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.”

4/5 November 1943. Mining In The Baltic Sea.

Four aircraft were detailed to carry out the above operation with mines of 1,500 lbs. This was an unfortunate night as three aircraft failed to return and the other aircraft returned early having jettisoned it’s mines. This aircraft met an enemy night fighter and sustained damage to the port wing, starboard flap, rear turret and many large holes in the fuselage, the rear gunner, Sgt W. Hurdle, was killed during the combat. The weather was bad and ten tenths cloud made visibility poor. Navigation was very good. The missing aircraft were Stirling’s Mk.III BF461, Captained by P/O G. K. Williams, BK778 Captained by P/O W. S. Masters, and EE897 Captained by F/O N. Wilson.

Stirling Mk.III EJ108 AA.O captained by F/O E. F. Witting was the aircraft attacked by the night fighter, which made one pass and raked the aircraft with cannon fire. Walter Hurdle was killed in the attack and the Stirling was badly damaged. They struggled back to base, and made a difficult but safe landing at Mepal.

This disastrous night cost 16 aircrew killed or missing, 5 became Prisoners of War and 1 evaded, this was F/S Walter Morice from the Gordon Williams crew, and on 28 December 1943 he left Stockholm and arrived in Leuchars on 29 December 1943.

It also cost 3 of the 4 aircraft lost and the other was Cat AC/FB and didn’t return to 75 squadron for five weeks (13 December 1943).

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.

4D Short Stirling Bomber

I wanted to share with you all the fantastic work being done by James.

I think the work done by James is so important because without a preserved Short Stirling aircraft anywhere in the world, we can at least get an idea of the interior details and an understanding of the size this massive aircraft.

Take a look at some of his work.

A link to a Utube animation by James of a Stirling Fuselage Fly Through;

James had added two more images, both feature the flight engineers station.

Stirling Flight Engineers Station

Flight Engineers panel

This latest from James is outstanding, his work just keeps getting better and better.

Looking from above.

James has more animations coming soon, and I will post them when I can.

James has started work on the rear turret, this is his first effort, pretty damn good if you ask me.

Rear turret feed.

Very long rear turret feed.

I hope you all enjoy the effort and hard work James has put into his pictures and animations.

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…

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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.