Robert Jack Braddock
Born 22 Feb 1918 - Died 6 Aug 1944
- Service number
- NZ416081 AWMM
- WWII 416081 AWMM
- Also known as
- —
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Last rank
- Warrant Officer AWMM Royal Air Force, No. 299 Squadron AWMM
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
About
- Title
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- Forenames
- Robert Jack AWMM
- Surname
- Braddock AWMM
- Ingoa
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- Also known as
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- Service number
- NZ416081 AWMM
- WWII 416081 AWMM
- Gender
- Male AWMM
- Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
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- Religion
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Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 22 Feb 1918 RNZAF Biographies (R17845608)
- Date of birth
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- Place of birth
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- Birth notes
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- Address before enlistment
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- Post war occupation
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- Next of kin
- WW2 Father: Mr. A. Braddock of Upper Hutt AWMM
- Relationship status
- Single/WWII AWMM
Wars and conflicts
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
- Campaign
- Europe (Air) AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Service number
- NZ416081 AWMM
- WWII 416081 AWMM
- Military service
- —
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
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Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
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Training and Enlistment
- Military training
- British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, No. 6 Air Observer School, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada AWMM
Course 1: Graduation Date: 4/12/1942. AWMM - British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, No. 1 Central Navigation School, Rivers, Manitoba, Canada AWMM
- British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, No. 34 Operational Training Unit, Pennfield Ridge, New Brunswick, Canada AWMM
- British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, No. 6 Air Observer School, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada AWMM
- Branch Trade Proficiency
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- Enlistment
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- Age on enlistment
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- Occupation before enlistment
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Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW2 Vessel was Matsonia AWMM Royal New Zealand Air Force AWMM
Prisoner of war
- Capture details
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- Days interned
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- Liberation date
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- POW liberation details
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- Liberation Repatriation
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- POW serial number
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Medical history
- Medical notes
- Killed on Active Service, Cause of Death AWMM
Last known rank
- Last rank
- Warrant Officer AWMM
Royal Air Force, No. 299 Squadron AWMM - Last rank
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Biographical information
- Robert Braddock was the son of Alfred and Annie Maud Braddock, of Upper Hutt, Wellington, New Zealand.
Attended Petone Memorial Techinical College (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845608)) AWMM - Reason for Aircraft/crew loss :
5/6 August 1944.
Operation Code-Name : Special Operations 'Ian 7'
RAF Unit : 299 (Special Operations) Squadron, 38 Group.
RAF Base : Keevil, Wiltshire, England.
Aircraft type and Call Signs: Short Stirling IV LJ878 5G-T.
3 Short Stirling aircraft - from 299 (Special Operations) Squadron - based at RAF Base Keevil, Wiltshire, England - were detailed to drop several containers of equipment to the French Special Air Service - and the French Resistance - in the Baden area of France.
Stirling LJ878 - piloted by New Zealander Pilot Officer Henare Uru - left RAF Base Keevil, Wiltshire, England - at 23:00 hours. Two other Stirlings - on the same mission also left RAF Base Keevil - one at 23:38 hours (piloted Flight Lieutenant Taylor) and 22:44 hours (Pilot Officer Tevell).
On arrival over the drop zone at France LJ878 was circling the area looking for the rendezvous lights (signal lights from French Resistance fighters on the ground) - when LJ878 was hit by German anti-aircraft fire. LJ878 was badly damaged and crashed into the Village of Plougoumelen - killing all 6 Allied air-men aboard - as well as 3 French civilians on the ground.
In 1945 the full facts - of the loss of LJ878 and her 6 air-crew - were discovered by the No 1 Missing Research Enquiry Unit - and the findings were sent to the relatives of the crew.
Over 1,000 local French inhabitants, of Plougoumelen, attended the funeral of the 6 Allied air-men, a full service was provided and all the 6 coffins were covered in flowers.
The 6 crew of Stirling LJ878 were -
1. Pilot Officer Henare W. Uru - RNZAF NZ/39589 (aged 23 years - killed).
2. Navigator Robert J. Braddock - RNZAF NZ416081 (aged 26 years - killed).
3. Flight Engineer Alfred A. Hull RAF (England) RAF # 1588979 (aged 20 years - killed).
4. Air Bombdr Flight Sergeant Leonard A. Eunson RAAF (Australia) # 410536 (aged 24 years - killed).
5. Wireless Operator/Air Gunner Pilot Officer Walter N. Irving RCAF (Canada) # J/87928 (aged 26 years - killed).
6. Air Gunner/Warrant Officer Gordon F. Harrison RCAF (Canada) # R/112810 (aged 24 years - killed).Public - Jenifer - Researcher - 12 June 2019 - Reference : www.aircrewremembered.com (England) : Stirling IVLJ878 5G-T/ Uru Henare W. Pilot Officer.
- Robert Braddock was the son of Alfred and Annie Maud Braddock, of Upper Hutt, Wellington, New Zealand.
About death
- Death
- 6 Aug 1944 AWMM
Age 26 AWMM - Date of death
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- Age at death
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- Place of death
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- Cause of death
- Killed on Active Service AWMM
- Death notes
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- Cemetery
- Plougoumelen Communal Cemetery, Morbihan, France AWMM Coll. grave. AWMM
- Cemetery name
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- Grave reference
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- Obituary
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- Memorial name
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- Memorial reference
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Memorial
- Memorial name
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Sources
- External links
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2814299
Sources Used - RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Bo - Cl. Archives New Zealand (R17845608)
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R17845608
Sources Used - List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - List of Personnel Killed or Missing in Various Theatres, 1940 - 1945. Archives New Zealand (R17845745)
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R17845745
Sources Used
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
- References
- Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press.
- This record is a work in progress and was partially compiled from the “Database of New Zealand Airmen who took part in Advanced Air Training in Canada during WW2”. Researched by Ivan and Lorna Lindsey of Tauranga. N.Z. 2003 – 2012. Reproduced with permission.
- RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Bo - Cl. Archives New Zealand (R17845608) - Former archives reference: AIR118
- Please note that the 11 volumes of the "RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939-1945" held at Archives NZ (formerly known as AIR118) should be used in conjunction with Errol Martyn's "For Your Tomorrow". FYT reflects detailed examination of all of the AIR118 bios which contain many inaccuracies and omissions.
- List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - List of Personnel Killed or Missing in Various Theatres, 1940 - 1945. [List of Missing - United Kingdom, Airmen]. Archives New Zealand (R17845745)
- List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - Embarkation Lists, November 1940 - July 1942. Archives New Zealand, Wellington (R17845762).
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