and unswerving devotion to duty throughout.
The twins used to swap between Mid-Upper Gunner and Wireless Operator on successive trips.

The National Archives

Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/646/36
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/646/36

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.

Name Outcome
Grainger E (Sgt) Died
Kennedy R A (Sgt) Died
McCrorie T F (F/L) Died
Richards J L (F/S) Died
Stuckey W (P/O) Died
Tod R D (WO2) Died

Last Operation Information

Start Date 22-06-1943
End Date 23-06-1943
Takeoff Station Newmarket
Day/Night Raid Night (70% moon)
Operation Mülheim. 557 aircraft, 35 losses (6.3%) A thin layer of cloud hampered PFF marking efforts which were, nevertheless accurate (as detailed by the German report on the raid). As a result the bombing was concentrated and devastated this small town. All communications were cut off from Oberhausen, on which Mülheim was dependent for emergency services. 578 deaths and 1135 homes destroyed. A post war British report put the damage at 64% of the town.
Reason for Aircraft Loss Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed into the Ijsselmeer
Start new losses database search Back
 
 
 
 

Please Wait

Casualty Pack

IBCC is delighted to introduce a unique facility to link the Losses Database to the relevant RAF Casualty Pack on the National Archives website. This project is the result of on-going collaboration between IBCC, the MOD Records Office and National Archives, Kew. This document describes what Casualty Packs are, when they were created, the process of making them available to the public and then goes on to describe the process by which you can view the contents of the packs. Casualty Packs (CPs) were created by the RAF whenever there was serious injury or loss of life associated with operational activity within the RAF. This includes operational flying losses, enemy action due to air raids, road accidents either on station or even off-station if they involved RAF vehicles. Deaths due to natural causes in service or accidents that did not involve RAF vehicles did not generally give rise to a CP.

CPs were originally given a unique reference number by the RAF. Each begins with the letter ‘P’ and is followed by six digits, then an oblique (forward slash) and the finally the year in which the incident took place- for example P396154/42.

The CPs are in the process of being made available to the general public as they are passed from the MOD Records Office, Portsmouth to National Archives, Kew. This process requires some rework to the files which is very time consuming, so the process of making them all available to National Archives will take several years. They are being made available in increasing date order.

Once CPs arrive at National Archives they are assigned a unique AIR81 number, so each CP has both a P-number and an AIR81 number. Both are searchable on the National Archives website under ‘Search the catalogue’ and both are included on the IBCC website.

The AIR81 reference on the IBCC website is a link to the file on the National Archives website. When you click on it, the relevant page will open in a new tab on your browser.

There is currently no plan to digitise AIR81 files, partly because they are fragile and partly because the information they contain can at times be sensitive, even harrowing, since they may contain exhumation reports and even photographs of corpses. Family members wishing to read the AIR81 files relating to their ancestors are advised to exercise caution and be guided by National Archives warnings where appropriate.

There are two means for accessing AIR81 files- to attend in person or to order a copy by post.

To attend in person, the attendee should first create a Reader’s Ticket. This can be done online by following this link: https://secure.nationalarchives.gov.uk/login/yourdetails. Then click on the AIR81 reference on the IBCC website and click Order in Advance. Enter your Reader’s Ticket number and state the date on which you intend to visit. National Archives will have the file ready for you when you arrive, saving you time. When you visit Kew, you must quote the Reader’s Ticket number and take along two forms of ID- one bearing your signature and one bearing your address. When you view the files, you are permitted to take photographs of each page, should you wish.

Alternatively, if you wish to order a copy by post, please be aware that there is a charge for this service based on the number of pages in the file. Click on the AIR81 reference on the IBCC website and then click Request a Copy. There is an £8.40 charge for National Archives staff to access the file and give you a quotation for the copying service. The process takes around 24 days to complete and can be expensive.

IBCC wishes to thank the staff at the MOD Records Office and National Archives for their engagement and assistance in making this facility available to our website users.