Farewell to a war hero.

[dodgy-alan 1,587]

Today we said our farewells to our friend Joe Roddis. Joe had joined the RAF in 1939 as ground crew, serving at a variety of stations before ending up at RAF Westhampnet, today known as Goodwood. Joe was a very humble man who didn't think that he was anything special. Yet he and his colleagues kep the RAF fighters in tip top condition throughout the Battle of Britain and beyond. Without the dedication of people like Joe, we would have been in a sticky situation to say the least. He was a warm , wonderful human being who would talk to anyone of any age. Only a few months ago Joe was guest speaker at a talk being given at Goodwood. He was quite happy to sign photos,( of which I am happy to say I have one) and copies of his new book. He was due to do a book signing within the next few days with his co-author Mark Hillier who runs a historical group on the airfield. His funeral took place at Chichester crematorium and was attended by not only his family, but by many members of the aviation world with whom he spent a lot of time after the loss of his second wife Betty a few years ago. After the service the guys at the Boultbee Flight Academy at Goodwood had organised a fly past, and bang on the nail at 2:45 a single Spitfire roared over the crematorium at low level, she then turned and came back pulling a beautiful victory roll as she came over. It was a great send off for someone who really was a local legend. Rest in Peace Joe. Your country salutes you. Blue skies always..

[brett 2,316]

Perfect send off for a gentleman and a veteran, may he rest in peace.

[allardjd 1,853]

Great post, Al - we're losing WWII vets quickly now and soon they will all be gone.  Our generation and those younger than us owe them everything we are and have.  If not for them it's hard to imagine what kind of world we'd live in.

 

I've often thought that aircraft maintenance, in Europe in WWII must have been a pretty awful job, particularly in the winter months.  Bomber bases were probably the worst, with no possibility of adequate hangars to get them into.  What had to be done pretty much had to be done out in the elements, whatever they were.  The pressure to get as many flyable as possible for the next mission must have been enormous and I'm sure that the conditions were often pretty primitive.  

 

Hat's off to all of them, both aircrew and the maintainers and other support staff.

 

John

[Captain Coffee 2,030]

Yeah, ground crews...unsung heroes of the wars. I love that a spitfire was able to give him a flyover sendoff. Perfect tribute!

 

I lucked out and avoided any wars during my short duty. But I got to experience wrenching on aircraft from frozen ramp stands in horribad conditions, freezing rain, snow and wind...if not under fire or threat of aerial bombing.

People that had to do that, but also sometimes with inadequate rations and or supplies under tight flight schedules to keep planes, tanks, ships, cars... to keep everything Working, then hand it off to a driver/pilots/crews and hope it all comes back alive and hopefully successful ... dayum.

 

RIP Joe R.

[wain 879]

RIP to Joe R, a very fitting tribute to someone who must have had some tales to tell, must have been a hell of a time to have been doing the job..

 

I salute you sir, may you rest in peace.

 

Like John said they are going quickly now these WWII vets.....