LEST WE FORGET
Leading Aircraftman Richard DODDS
Service No: 15452
Born: Sunderland England, 9 January 1915
Enlisted in the RAAF: 2 June 1940 (at Sydney NSW)
Unit: No. 9 Squadron, HMAS Sydney Detachment
Died: Naval Battle: (off the WA Coast), 20 November 1941, Aged 26 Years
Buried: Unrecovered
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Richard Harvey Dodds and Elizabeth Alice Dodds, of Vaucluse, New South Wales.
Roll of Honour: Unknown
Remembered: HMAS Sydney Memorial, Geraldton WA
Remembered: Panel 7, Sydney Memorial, Rookwood NSW
Remembered: Panel 99, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Catalina Base Memorial, Rathmines NSW
Remembered: Rathmines Memorial Bowling Club, Rathmines NSW
Remembered: Returned and Services League HMAS SYDNEY II Virtual Memorial
The Seagull V (or alternatively Walrus) aircraft flown from the larger of HMA Ships during WWII were crewed and operated by Members of No. 9 Squadron RAAF. The compliment of HMAS Sydney included Walrus aircraft L2177 and a detachment of 6 RAAF members at the time of the naval battle with the German raider HSK Kormoran on the evening of 19 November 1941. Along with their 636 RAN, RN and civilian comrades, all 6 RAAF Members were killed. Walrus L2177 was also lost.
The members of the No. 9 Squadron detachment were:
Flying Officer Raymond Barker Barrey (407000) (Pilot)
Leading Aircraftman Arthur John Clarke (7143)
Leading Aircraftman Richard Dodds (15452)
Corporal Roy Ebenezer Foster (9347)
Leading Aircraftman Keith Homard (35338)
Sergeant Sidney Marley (3967)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A9301, 15454
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line
Bibliography
Gillett, R. (Ross) Wings Across the Sea: the first ever complete history of naval aviation from the first world war to the present, Aerospace Publications, 1988