Happy Christmas to everyone who has visited over the last few months. The level of interest has really amazed me and I think its incredible that already the counter on the site is almost at 2,500.
I would like to thank you all for your support so far and hopefully your interest will continue in the New Year.
I wish you all a Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year
All the best
Simon
Sgt Alexander Coutts Mee, RNZAF & Sgt David Leo Nola RNZAF
Over in Grimsby for Christmas with the in-laws, so I took the opportunity to visit Alex and David and leave some flowers with them. There was a flower holder next to Alex’s stone that wasn’t there last time I visited – not sure if that means something……
It is with great sadness that I must report the passing of Norman Allen at the age of 90, after a short illness.
I first met Norman and his son Marshall at the Winter reunion of the ‘Friends of 75(NZ) Squadron Association’ when Dad’s ashes were laid in the Memorial Garden. Marshall took the service and I spent a short time talking to Norman after the church service in the village. He struck me as a lovely gentle man.
I saw Norman for a second time after the Bomber Command Memorial unveiling this last summer, albeit very briefly. After suffering the heat of the day Bev and I had returned to a local pub down a side street not far from the RAF Club. Looking back up the road, we suddenly recognised Margaret, his daughter-in-law, following behind Norman in a wheelchair, being propelled it seemed at impressive speed by another Irish 75(NZ) Squadron veteran John McFarland!
The third and final time I saw Norman was at this years Winter Reunion – and it was with great pleasure that he signed my copy of ‘Forever Strong’.
I feel glad that I new Norman and sad that it was only for such a short while.
Ake Ake Kia Kaha
I include a piece from the Portadown Times recording Normans passing:
Mr Norman Allen, veteran of Bomber Command during WW2, with his daughter Mrs Janet Kells, who is holding a picture of his Lancaster crew – the young airman is second left back row. They were in London yesterday – along with his daughter-in-law Mrs Margaret Allen – to see the Queen unveil the £7m Memorial to the 55,000 men of Bomber Command who died during the raids on Germany. INPT27-950.
SECOND World War veteran and leading County Armagh Orangeman Norman Allen has died after a short illness. He was 90.
Mr Allen was a veteran of the dangerous Second World War Bomber Command which flew deep into German territory to carry out missions on cities like Dresden, Wesel, Dortmond and Leipzig, with the loss of over 55,000 airmen – 50 per cent of the personnel.
And while his family mourn the death of a true Christian gentleman, they are gratified that he lived to see the unveiling by the Queen – in June this year – of the £7m Bomber Command Memorial in London, designed by architect Liam O’Connor and made possible through public donations.
Mr Allen, his daughter Janet Kells and daughter-in-law Margaret Allen, were among the 5,000 who attended the London ceremony, which ended six decades of controversy. Successive British Government’s, starting with Winston Churchill’s wartime administration, had tried to airbrush Bomber Command out of history, on the back on international criticism on the blanket bombing of German cities. But, in an interview with the Portadown Times after he returned from London, Mr Allen told us, “We were simply carrying out orders. So many of us put our lives on the line.”
A gunner on one of the famous Lancaster bombers, he took part in 15 missions. He was just 22 at the time and said in his Times interview, “I was one of the lucky ones. True, it was dangerous, but it was exciting and I have to admit I look back of my wartime service as the most enjoyable time of my life.”
In his personal life, Mr Allen – whose home is at Derryloughan Road Loughgall – had many diverse interests, notably the Orange Order, of which he was County Grand Master during the bicentenary year 1995. It was totally appropriate as he lived close to the Battle of the Diamond site which prompted the formation of the Order in nearby Loughgall in 1795.
At one stage, he travelled to New Zealand to meet the Brethren there, and that, too, was appropriate as he actually served in the 75th New Zealand Squadron of Bomber Command. They were based at Ely in England, and the young Norman Allen volunteered to join their ranks.
Officers of the County Armagh Grand Lodge and of Loughgall District No 3 have paid their tributes and respects. His funeral, on Boxing Day at Cranagill Methodist Church – of which he was a devout member – was well-attended, with Orangemen and women coming from all over the province to pay their respects. He was a member of Diamond Memorial LOL No 85, its former Grand Master, and loved to welcome members of the worldwide Orange family to the area where the Order was founded.
Mr Allen was a renowned apple grower and respected throughout the farming industry. Even though he was 90, he continued to “dabble” in farming, his main hobby being the keeping of free-range chickens, “just to keep me occupied”.
He was deeply loved by his entire family circle, who were proud of his wartime service and delighted that he lived to see the Bomber Command finally recognised. The Allen party flew to London with veteran John McFarland and his family, John’s plane having been shot down in April 1944, and he finished the wart in the notorious Stalag Luft III. The two heroes had much to discuss during that momentous trip.
A fortnight after the London ceremony, Mr Allen attended the County Armagh Twelfth demonstration in Keady, and as ever enjoyed the occasion.
He was a staunch unionist, being a member of the Newry-Armagh Ulster Unionist Association, and was a Justice of the Peace.
Norman Allen is survived by sons and daughters Marshall, Ronnie, Gordon, Janet and Carol, and was the father-in-law of Margaret, Gail, Phyllis, Maurice and Eddie and a devoted grandfather and great-grandfather.
After the service of thanksgiving at Cranagill Methodist Church, burial was in Cranagill Cemetery. Donations, if desired, are to the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, c/o Joseph Poots Funeral Directors, 42 Bridge Street, Portadown BT63 5AE.
Read the original article in the Portadown Times here
It has just been bought to my attention that, despite my belief to the contrary, full permission from the 75 Squadron Association New Zealand for the presentation of the information contained in the Squadron Nominal Roll had not been granted.
I have therefore no option at this point in time, other than to remove this information from the site and I have done this as a matter of urgency, in order to respect the wishes of the Association.
It has always been my objective to fully attribute ownership and seek permission for the display of materials on this site. In this case I thought I had, but it would appear I didn’t and for this mistake/ oversight I sincerely apologise.
I would hope that this situation might be rectified and that the Nominal Roll in some form might be able to be re-presented on this site. I maintain my original belief that the record can be added to and refined by people being able to view it and offer additional or corrected information.
Simon
Jane could very well be the third flying Lancaster
The bomber, Just Jane, is currently used for taxi rides at Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre. Fred and Harold Panton, the centre’s owners, are restoring it as a tribute to their brother – who was killed in a Lancaster in 1944. They have taken delivery of a fourth Rolls Royce Merlin engine, which they said was key to getting it airborne.
Night and day
Fred Panton said: “We are hoping she will fly one day soon, and as sure as night follows day she will. But before we start, we want to get everything in airworthy condition, so when we do we can do the whole job in 14 months. If we were to take the engines out of Just Jane and send them away [to be repaired] it could take up to three years. The new engines will save time.”
Mr Panton added:
“I didn’t realise until the last engine was handed over that there are 11,000 parts in a Merlin engine – it gives you some idea how complicated it is. And to think these were built just before the war.”
Mr Panton and his brother bought the Lancaster (Avro NX611) in 1983 and brought it from RAF Scampton to their museum in East Kirkby. It last flew in 1971.
At the moment there are only two airworthy Lancasters – one in the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at Coningsby and one at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton, Ontario.
Read the full article here
The Bailey crew in front of NE181 JN-Mike ‘The Captains Fancy’, just after ‘bombing up’ 29th January 1945.
L to R (back row), Jack Brewster (Nav), Norman Bartlett (F/E), Jack Bailey (Pilot), Jack Wall (A/B), Dick Pickup (W/Op). (front row) Sgt. Phillips, unknown ground crew member, Roy Corfield (R/Gnr), Tony Gregory (MUG), unknown ground crew member.
picture supplied by Tony Pickup ©
Many thanks to Kevin for passing a contact onto me regarding a member of the Bailey crew and many thanks also to Tony for being so generous with the information he has shared with me regarding his father, Richard Pickup, who was the Wireless Operator with the crew and also flew on the 100th op of NE181 JN-Mike. I’ll let Tony pick up the story about ‘Mike’
“There has been quite a bit of discussion over the years about when the 100th op was and who flew it and I know that in the book “Forever Strong”, the 100th was credited to a different crew. Some years ago I was in contact with John (Jack) Wall, the bomb aimer in Jack Bailey’s crew, and he took great exception to the fact that, in the book, an assertion was made that Jack Bailey wouldn’t fly the 100th and so someone else did it. He said they were really keen to fly the 100th and did so. The photograph, which I’ve attached, was taken after the aircraft had been bombed up but just before boarding. I have got quite a lot of correspondence from Jack (Wall) about this (and the missions of this second tour on 75). If you wanted it I would have to get Jack Wall’s family to release it, but I am pretty certain that it will be in the Squadron Association Archives. I will include here the page of my father’s log book that covers January ’45, and the period of M Mike’s 100th operation. As I understand it from Jack Wall, the 100th mission which took place on the 29th Jan to Krefeld. This date and operation is also confirmed as the 100th for M Mike in Jack Bailey’s citation for the bar on his DFC, of which I have a copy”.
The relevant page from Dick Pickup’s logbook, showing the Krefeld raid on the 29th of January – JN-Mike’s 100th op with 75(NZ) Squadron.
picture supplied by Tony Pickup ©
Richard was a W/Op with 117 Squadron in North Africa betwee 1940 and 1943. At the end of that campaign, the Squadron was posted to the Far East, but Richard and others were posted back to the UK to be re-mustered with Bomber Command. After arriving at 149 Squadron at Methwold, he lost his new skipper after only 4 ops when he took a new crew on an op over France. Dick and the rest of the crew were posted for re-crewing and it was at Feltwell that Dick met Jack Bailey who was forming a crew for his second tour with 75(NZ). Jack just happened to be short of a W/Op, Dick joined the crew and the rest, as they say is history………….
I finally got hold of the March ORB for 128 LNSF Squadron from the National Archives. The raids that Allan flew in March, on arriving at the Squadron, bring his total to 20. At this point I am not sure whether this equated to his 20 total of a second tour, or whether the war ended before he was required to fly again – My understanding is that as part of Path Finder Force the ‘tour total’ was higher than it was for a a main bomber squadron.
2/3 March 1945 Kassel
4/5 March 1945 Essen
5/6 March 1945 Gelsenkirchen
7/8 March 1945 Frankfurt
10/11 March 1945 Berlin
10/11 March 1945 Berlin
13/14 March 1945 Berlin
15/16 March 1945 Berlin
16/17 March 1945 Berlin
20/21 March 1945 Berlin
29/30 March 1945 Berlin
Annoyingly, The document downloaded for the National Archive only included the raid diary, not the station diary, so I still need to try to find out where Allan came from, regarding possible conversion training prior to arriving at 128 Squadron.
After being contacted by Tony earlier this week regarding the 75(NZ) boys that rest in Newmarket Cemetery, I did a bit more digging regarding Sgt. Stanley Lawrence Drayton, listed as a member of the Squadron, I was a little perplexed that seemed neither to exist in the Roll of Honour or the Nominal Roll……..
I’ve been having a look through a few different documents/ books. It would appear that the crash in question happened at RAF Oakington, where a number of flights from 75(NZ) were undergoing conversion training from Wellingtons to Stirlings.
On the 24th of October Sgt. Broady flew to Milan on a raid in Wellington BK275;
Sgt. Broady, R. Captain
Sgt. Fabian, J. Navigator
Sgt. Gray, E.W. Wop
Sgt. Jobson, G. F/Gunner
Sgt. McIssac, A. R/Gunner
(This was from Newmarket)
At some point between this date and the 13th of November Broady and ‘crew’ clearly went to Oakington for conversion to Stirling with ‘A’ flight. ORB lists Sgt. Broady as undertaking single and dual flights on the 13th, 17th, 20th, 21st, 27th and finally on the 28th.
Broady’s details in the nominal roll describe the Wellington as “Stalling whilst carrying out an emergency manouvere to avoid a head on collision with another Stirling” – flights listed in the ORB for that day have Broady undertaking a ‘night dual’ with F/O Bishop. It would appear that it was the only 75(NZ) Stirling listed as undertaking a night flight that day, so we must assume that it was another squadrons a/c that was involved in the near collision.
F/O Bishop cannot be identified in the 75(NZ) Nominal roll or the Roll of Honour – I would assume that he was based at Oakington with the conversion squadron.
Looking through the 75(NZ) Nominal Roll for Broady and any other airmen that are linked to his name, the following are identified (Gray and Fabien, listed as crew in the Wellington raid on Milan clearly were not in the a/c that night).
BROADY, Sgt Raymond Herbert John, RNZAF. NZ39691, Pilot, 5 Sep to 28 Nov 1942 Died Saturday 28 November 1942, age 28. Crashed during local flying practice when his aircraft stalled while carrying out emergency manoeuvers to avoid a head-on collision with another Stirling. Buried Cambridge City Cemetery, England.
McISAAC, Sgt Alexander RNZAF. NZ412891 AG 6 Oct to 28 Nov 1942. c/w R H J Broady. Died Saturday 28th November 1942, age 24, during local night flying practice.
GRAY, F/Sgt Edward Henry RNZAF NZ412878 WOAG 6 Oct 1942 to 25 Oct 1943 c/w R H J Broady.
ROGERS, Sgt Charles Thomas RAVRF. 1170921 AG x Oct to 30 Nov 1942. c/w R H J Broady as R/Gnr. Died Monday 30th November 1942. Buried Crowle (St. John the Baptist Churchyard England.
JOBSON, Sgt George Trueman RAFVR 1287935 AB x Sep to 28 Nov 1942 c/w R H J Broady. Died Saturday 28th November 1942, age 20, during local flying practice. Buried Chevington Cemetery, Northumberland, England.
FABIAN, Fg Off John Charles Kennedy DFC RNZAF NZ413720 Navigator 6 Oct 1942 to 1 Nov 1943. c/w R H J Broady. Citation DFC (Imm) (2 Nov 1943) with 75 Sqn. Flying Officer Fabian is a navigator of outstanding ability and his skilful efforts have contributed materially to the success of many sorties on which he has flown. He has taken part in attacks on a wide variety of targets including Hamburg, Berlin and several industrial centres in the Ruhr. Flying Officer Fabian has displayed great determination and devotion to duty. DFC* (Imm) 19 May 1944 with 15 Sqn.
DIBBEN, Sgt Ronald Oswald RAFVR 1252627 Flight Engineer x Oct to 28 Nov 1942. c/w R H J Broady. Died Sunday 28th November 1942, age 22, when his aircraft crashed on a local training flight. Buried Ham (St. Andrew) Churchyard, England.
Sgt. Drayton is the only one missing. I checked through ‘Bomber Command Losses’ by WR Chorley and it would appear that Sgt. Drayton actually was from 30 Operational Training Unit, not indeed 75(NZ).
I mail this information back to Tony and get a tantalising reply;
Stan Drayton survived the crash but died in RAF Hospital Ely later in the day. CWGC put him in 75 NZ Sqdn
I have also just realised, someone is putting fresh flowers and poppy cross on his grave on Remembrance Day, hence a relative is still around who maybe can get more for us, all I have to do it find him/her
We shall have to wait and see………..
New Zealand gave a Squadron of Planes
When Britain’s need was dire
Both countries sons made up the crews
And they flew through hell and fire.
To the Pommy lads the Kiwi’s made
A gesture that was grand
They gave them honorary citizenship
Of their own beloved land.
Under New Zealand’s flag, they proudly flew
Comrades of the air
They lived and died, as side by side
Fate’s lot they chose to share.
In Wellingtons, Stirlings, then Lancasters
To the foe, they took the flight
On wings they soared through Europe’s skies
In the darkness and the light.
But a heavy price, the Squadron paid
In five long years of strife
Of those who flew with “75”
One in three, laid down their life.
On the East Coast of Old England
The crumbling airfields stand
Where aircraft once left mother earth
Tractors till the land
The era of the Bomber war
Came, paused, then passed away
But the bond between two nations sons
Unchanged, will ever stay.
Ken Moore, Waterlooville. 2/3/80
L to R back row, Desmond Hayward, Kenneth Blincoe, Frank Boese, Harold Lowe, front row, Edward McDermott, Desmond Clearwater and George Cook
A while ago, I received this amazing colour picture from Kevin King. So far its the only colour image that I have seen related to 75(NZ) Squadron. The image and details of the crew and their crash comes from a Dutch site and the page can be seen here.
Having had a look at the ORB and the details of the raid, I am inclined to believe that the information on this page is slightly wrong. On the night of the 3rd of February, the crew took Sgt. Andrew James Newell Scott with them to Hamburg, as second Pilot. To this end, I think that this picture is of the ‘Blincoe crew’ and is very unlikely to contain Sgt. Scott.
I appreciate my contention regarding the individuals in the picture is a little controversial, I look forward to being proved wrong, but my gut feeling says that I am not.
It was not a good night for the Squadron. As well as the Blincoe crew, P/O John McCullough and his crew, including Raymond Willaim Henderson as 2nd Pilot were also lost. The 2 captains were amongst the most experienced in the Squadron. and the loss of 2 2nd Pilots meant the following morning 2 ‘headless’ crews remained.
The crew on that night were;
Plt Off Kenneth Howard Blincoe, DFC, RNZAF NZ412194 Pilot. Age 33.
Citation DFC (24 Apr 1945 to date from 3 Feb 1943):
“This officer is a most enthusiastic captain of aircraft and has completed many operational sorties, mostly against well defended targets. He has always been most determined in all his attacks and has set an example of the highest order to his crew“.
P/O Andrew James Newell Scott RNZAF NZ414685 2nd Pilot.
Sgt Frank Arthur Boese RAFVR 1293282 Observer. Age 22.
Sgt Desmond David Hayward RAFVR 651764 Flight Engineer. Age 20.
F/O Harold Lowe, DFC, RAFVR 905609/ 115129 Wireless Operator. Age 23.
Citation DFC (24 April 1945 to date from 2 Feb 1943):
“This officer has participated in many operational sorties, the majority of which have been against strongly defended German targets. He has always shown great courage and determination in the face of the enemy and his work in the Squadron has been of the highest order and an example to all. Died Wednesday 3rd February 1943, age 23, during a raid on Hamburg“.
Sgt. George Wood Cook RNZAF NZ412514 Air Bomber. Age 24.
F/Sgt. Edward McDermott RCAF R.96960 Mid Upper Gunner. Age 19.
Sgt. Desmond Clearwater RNZAF NZ412314 Rear Gunner. Age 23.
The entire crew were buried in Amersfoort (Oud Leusden) General Cemetery, Netherlands.
I was contacted this evening by Tony who maintains a website about the war memorial and graves at Newmarket Cemetery. Within the cemetery are 13 boys from 75(NZ) Squadron who lost their lives in 3 crashes when the Squadron was flying from Newmarket.
They are;
FRANKLIN Sgt Benjamin Allan RNZAF (NZ414277) Pilot. Age 21.
LAWRENCE Sgt William Joseph RCAF. (R.70294) Flight Engineer. Age 22.
WELCH Sgt Harold Rangi, RNZAF, (NZ41709) Wireless Operator. Age 22. d.
WHITCOMBE Sgt William Henry, RNZAF. (NZ41561) Observer/Navigator . Age 32.
The above aircrew were killed on the 16th December 1942 when their aircraft crashed on take-off, the mine they were carrying, for a gardening op in the Gironde Estuary, exploded on impact.
MOFFATT F/Sgt Bertram Augustus, RCAF (R.802237) Navigator. Age 25.
REDDICLIFFE Sgt Francis Henry RAF. (1030797) Air Bomber. Age 28.
CURTIS Sgt Stanley Arthur RAF ,(1386838) Mid Upper Gunner. Age 28.
STUART F/Sgt Phillip Gordon, RCAF. (R.93568) Rear Gunner. Age 30.
WALSH W/O John Arthur Ernest, RNZAF. (NZ401294) Pilot . Age 27.
The above aircrew were killed when the aircraft they were flying in crashed on return from a raid on Duisberg at Bressingham, Norfolk on the 9th April 1943.
HARVEY Sgt Robert Frederick RNZAF (NZ416483) Pilot. Age 23.
CLUBB Fg Off. Selwyn James RNZAF (NZ414593) Air Bomber. Age 20.
JOHNSTON F/O John RNZAF (NZ416198) Navigator. Age 28.
The above crew were killed after the aircraft they were flying in crashed on take-off after its inner starboard engine failed as part of the raid on Duisberg on the 13th May 1943.
A thirteenth airman who is from 75(NZ), Sgt. Stanley Lawrence Drayton RAFVR 1331697 doesn’t seem to be very accurately listed in the Squadron Nominal roll – I’ll need to do some more digging on him……
Hopefully by putting their names up here it provides another point where people may come across them and therefore we might be able to learn a little bit more about them.
See more detailed information on the boys here
Just put up the Roll of Honour that Kevin, chairman of the UK Association was so kind to let me have a while back.
Throughout it’s history 75(NZ) Squadron has always led from the front, never shying away from a challenge, the air and ground crews always doing what was asked of them and more besides. The names recorded in this Roll of Honour bear testimony to the sacrifices made in war. May they always be remembered for what and who they were.
In all, 1139 members of 75 (New Zealand) Squadron lost their lives during the period 1940-1945.
Aki Aki Kia Kaha
(forever and ever be strong)
Colin (third from left) and his crew
Many thanks indeed to Noel Baker for so generously allowing me to ‘borrow’ information on Colin from his own website that can be visited here. It never ceases to amaze me the generosity people show in letting me present information on a relative who flew with 75(NZ) Squadron. Colin’s story with the Squadron now represents the furthest back that I have got with an individuals information (1940 in this case) and also, Colin was the youngest Squadron Leader from the Commonwealth forces at his time of Acting appointment. Noel has presented a fascinating and very well detailed account of Colin’s life and flying career – you should read it in full
Many thanks Noel.
read about Colin’s time with 75(NZ) Squadron on this blog here
Battle Orders for 128 Squadron 1st March 1945 – Allan’s first op with the LNSF. National Archive ©
I have known that Allan had gone to 128 Light Night Strike Force in March of 1945 for sometime now – but apart from that scant information, nothing else. Initially the National Archive as is it’s want, tantalisingly teased me with an easy find of April – of course, March was no where to be found – OF COURSE. As an utter punt on 3 quid I got the Appendices, just in case their was something else….
Low and behold, what seems to be a pretty complete set of Battle Orders for the period I was looking for – probably goes back even further, but I have a job to do. The Battle Orders are a bit of a find I think (relatively). Compare and contrast with 75(NZ) where the same documents are as literally as rare – no RARER than the proverbial Rocking Horse shit…….
Scanning through the Appendices and the April ORB, I get the following:
Allan completed approximately 19 ops in about 2 months. This figure is based on the actual ops recorded in the April record and the rest of the total is based on the Battle Orders for March – this obviously assumes that all ops where he was listed on the main force he actually flew – although it also assumes that when reserve, he was never asked to fill a place. I will have to wait till the National archive get March and February done – to check his raid count, but also to see if there is any information regarding where Allan came from. I assume he must have done some conversion training before going to Mosquitoes.
It seems his Navigator was a Flight Sergeant Murphy, initials buried within the Appendices are D.R.
For a more detailed breakdown of Allan op list while at 128, click here to take you to the Mayfield crew page of the blog.
On Battle Order for raid 1st March
On Battle Order for raid 3rd March
On Battle Order for raid 5th March
On Battle Order for raid 7th March
On Battle Order for raid 10th March
On Battle Order for raid 13th March
On Battle Order for raid 15th March
On Battle Order for raid 16th March
On Battle Order for raid 29th March
3rd/ 4th April 1945 Berlin
10th/ 11th April 1945 Berlin
12th/13th April Berlin
On main Battle Order 15th April
17th/ 18th April 1945 Inglostadt
19th/ 20th April 1945 Berlin
21st/ 22nd April 1945 Keil
24th/ 25th April 1945 Schleissheim Airfield
25th/ 26th April 1945 Munich transformer and switching station.
2nd/ 3rd May 1945 Kiel
Page 551of 128 Squadron Appendices
Listed in weekly return of Pilots as being in ‘A’ Flight
Page 565 of 128 Squadron Appendices
128 Squadron – Movement of Squadron
17 aircrews are listed. Aircraft ‘G’ is to piloted by Allan, navigator for the flight F/O Dwerryhouse.
Page 569 of 128 Squadron Appendices
128 Movement of Squadron.
Nominal Roll of Main Party
F/O. A. J. Mayfield (with a hand annotated ‘A’ next to his name. 1 of 19 pilots listed)
Funny how you suddenly remember you have something, even though they are so remarkable, you have no excuse to have forgotten them. The above image and the one below are from the photo album of Jack Jarmy, that he very kindly let me borrow to scan. Ironically it was Jack going to get this album to show me these photographs that led us both to discover the picture of JN-J ‘Johnny’ – I had no idea it existed and Jack had forgotten that it had!
The picture above was taken on the night of the 3rd of October 1943 over Kassel from EH939 JN -‘Johnny’. Despite slight shake, the city can be see below as can fire burning and what I take to be the impacts of the bombs that Bob released. Its quite strange, having always known Dad was an Air Bomber was one thing, but to actually see a photograph taken specifically to record the detonation of bombs in a city feels quite strange.
Frankfurt, night of the 4th October 1943. Image supplied by Jack Jarmy
The second photograph was taken on time delay after Bob had pressed the ‘tit’ and released the bomb load over Frankfurt on the night of the 4th October. Reading around the subject, it appears that some information might have been gleaned from the chaos of what is apparently the flashes of flak, target indicators and bomb flashes – add to this the camera shake of the aircraft being buffeted by the turbulence of aircraft around it, the shock waves of exploding flak nearby and aircraft vibration and its almost a miracle they got anything from the camera at all.
The following 2 images were taken from aircraft Jack flew in during his second tour with 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron. The first image is a GH training flight – in this case the target being Ely Catherdral.
GH training flight 218 Squadron 1945. Image supplied by Jack Jarmy
The second image is very late in the war. Ironically Bad Oldesloe was the final op that 75(NZ) flew before the war in Europe ended. On both occasions the aircraft was piloted by F/Lt. Guinane, Jack’s regular pilot.
Bad Oldsloe 24th April 1945. Image supplied by Jack Jarmy
Imperial War Museum ©
Many thanks to Martyn and Chris for a new scan of the original header image for the blog. Taken form the Imperial War Museum Archive, this is a crease free version of an image I found on the web months ago.
cheers guys
75(nz)squadron 