Lancaster III ED771 467 Sqn RAAF

Mon 13 June 11.00 – St Mary’s Church Southwick, Oundle

An informal ceremony will be held this Monday in remembrance of F/O Roderick Capron (VR), who died on 01 May 1943 after his Lancaster was attacked over Essen in a night raid.

Crewed by both Australians and Britons, Lancaster III ED771 (467 Squadron) had reached its target when it was attacked by a FW190. Three of the crew survived, bailing out as the bomber disintegrated over Holland. Four died.

Recent research has brought to light that Capron had survived the hail of bullets; he was trying to extinguish the flames around the oxygen tanks when they exploded, killing him andcrippling the bomber beyond hope, as it was returning to RAF Bottesford.

A keen traveller, land agent and photographer, it came natural for Roderick to join the RAF as a navigator – a decision he took voluntarily, since he also managed the home farm at Southwick.

We are joined by Ruud Slangen, retired airman with the Royal Netherlands Air Force, who also oversees our war graves at Oostergaarde Cemetery, Harderwijk. It’s through Ruud’s research, in collaboration with Fabio Perselli (Southwick Hall’s Heritage Manager), that the story of ED771 has surfaced

in such detail – including an account from a Jewish family hiding in a caravan in the woods, near where the Lancaster fell, and locating some actual debris from ED771.

At the ceremony Ruud will be presenting a fragment of fuselage to Christopher Capron, Roderick’s nephew. Actor Naomi Capron will be reading a poem written in 1943 by Roderick’s grieving sister, Elaine (pictured above).

A minute’s silence will be observed at 11.11.

You are welcome to join us in remembering Roderick Capron – who gave his life for us, along with the Many – at St Mary’s, Southwick.