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.

The Squadron Move to Rowley Mile, Newmarket.

The following is from the Form 540 Summary of Events.

1 November 1942 to 9 November 1942.
Movement of Squadron Headquarters to R.A.F. Satellite, Rowley Mile, Newmarket.
This movement was carried out under the Command of Squadron Leader R. S. Crawford by road in Squadron and R.A.F. Station, Mildenhall, Motor Transport.

10 November 42.
Movement of “B” Flight from Conversion Unit Oakington, to R.A.F. Satellite, Rowley Mile, Newmarket.  Personnel moved in two main parties, an Air and Road Party. The Road party traveled with equipment in lorries and coaches provided by R.A.F. Station, Mildenhall. The Air party consisted of 7 Officers and 42 Sergeants who proceeded with aircraft following route detailed by Operations Room, R.A.F. Station, Oakington.
The Air and Road parties moved under the control of Squadron Leader Crompton and Warrant Officer Cooper, respectively.

I would imagine the aircrew were pleased to convert from the Wellington to the Stirling. This also coincided with the move to Newmarket, so many changes for both ground staff and aircrews. 

No. 75 Squadron Stirling, with engines running. Unknown location. CH6314

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.

Sergeant Henry Stephen Mulholland 1332768 Air Bomber

I had the following message from Paul Cordwell.

I am researching my wife’s great Uncle, Sgt Harry (Henry) Mulholland. He and his crew were lost on the Dusseldorf raid 11/12 June 1943. Any information would be good. His aircraft was Stirling Mk3 BK817.
Looking through the data base sadly showed the crew were only together at Newmarket a short time, being lost on only their 7th operation.

5/6 May 43. Operations. Mining Off The Frisian Islands.
Six aircraft were detailed to carry out the above attack with mines of 1,500 lb.
One aircraft, however, failed to take off and one failed to return. The remaining
four aircraft successfully dropped their mines in the allotted area, and all of
the parachutes were seen to open. Some light A.A. Fire was encountered, but it was
ineffective. No enemy aircraft were seen. There was broken cloud in the mining area,
although visibility was fairly good. Navigation was very good. The missing aircraft
was Stirling Mk.I EF340, captained by Sgt R. F. Westwood.

Stirling Mk.I BF377. AA-J.          Up. 21:52.            Down. 03:02
F/L Laud, R. H.                            Captain
Sgt McQuade, H.                        Nav
Sgt Mulholland, H.                     A/B
Sgt Whatmough, T.                    W/Op
Sgt Waite, A. R.                           F/Eng
Sgt Matthews, M.                       M/U/G
Sgt Hawkins, F.                           R/Gnr

9/10 May 43. Operations. Gardening In The Ile De Re Area.
Six aircraft were detailed to carry out the above operation, with mines of 1500 lb.
All of the mines were dropped in the allotted area and the parachutes were seen to open.
One aircraft met heavy A.A. Fire, but it was ineffective. A few enemy aircraft were seen,
but no combats took place. The weather was good in the mining area and visibility was also good. Navigation was excellent.

Stirling Mk.III BF465   JN-K       Up 21:55       Down 04:03
F/L Laud, R. H.                           2nd Pilot
Sgt McQuade, H.                       Nav
Sgt Mulholland, H.                    A/B
Sgt Whatmough, T.                   W/Op
Sgt Waite, A. R.                          F/Eng
Sgt Hardy, W.                             M/U/G
Sgt Hawkins, F.                          R/Gnr

12 May 43. Operations. Attack Against Targets At Duisburg.
Nine aircraft were detailed to attack the above target with bombs of 2,000 lb, 1,000 lb and
incendiaries of 30 lb and 4 lb. Stirling Mk.III BK721 captained by F/L E. R. M. Appleton,
whilst taking off failed to clear an obstruction at the end of the runway and crashed almost
immediately afterwards, all the crew with the exception of the captain and wireless operator,
F/S Cocks, S. G. were killed. The captain recieved severe injuries and the wireless operator
was also injured, and both were admitted to hospital. As a result of this crash was two aircraft
were unable to take off. One aircraft returned early owing to the captain being sick. The remaining five aircraft successfully dropped their bombs in the target area, and large concentrated fires and some explosions were seen. Some heavy A.A. Fire, co-operating with searchlights was encountered, but it was ineffective. A few enemy aircraft were seen but no combats took place. The weather was very clear in the target area with good visibility except for ground haze which prevented identification. Navigation was very good.

Stirling Mk.III BF465   JN-K       Up 00:29       Down 04:25
F/L Laud, R. H.                           Captain
Sgt McQuade, H.                       Nav
Sgt Mulholland, H.                    A/B
Sgt Whatmough, T.                   W/Op
Sgt Waite, A. R.                          F/Eng
Sgt Matthews, M.                      M/U/G                                                                                                         Sgt Hawkins, F.                          R/Gnr

13/14 May 43. Operations. Attack Against Targets At Bochum.
Twelve aircraft were detailed to attack the above targets with bombs of 2,000 lb, 1,000 lb, and incendiaries of 30 lb and 4 lb. Three aircraft, however were forced to return early owing to engine trouble. The remainder successfully dropped their bombs in the target area, and very large concentrated fires were seen, together with explosions. This is considered to have been a very successful raid. Heavy predicted A.A. Fire co-operating with searchlights was encountered. Several enemy aircraft were seen and some short combats took place. Stirling Mk.I BK619
captained by Sgt J. L. Mitchell was attacked by a Me.110 and opened fire at 400 yards slightly below our aircraft. The mid upper gunner fired a medium burst and the enemy aircraft was seen to burst into flames and pass beneath the Stirling. The rear gunner fired a further long burst at 300 yards and the enemy aircraft was seen to turn on it’s back and dive, hit the
ground and explode. The weather was very clear in the target area, but visibility was impaired by slight ground haze. Navigation was good.
Note, the Combat Report confirms the aircraft of Sgt Mitchell was BF561.

Stirling Mk.III EF465   AA.K       Up 00:14       Down 05:39
F/L Laud, R. H.                            Captain
Sgt McQuade, H.                        Nav
Sgt Mulholland, H.                     A/B
Sgt Whatmough, T.                    W/Op
Sgt Waite, A. R.                           F/Eng
Sgt Matthews, M.                       M/U/G
Sgt Hawkins, F.                           R/Gnr

23/24 May 43. Operations. Attack Against Targets At Dortmund.
Fifteen aircraft were detailed to carry out the above attacks with bombs of 1,000 lb and incendiaries of 30 lb and 4 lb. One aircraft returned early owing to engine trouble, and the remaining aircraft successfully dropped their bombs in the target area.
Some very large fires were seen, and bombs were seen to explode amongst large buildings. Medium and Heavy A.A. Fire co-operating with searchlights was encountered. One aircraft was hit whilst over the target, and the port outer propellor was shot off, but the aircraft
successfully returned to base. Some enemy aircraft were seen, and two short combats took place, but no damage was sustained to our aircraft. The weather was good in the target area, but identification was difficult owing to smoke from the fires . Navigation was very good.
Stirling Mk.III BK783 captained by S. M. Tietjens failed to return.

Stirling Mk.I BK817   JN.B         Up 23:18       Down 03:20
S/L Laud, R. H.                            Captain
F/O Eddy, C.                                2nd Pilot
Sgt McQuade, H.                        Nav
Sgt Mulholland, H.                      A/B
Sgt Whatmough, T.                     W/Op
Sgt Waite, A. R.                            F/Eng
Sgt Matthews, M.                        M/U/G
Sgt Hawkins, F.                            R/Gnr

11/12 June 43. Operations. Attack Against Targets At Dusseldorf.
Sixteen aircraft were detailed to attack the above targets with bombs of 2,000 lb, 1,000 lb, and incendiaries of 30 lb and 4 lb. One aircraft failed to return and two returned early owing to engine trouble. The remainder of the aircraft successfully dropped their bombs in the target area. Many large fires and huge explosions were seen. Moderate and heavy A.A. Fire, co-operating with searchlights were encountered. One aircraft was coned by searchlights, but by violent evasive action eventully avoided them with difficulty. Some enemy aircraft were seen and two short combats took place, but no damage was sustained by our aircraft. The weather
was clear and the visibility was good except for haze caused by the fires. Navigation was very good. The missing aircraft was Stirling Mk.III BK817 captained by Squadron Leader R. H. Laud. (“A” Flight Commander).

Stirling Mk.III BK817   AA.B                     Up 23:48        Missing.
S/L Laud, Ronald Hugh.                          Captain           40625       +
Sgt Russell, John Herbert.                       2nd Pilot        1059932   +
Sgt McQuade, Hugh Steel                       Nav                 1349542   +
Sgt Mulholland, Henry Stephen.            A/B                  1332768   +
Sgt Whatmough, Thomas.                       W/Op             1059932   +
Sgt Waite, Aubrey Reginald                     F/Eng              575638     +
Sgt Hawkins, Frederick John.                   M/U/G           1299681   +
Sgt Matthews, M. K.                                   R/Gnr             848364
Took off from Newmarket at 23:48 hours from Newmarket. Shot down by a night fighter over Belgium, piloted by Oblt. Wilhelm Telge, and crashed at 01:35 hours at Frodthier (Liege), 10 km north of Verviers, Belgium. The rear gunner was the only survivor, and became a PoW.
Those killed were at first buried at St Trond, about 50 km WNW of the crash site, but are now buried in Heverlee War Cemetery.

From http://www.bahavzw.be/database/content/stirling-bij-thimister
Oblt.Telge began his attack at the height of the hamlet of La Minerie (municipality Thimister). On a farm there staying Maurice Lange. Summer night he could not sleep, and listened to the drone of the bomber flying …

“Suddenly I heard a loud burst, immediately followed by brief gun battles. The whole is drowned out by a sudden howl of the radial engines. The bomber is plain to see in the moonlight, a long tail of hellish orange flames behind.
Hastily dropping her load with firebombs along the road to Tilleul. The larger explosives then tumbling down, exploding the Bouquaimoulin. Stirling flies straight, road-Aubel Battice, describing a semicircle.
A wing breaks off and falls like a dead leaf to earth. Follows barely a hundred meters to the fatal explosion. The wreckage of the bomber damaged the roof of Mr. Charlier, hit a tree and pour through, among other things down in a field on a twenty meters from the road to Chaumont. Burning gasoline put a hedge and a vegetable garden in flame, just a few meters from a dwelling.It is impossible to come closer to the residue, two hours detonated the .303 ammunition.

Sgt Terence Austin Murphy NZ413307

With the help of Russell Murphy I have been able to add these details of his uncle Terence Murphy to my Blog.

Terence Austin Murphy was born at Eketahuna on 28 July 1912.
His civilian employment was as a herd tester in the employ of the Wellington and Hawkes Bay Herd Imporvment Association. In March 1940 Terry applied for was service in the Royal New Zealand Airforce.
He began training on 7th June 1941 at the Inital Training Wing, Levin, and on the 14th August embarked for Canada for further training under the Empire Air Training Scheme.
His posting to No. 6 Air Observer School on 1 September 1941 was followed by a further posting to No.3 Bombing and Gunnery School, MacDonald, Manitoba on 24 November. After completing the course he was awarded his Air Observer’s badge and recieved his promotion to Sergeant.
Two days later on 5th January 1942 he was posted to No. 1 Air Navigation School, Rivers, Manitoba. At the completion of this course Terry was sent to No. 1 “Y” Depot, Halifax, to await embarkation for the United Kingdom.
After a month waiting at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, Sgt Murphy was posted to No. 2 (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit, Millom, Cumberland on ANZAC Day (25 April) 1942.
On the 26th May Sgt Murphy was posted to No. 11 Operational Training Unit, Bassingbourne, Hertfordshire, to complete his training, crew up and learn to operate in the Vickers Wellington bomber aircraft.
His posting to 75 (NZ) Squadron came on the 18th August 1942, and so started his Operational Flying with the Squadron.

01/02 Sep 42 Saarbrücken Wellington BJ832 Sgt Raharuhi, Sgt Reid, Sgt Parata, Sgt Murphy, Sgt Carter
04/05 Sep 42 Bremen Wellington BJ832 W/C Freeman, Sgt Raharuhi, Sgt Reid, Sgt Parata, Sgt Murphy, Sgt Carter
06/07 Sep 42 Duisburg Wellington X3946 Sgt Raharuhi, Sgt Read, Sgt Parata, Sgt Murphy, Sgt Carter
07/08 Sep 42 Mining Frisian Is Wellington X3747 Sgt Raharuhi, Sgt Reid, Sgt Parata,, Sgt Murphy, Sgt Carter
10/11 Sep 42 Düsseldorf Wellington BJ832 Sgt Raharuhi, Sgt Reid, Sgt Parata, Sgt Murphy, Sgt Carter
13/14 Sep 42 Bremen Wellington X3946 Sgt Raharuhi, Sgt Reid, Sgt Parata, Sgt Murphy, Sgt Parker
15/16 Sep 42 Frisian Is Wellington X3946 Sgt Raharuhi, Sgt Reid, Sgt Parate, Sgt Murphy, Sgt Carter
16/17 Sep 42 Essen Wellington X3946 Sgt Raharuhi, Sgt Reid, Sgt Parata, Sgt Murphy, Sgt Carter
19/20 Sep 42 Saarbrücken Wellington X3946 Sgt Raharuri, Sgt Reid, Sgt Parata, Sgt Murphy, Sgt Carter
02/03 Oct 42 Krefeld Wellington X3946 Sgt Rahuruhi, Sgt Reid, Sgt Parata, Sgt Murphy, Sgt Carter
05/06 Oct 42 Aachen X3946 Sgt Raharuhi, Sgt Reid, Sgt Papata, Sgt Murphy, Sgt Carter
13/14 Oct 42 Kiel X3946 Sgt Raharuhi, Sgt Read, Sgt Parata, Sgt Murphy, Sgt Scott
15/16 Oct 42 Cologne BK274 Sgt Raharuhi, Sgt Reid, Sgt Parata, Sgt Murphy, Sgt Carter
23/24 Oct 42 Genoa BK274 S/L Crawford, Sgt Raharuhi, Sgt Reid, Sgt Parata, Sgt Murphy, Sgt Carter

Then a gap while the squadron convert to Stirling aircraft. He also becomes part of Flt/Sgt McCullough’s crew.

04/ 05 Dec 42 Frisians/mining Stirling BF398 F/S’s McCullough, Tolley, Gibbes, Sgt’s Allen, Smith , Murphy, Kimberley, P/O Stuart-White
17/18 Dec 42 Fallersleben Stirling R9250 F/S’s McCullough, Tolley, Gibbes, Sgt’s Smith, Allen, Murphy, Kimberley, P/O Stuart-White.
08/09 Jan 43 Mining Denmark Coast Stirling R9250 P/O McCullough, F/S Tolley, F/S Gibbes, Sgt Allen, Sgt Smith, Sgt Murphy, Sgt Kimberley, P/O Stuart-White
12/13 Jan 43 Biscay Ports Stiring R9250 P/O McCullough, F/S Tolley, F/S Gibbs, Sgt’s Allen, Smith, Murphy, Kimberley, P/O Heywood
15/16 Jan 43 Lorient Stirling R9250 P/O McCullough, F/S Tolley, F/S Gibbes, Sgts Abbott, Smith, Murphy, Kimberley, P/O Stuart-White.
23/24 Jan 43 Lorient Stirling BK604 P/O McCollough, W/O Burke, F/S Gibbes, Sgt’s Allen, Smith, Murphy, Kimberley, Harding – Smith
03/ 04 Feb 43 Hamburg BK604 P/O McCullough, P/O Henderson, F/S Gibbes, Sgt’s Allen, Murphy, Smith, Kimberley, Trevayne                                                                                                            BK604 was shot down by a night-fighter (Hptm Wolfgang Thimmig, III.NJG1) while attempting to penetrate the highly effective German defensive sector along the Netherlands coastline. The bomber crashed at 20.13hrs near the township Enter (Overjissel), seven miles SW of Wierden, Holland. Three of the crew were killed in the crash – the Captain, Flight Engineer and Rear gunner. The remaining five succeeded in baling out, four of whom landed unhurt but were taken as prisoners. The Air Bomber’s parachute failed to deploy fully before he impacted the ground and he died as a result. The deceased were buried in the Wierden General Cemetery.

The crew’s original grave site at Wierden General Cemetery.

Stirling I BK604   AA.S                          Up 18:23        Missing.
P/O McCullough, John                         Captain          NZ40410
P/O Henderson, Raymond William   2nd Pilot        NZ411894
F/S Gibbes, William Edmund.             Nav                NZ404535
Sgt Allen, Francis Frederick.               F/Eng              936019
Sgt Smith, Keith James Stockley.       W/Op              NZ411783
Sgt Murphy, T. A.                                  A/B                 NZ413306
Sgt Kimberley, K. E.                              M/U/Gnr       1576231
Sgt Trevayne, Paul Rodney.                R/Gnr            1291308