ANZAC DAY 2024

Badge of No. 75 (NZ) Squadron, RAF.

On ANZAC Day 2024 I thought it was a good time to reflect on the Losses suffered on 75 (NZ) Squadron during the Second World War.

Some details from The Bomber Command War Diaries by Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt. 

Raids Flown. –
Wellingtons. – 291 Bombing, 24 Minelaying, 4 Leaflet, 1 Photo Recon.
Stirlings. – 103 Bombing, 107 Minelaying.
Lancasters. – 190 Bombing, 18 Minelaying, 1 Leaflet.

Sorties and Losses.

Wellingtons. – 2,540 sorties, 74 aircraft Lost.
Stirlings. – 1,736 sorties, 72 aircraft Lost.
Lancasters. – 3,741 sorties, 47 aircraft Lost.

8 Lancasters were destroyed in crashes.

Carried out the fourth highest number of bombing raids in Comber Command Heavy Squadrons.
Flew the most sorties in 3 Group and the whole of Bomber Command.
Suffered the second highest casualties in Bomber Command.
Believed to have dropped the third highest tonnage of bombs (approximately21,600).
Also dropped 2,344 mines, probably the second highest number in Bomber Command.

Image from the RW Russell personal album collection. “Refueling and Bombing Up. Tanker Carries 2,500 Gallons, Weighs 22 Tons. Bomb load Here 1 – 4,000 LB “Cookie”, 10 – 500 LB General Purpose, 4 – 250 LB General Purpose. Pushing the “Cookie” under the No. 75 Squadron Lancaster.

Image from the Russell Brothers personal album collection. No. 75 Squadron crews resting on the grass beside a line up of No. 75 Squadron Lancasters. Unknown location. Near aircraft is JN-M.

Photo’s Of The Alexander Crew

These photo’s were found on the Air Force Museum site, via Allan Alexander.

https://fotoweb.airforcemuseum.co.nz/fotoweb/archives/5003-Search-the-Collection/?25=World%20War%20Two

Image from the Allan Mason Forbes Alexander personal album. AMF Alexander and his No. 75 Squadron crew beside the port main wheel of their Stirling. Unknown location in England. Handwritten under the print “Operations crew 1943 75 NZ. Squadron. England. / [L-R] McDonald Rear Gunner, Des Andersen Navigator, Frank Howard Engineer, Doc Lyon Mid Upper Gunner, Tom Mayhew Wireless Operator, Phil Pullyn Bomb Aimer. A Alexander Pilot [crouching in front].”

Image from the R. W. Russell personal album collection. No. 75 Squadron Lancaster crew in front of a Nissen (Quonset) hut. Believed to be at RAF Station Mepal. L-R: “Jack, Ivor, myself [R.W. Russell], George, Fred (crouching, front), Nev, Vic”.

Image from the Allan Mason Forbes Alexander personal album. Informal group of RAF ground crew standing behind a fuel tanker under the wing of a No. 75 Squadron Stirling. Unknown location in England.

Image from the Allan Mason Forbes Alexander personal album. Unknown man standing on a starboard engine of a Stirling. Unknown location in England. Could this be a No. 75 Squadron aircraft?

Image from the Allan Mason Forbes Alexander personal album. 3/4 front view of a No. 75 Squadron Stirling. Unknown location in England.

Image from the RW Russell personal album collection. “Refueling and Bombing Up. Tanker Carries 2,500 Gallons, Weighs 22 Tons. Bomb load Here 1 – 4,000 LB “Cookie”, 10 – 500 LB General Purpose, 4 – 250 LB General Purpose. Pushing the “Cookie” under the No. 75 Squadron Lancaster.

Image from the RW Russell personal album collection. “Bruce’s Crew. [L-R] Rear Gunner “Tutty”, Navigator Jeff Boulton, Bomb Aimer Cyril Bullock, Pilot Bruce, Wireless Operator “Scotty”, Flight Engineer Bill Allred, Mid Upper Gunner “Smithy”. Presumed to be No. 75 Squadron personnel.

Image from the Allan Mason Forbes Alexander personal album. Informal portrait of Pilot Officer AMF Alexander, No. 75 Squadron pilot. Unknown location. Handwritten in the image area “1943 / 75 Squadron.”

Photo’s of 75 (NZ) Squadon Lancasters

The New Zealand Bomber Command site on Facebook have posted some photo’s of Lancasters from their collection. Chris Newey has added comments to a few to help identify crews and aircraft. I hope the link works.

OK, so the link only shows the first 5 Lancasters, but then goes on to show more posts from the NZ Bomber Command page. They are all interesting photo’s so take a look. 

 

UPDATE

I am updating the 1943 page at the moment with more accurate details of Stirling aircraft with serial numbers and codes. I’m also adding as many aircrew service numbers as possible. The update will be removing the Summary of Events to a separate page which will be completed after the 1943 update is finished. 

At the moment I’m only up to mid April, but have been cross referencing the Form 78 Aircraft Movement Cards, the Form 1180 Accident Cards and the Aircraft Loss Cards. This is needed due to the many mistakes in the Operational Records Books (ORB’s). The whole process is slow but rewarding being able to correct mistakes in the ORB. 

I chose the 1943 page to start due to the fact I’m fascinated with the Stirling aircraft and although an improvement from the Wellington, it was hampered somewhat by the divided bomb day and lower ceiling than the Lancaster. It is a shame there are no surviving examples left anywhere in the world. 

Any questions let me know, or if you have seen a mistake, leave a comment for me.  Also if you have access to a family members Log Book and can correct or add any information, please let me know so i can update the page.

Thanks to all that have visited, it is much appreciated.

Gordon Edward DeSchaine RCAF R109929 Air Bomber

With the help of my friend Dave, I have been working on some of the Canadian aircrew
attached to 75 (NZ) Squadron during the war.

Gordon Edward DeSchaine was born on 7 January 1922. He enlisted in Windsor, on 4
August 1941 and was posted to No.1 Manning Depot. Posted elsewhere, 20 August 1941.
To No.5 Inital Training School, 25 September 1941; promoted LAC, 22 November 1941;
to No.9 Advanced Observer School , 6 December 1941; to No.4 Bombing and Gunnery School,
14 March 1942; graduated and promoted Sergeant, 25 April 1942; posted that date to No.2
Air Navigation School; graduated 25 May 1942 but not posted until 9 June 1942 when sent
to No.5 Manning Depot. To Eastern Air Command, 18 June 1942; to RAF overseas, 12 July
1942. To No.619 Squadron, May 1943. Posted from No.31 Base to No.75 (NZ) Squadron,
7 November 1944 in crew of F/O J.H. McDonald (whose operations covered the period 20
November 1944 to 29 January 1945; posted February 1945.) Commissioned 28 February
1945. Repatriated 14 May 1945. To No.1 Air Command, 27 May 1945 and posted that date
to No.16 SFTS. To Release Centre, 15 August 1945. Released 20 August 1945, to settle
in Windsor, Ontario. Rejoined RCAF, 12 February 1956 to 1 November 1965 (Auxiliary,
No.2401 Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron).

On the night of 16/17 September 1943, whilst with 619 squadron Gordon deShaine
was involved in a ditching in Lancaster EE106 on return from a bombing attack on Anthor
Viaduct. Running low on petrol, the captain decided that, rather than be forced down in
enemy waters, it was preferable to proceed in the direction of Gibraltar, though he did
not hope to reach it. As they had no map of Spain they followed round the coast about
five miles off.

About 12 miles north of Operto (time approximately 07.00-07.15 hours), it was decided to land and, as there was a heavy ground haze over the land, it was considered preferable to come down on the sea. The electrical apparatus was destroyed (V.H.F., I.F.F., GEE and MONICA) and the aircraft was put down on the sea about 200 yards off shore. The crew took to the dinghy but were picked up and taken to shore by some Portugese fishermen.

The aircraft was washed ashore and some light flak damage holes were found in the port mainplane, probably from the Viaduct defences as the crew did not think they were fired vat over Spain. The crew were soon taken in charge by the authorities and removed, but as far as they are aware no attempt at salvage was made by the Portugese authorities and they presume that the aircraft was allowed to lie and be broken up by the sea.

 

619 squadron Lancaster EE106

The crew were listed as;

Pilot: F/L S. E. J. Jones,captain
Flight Engineer: Sergeant H. E. Brooks
Navigator: F/O A. D. Holding
Bomb Aimer: Sergeant E. Deschaine
Wireless Operator: Flt Sgt R. G. Faux,
Air Gunner, Mid-Upper: Sergeant C. S. Cook
Air Gunner, Rear: F/O A. W. E. P. Cartwright                                                                                                                                                                         On 7 November 1944 Warrant Officer Deschaine arrived on 75 (NZ) squadron as the bomb aimer in the crew of Flying Officer J. H. McDonald RNZAF.

The crew flew 20 operations together.

20 November 1944. Operational Flying. Attack against Homberg.

Lancaster III NE181 JN.M         Up 12:42         Down 17:20
F/O McDonald, J                        NZ424647       Captain
F/S Aylott, C                                                         Nav
W/O DeSchaine, G. E.              R109929           A/B        RCAF
W/O Hughes, E                                                   WO/Air
W/O Dunn, J                                                        F/Eng
F/S Davies, W                                                      M/U/Gnr –
F/O Campbell, H                                                 R/Gnr

21 November 1944. Operational Flying. Attack against Homberg.
Crew as above.

23 November 1944. Operations. Attack against Gelsenkirchen.
Crew as above.

27 November 1944. Operations. Attack against Cologne Marshalling Yard.
Crew as above except for the rear gunner, who was replaced on this op
by Sgt J. Messer.

30 November 1944. Operations. Attack Against Osterfeld.
Back to usual crew with F/O Campbell as rear gunner.

2 December 1944. Attack against Dortmund.
Crew as above.

5 December 1945. Attack against Hamm Marshalling Yards.
Crew as above.

16 December 1944. Attack against Siegen.
Crew as above.

21 December 1944. Attack against Trier.
crew as above.

23 December 1944. Attack against Trier.
crew as above.

28 December 1945. Attack against Grenberg Marshalling Yards at Cologne.
Crew as above.

31 December 1944. Attack against Vohwinkel.
Crew as above.

2 January 45. Attack against Nuremburg.
Crew as above.

5 January 45. Attack against Ludwigshafen.
Crew as above.

7/8 January 1945. Attack against Munich.
Crew as above.

11 January 45. Attack against Krefeld.
Crew as above.

15 January 45. Attack against Langendreer.
Crew as above.

16/17 January 45. Attack against Wanne Eickel.
Crew as above.

28 January 45. Attack against Cologne
Crew as above.

29 January 45. Attack against Krefeld Marshalling Yard.
Crew as above.

 

Hawker Hurricane KX581 Mystery

Looking through the Operational Record Books of 75 (NZ) Squadron brings up the mystery of the missing Hawker Hurricane fighter KX581.

Details are sparse, and this is all I have been able to find so far.

14 January 1944.

540956 F/Sgt Allen, W. M. Pilot 75 (NZ) Squadron it is presumed, made away with Hurricane aircraft KX581 today. After repeated tannoy requests for this N.C.O. to report to Operations, he failed to report, and casualty procedure was subsequently taken. No trace has been found of either F/Sgt Allen or the Hurricane Aircraft.

From Air Fighting Development Unit (AFDU), AIR 29/770A.  Operational Record Book.

14 Jan. 1944.                                                                                                                                                     “Hurricane IV. KX.581 was stolen by an unknown person, whilst the pilot, F/Lt. E. V. Miller, was having lunch. The aircraft has not been traced.”

The following from CWGC website:

ALLEN, WILLIAM MORTON
Initials: W M
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Flight Sergeant
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force
Unit Text: 75 Sqdn.
Age: 23
Date of Death: 14/01/1944
Service No: 540956
Additional information: Son of William Morton Allen and Ruth Isobel Allen, of Birmingham.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 215.
Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL

From 75 squadron O.R.B.’s.

540956.  Sgt. Pilot. W. Allen. Posted from No.1651 Con. Unit wef 15/10/43 Auth. P/N 3G/2324/43 d/d 13/10/43.

22 October 43. Operations. Mining Off The Frisian Islands.
Stirling Mk.III EF152   AA.T       Up 18:15       Down 21:25
Sgt Allen, W. M.                         Captain         540956
Sgt Hewitt, T.                             Nav              1549452
Sgt Bone, H.                               A/B              1449499
Sgt Escourte, A.                         W/Op            1176109
Sgt Copeland, A. A.                    F/Eng            1166829
Sgt Bruce, C.                             M/U/Gnr        551988
Sgt Purden, S.                            R/Gnr            1653158

24 October 43.
Air Sea Rescue search was carried out by Sgt W. Allen, but nothing was found.

7/8 November 43. Operations. Mining In The Gironde Estuary.
Stirling Mk.III EF507   AA.P       Up 23:30       Down 07:20
Same Crew.

18/19 November 43. Operations. Attack Against Targets At Manheim.
Stirling Mk.III EF507   AA.P       Up 17:30       Down 00:01

19 November 43. Operations. Attack Against Targets At Leverkusen.
Stirling Mk.III EF507   AA.P       Up 17:28       Down 21:35

4/5 January 44. Mining North of Biarritz.
Stirling III EF507   AA.P       Up 22:20       Down 07:50

I can not find any reference to F/S Allen between the op on 19 November 1943 and his last op on 4/5 January 1944.  I you can assist with further information on this incident, or a photo of Hurricane KX581 please contact me.

Edit.

Thanks to Kevin King, the Chairman of Friends of the 75 Squadron Association UK, who added the following additional information.

“Flt Sgt Allen was under open arrest for low/dangerous flying.
It’s been reported that after taking off in the Hurricane he did some aerobatics over Mepal. He then flew off. It’s assumed he flew into the North Sea”.

Edit 2.

One further mention of this incident in the 75 Squadron ORB’s.
16 January 44.
An Investigation was carried out at 14:30 hours for the purpose of investigating the circumstances of the loss of Hurricane Aircraft KX581 and attaching responsibility.
President  –  S/Ldr J. R. Grant  115 Squadron.
Member  –  F/Lt H. E. T. Prager, D.F.C., 1678 Conversion Flight.

 

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Hidden Heritage: Mepal Airfield

I was pleased to  find this nice little history of Mepal Airfield.

Ouse Washes: The Heart of the Fens

During World War 2 Mepal Airfield was an “expansion” airfield, the construction of which commenced in July 1942. It opened in April 1943 and it functioned as a sub-station for 33 Base in Waterbeach along with Witchford Airfield as part of No.3 Group Bomber Command.  Its design was the standard wartime 3 runway layout with the main runway 6000 feet long with two shorter runways approximately 4200 feet each; it had one B1 type hangar and two T2’s. The first aircraft to arrive was a DH82 Tigermoth flown by Squadron Leader G A Watt.

Mepal’s first unit was 1665 Heavy Conversion Unit that was originally based at Great Ashfield. It had 24 Stirling Mk1’s but only stayed for a week, before moving to Waterbeach.

75 (NZ) Squadron

The New Zealanders of 75 (NZ) Squadron Royal Air Force were the first operational occupants of Mepal Airfield in June 1943 flying Stirlings initially and then Lancasters. The Squadron was…

View original post 644 more words

More photos of the Moseley crew.

I have been sent more photos from Rob Middleton of his father and crew.

There is one in the last group sent that I really like. It is one of the crew siting on the outside of the mid upper gun turret where Rob’s father woud have been stationed. It’s a great photo.

The crew were;

Sgt Philip Albin Miles Moseley.          Pilot
Sgt George Bernard Bates.                 Navigator
Sgt E. D. Taylor.                                   Bomb Aimer
Sgt Vincent Bowes Farningham,       Wireless Op
Sgt G. Hughes,                                    Flight Eng
Sgt Clifford Middleton.                      Mid Upper Gnr
Sgt A. North.                                       Rear Gunner

If anyone has information one the crew I’m sure Rob would be interested to hear from you.