Memorial

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Sgt Nicholas Rodock enlisted in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania on 28 July 1943.

He flew on all the 22 missions of this crew.

The aircraft was victim of a persisant attack of a ME-262 jet fighter on the tail. It burst into flames between #3 and #4 engines but was not seen to fall apart. It held course for a very few seconds after being hit, then peeled slightly up and then slid over and down to the right through the formation. It appeared at that time to be out of control. A few moments later the airplane blew up and broke up into two main parts and crashed in the Gross Glasow Lake, 20 kilometres northeast of the target. A wing and engine fell in the upper part of the lake and the tail and part of the fuselage came down in the lower part of the lake. The wreckage could be seen at 50 to 150 feet from the shore. One crew member survived and was taken prisoner, eight were killed.

The body of Sgt Rodock was recovered from the tail section by the Germans. He was first buried in the cemetery of Gross Schönebeck.