Crew
F/S Vernon John Zinzan. Pilot
W/O James Sydney George Coote. Navigator
F/O Alexander Annandale Sommerville. Air Bomber*
Sgt. Miles Parr. Wireless Operator
Sgt. A. Ackroyd. Flight Engineer
Sgt. H. Hutchinson. Mid Upper Gunner
Sgt. E Smith. Rear Gunner**
* The second incorrect listing of the A/B in the ORB. Again, this was Bob, though perhaps the mistake is understandable as it appears there was another Sommerville in the Squadron. F/O Alexander Annandale Sommerville RNZAF NZ425459 was actually a navigator , flying with the Squadron between 10th March to 24th July 1945. Crewed with Leslie Gordon Sinclair.
**Not sure about the identity of Sgt. E. Smith. There is only one Smith in the Nominal Roll with a first initial E, however this individual is listed as a Pilot, though his time with the Squadron does make him present at the time of this raid.
Aircraft
Lancaster Mk.I RF127
“W” for William
Remarks
Bomb Load 6 x 1,000 ANM., 9 x 500 ANM., 1 x 350 Munro
Primary Target – Hamm M/ Yard.
Formatting fair over target.
Flight
Up 10.11 19th March
Down 17.41 19th March
Total Flight Time 5 hours 30 minutes
75 (NZ) Sqn RAF Operations Record Book (ORB)
19/3/45
Operations.
Twenty one aircraft were detailed to attack the Marshalling Yards at Hamm. There were 6-7/10ths cloud over the target with tops at about 10,000ft. Some confusion was caused by the preceding squadron leading this squadron off track and scattering the formation. However a fair concentration was attained in the end. Some H/F was encountered.
Page 156, 1945. Form 540/ 541 AIR27/ 647 75(NZ) Squadron RAF, Mepal. National Archives.
Bomber Command War Diary
19 March 1945
153 aircraft – 125 Halifaxes, 16 Lancasters, 12 Mosquitos – of Nos 4 and No 6 Groups attempted to hit the railway yards at Recklinghausen but cloud and a strong wind spoiled the Pathfinder marking and the bombing was well scattered. No aircraft lost.
99 Lancasters of No 3 Group attacked the railway yards at Hamm and 14 Lancasters of No 9 Squadron attacked the railway bridge at Arnsberg. Bombs were seen to explode in the target area at both targets. No aircraft lost.
75(nz)squadron 