The Airmen's Stories -Sub/Lt.(FAA) R R Lamb

Roderick Russell Lamb was born in September 1920 in Stockbridge, Hampshire, the son of Roderick Finlayson Lamb and Eleanor Lamb (nee Patteson).

Lamb entered the Air Branch of the Royal Navy on 4th July 1938, as a Midshipman on a seven-year engagement. With his training completed, he joined 804 Squadron on 30th November 1939, when it was formed with Sea Gladiators.

He embarked on HMS Glorious with a detachment of 804 on 22nd April 1940 and flew from the carrier to Campbeltown in Scotland on 7th May. Lamb was on leave when he was posted from 804 to a Skua squadron on HMS Ark Royal on 16th June.

He was recalled from leave but he arrived back after the carrier had sailed, so he remained with 804 Squadron, then at Hatston.

The squadron operated during part of the Battle of Britain, flying Gladiators on dockyard defence. Lamb was serving with 'A' Flight when it embarked on the carrier HMS Furious on 5th September 1940. The flight returned to Hatston three days later.

Above: Lamb, his sister Sheila and her huband F/Lt. GT Wynne-Powell DFC.

Above image courtesy of Moira Mackinnon.

On 9th December 1940 he was posted to 802 Squadron, then forming at Donibristle to serve aboard HMS Audacity, the first escort carrier.

In September 1941 Lamb was still aboard the carrier, which carried six Martlet fighters. She sailed for Gibraltar on the 13th, with her first convoy, OG 74.

On the 15th Lamb was on patrol when he sighted a U-boat submerging. He attacked but without any apparent effect.

On 29th October Audacity sailed for Gibraltar, escorting convoy OG 76. Lamb, on patrol, sighted two Fw200 Kondors and attacked one before it escaped into cloud. A fellow-pilot, Sub-Lieutenant DA Hutchinson of 802 Squadron, intercepted and shot down the second one.

On 14th December 1941 convoy HG 76, escorted by Audacity, sailed from Gibraltar. On the 19th Lamb attacked and damaged a Fw200. Two days later Audacity was torpedoed and sunk by U 751 NE of the Azores. Lamb survived the sinking but two FAA pilots were lost.

Lamb joined 881 Squadron aboard HMS Illustrious on 25th February 1942. He was killed on 24th August 1942 in a flying accident. He was flying from Mackinnon Road airfield, Kenya in Martlet AM964. The aircraft stalled while turning and spun into the ground, exploding on impact.

Lamb was 22. He is buried in Mbaraki Cemetery, Mombasa, Kenya.