Richard Earl Todd was born in 1920. He was the son of Raymond and Veda P. Todd, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S.A.

Richard was one of the thousands of Americans who joined the Royal Canadian Air Force before the U.S.A. had joined in the war and who wanted to fight fascism. Richard became a pilot and when in England, was posted to 426 Squadron, flying Wellingtons out of Dishforth.

Not much is known about F/S Todd's career. It is known that he and his crew partcipated in a raid against the port of St. Nazaire, France on 28/29 march 1943. F/S Todd and his crew landed at a different airbase, Beaulieu, due to lack of fuel.

The next night F/S Todd and his crew, consisting of Sgt H. Martin RCAF, Sgt J. Gubb RCAF, Sgt J. Taylor RAF and Sgt J. Bailey RCAF, were sent on a mission to Berlin.

426 Squadron

According to reports, the weather was poor, with severe icing and bombing was scattered over the target.

F/Sgt Todd and crew, flying Wellington III BJ-762 coded OW-O, took off at 19.31 from Dishford. They failed to return from this operation. They were shot down by a night fighter, flown by the well known German night fighter Oblt. Helumt Lent, and crashed near Nijemirdum at 23.46.

Three of the crew, F/S Todd, Sgt Gubb and Sgt Bailey were killed. W/O2 Martin and Sgt Taylor bailed out of the plane to become PoWs. Apparently Sgt Gubb bailed out of the plane, but his parachute failed to open.

Sgt H.Martin  was promoted to WO2 during captivity. He was interned in Camps L3/L6/357, PoW No.1029. Sgt J.Taylor was interred in Camps L1/L6/357, with PoW No.1039.

 

Our Beloved Son and Brother
So Young And So Brave
May He Always Rest In Peace

Nijemirdum, The Netherlands

See Also:
Sgt John Gubb
Sgt John Bailey

Other 426 Squadron casualties buried in The Netherlands

Sources:
www.cwgc.org
www.lostbombers.co.uk

Acknowledgements:
RAF Squadron crest © Crown Copyright is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office

Directions to Nijemirdum General Cemetery

posted 10 February 2007

If you have any suggestions, comments or additional information, please contact me.

This website is dedicated to the men and women who died and/or are buried in The Netherlands during World War II.

 

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