Flying Officer Wynn Russell (Pilot) RNZAF left and Flying Officer Neville Selwood (Nav) RNZAF with PB418 AA-C. New Zealand Bomber Command archive/ Neville Selwood
I was contacted a few weeks ago by John, Nephew of Wynn Russell who flew with 75(NZ) Squadron through the majority of 1945. John knows very little about Wynn’s wartime career and only contacted me based on his assumption that Wynn flew with the Squadron, because of 2 photographs that he found of him in ‘Kiwis Do Fly’.
Obviously in these circumstances, the best thing to do it to first do an Op history and thenget it up here as a post to see if anybody knows anything more – so……..
From Form 540 75(NZ) Squadron December 1944
Administration
NZ37220 F/S Russell. W.R. and crew arrived on posting from 1651 C.U.
3.1.45. War Ops – Attack Against Dortmund
Lancaster Mk.I LM276 AA-S
F/O Douglas Sadgrove and crew
F/S R.W. Russell as 2nd Pilot
Russell crew begin their Operational Tour.
5.1.45. War Ops – Attack Against Ludwigshaven
Lancaster Mk.I HK576 AA-G
F/O Ronald Wynn Russell RNZAF NZ37220 – Pilot
F/O Francis Neville Selwood RNZAF NZ4215756 – Navigator
F/O Victor Digger Hendry RNZAF NZ425570 – Air Bomber
Sgt. F. Jillians RAFVR – Wireless Operator
Sgt. J Hunt RAFVR – Flight Engineer
Sgt Ivor Polley RAFVR – Mid Upper Gunner
Sgt G Robson RAFVR 1596125 – Rear Gunner
6.1.45. War Ops – Attack Against Neuss
Lancaster Mk.III LM740 AA-B
Same crew
7.1.45. War Ops – Attack Against Munich
Lancaster Mk.III PB418 AA-C
Same crew
11.1.45. War Ops – Attack Against Krefeld
Lancaster Mk.III PB418 AA-C
Same crew
13.1.45. War Ops – Attack Against Saarbrücken
Lancaster Mk.III PB418 AA-C
Same crew
2.2.45. War Ops – Attack Against Wiesbaden
Lancaster Mk.III PB418 AA-C
Same crew
9.2.45. War Ops – Attack Against Hohenbudberg
Lancaster Mk.III PB418 AA-C
Sgt. E. Bates replaces Sgt. Robson as Rear Gunner
13.2.45. War Ops – Attack Against Dresden (Operation Thunderclap)
Lancaster Mk.I NG113 AA-D
Sgt. E. Bates continues as Rear Gunner
14.2.45. War Ops – Attack Against Chemnitz (Operation Thunderclap)
Lancaster Mk.III PB418 AA-C
Sgt. Robson returns to crew as Rear Gunner
16.2.45. War Ops – Attack Against Wesel
Lancaster Mk.III PB418 AA-C
Sgt. Frank Watts replaces Sgt. Robson as Rear Gunner
22.2.45. War Ops – Attack Against Gelsenkirchen/Osterfeld
Lancaster Mk.I HK576 AA-G
Sgt. Robson returns as Rear Gunner, but Frank Watts now replaces Sgt, Polley as Mid Upper Gunner
25.2.45. War Ops – Attack Against Kamen
Lancaster Mk.III PB418 AA-C
Sgt. Robson takes over as Mid Upper Gunner.Ivor Polley returns to take up Rear Gunners position
26.2.45. War Ops – Attack Against Dortmund
Lancaster Mk.I HK576 AA-G
Robson back as Rear Gunner and Frank Watts back in as Mid Upper Gunner
28.2.45. War Ops – Attack Against Gelsenkirchen
Lancaster Mk.I LM544 AA-O
Sgt. Robson goes back to Mid Upper Gunner, F/S J. Murphy arrives as Rear Gunner
9.3.45. War Ops – Attack Against Dattelen oil plant
Lancaster Mk.III PB418 AA-C
Sgt. A. Smith flies as Rear Gunner (possibly Arthur Smith from the injured Crawford crew)
10.3.45. War Ops – Attack Against Gelsenkirchen
Lancaster Mk.III PB418 AA-C
F/S Bill Grout joins as Rear Gunner
14.3.45. War Ops – Attack Against Heinrich Hutte – oil plants
Lancaster Mk.III PB418 AA-C
P/O H. Howells in as Rear Gunner
18.3.45. War Ops – Attack Against Bruchstrasse
Lancaster Mk.III PB418 AA-C
P/O H. Howells in as Rear Gunner
20.3.45. War Ops – Attack Against Hamm M/Y
Lancaster Mk.I NF981 AA-K
Sgt. A. Smith in as Rear Gunner
23.3.45. War Ops – Attack Against Wesel
Lancaster Mk.III PB418 AA-C
P/O H. Howells in as Rear Gunner
29.3.45. War Ops – Attack Against Salzgitter
Lancaster Mk.III PB418 AA-C
Same crew
4.4.45. War Ops – Attack Against Merseburg
Lancaster Mk.III PB418 AA-C
Same crew
13.4.45. War Ops – Attack Against Kiel
Lancaster Mk.III PB418 AA-C
Same crew
30.3.45. Operation ‘Manna’ – Supply drop, Rotterdam
Lancaster Mk.III PB418 AA-C
Same crew
7.5.45. Operaton ‘Manna’ Supply dropping –Delft
Lancaster Mk.III PB418 AA-C
Sgt, Robson as Rear Gunner – no Mid Upper Gunner as was the case with these Ops. LAC Fry as passenger
10.5.45. Operation ‘Exodus’ – Prisoner of War Repatriation from Juvincourt, France
Lancaster Mk.I HK573 AA/JN-H
Sgt. Howells rejoins crew as Mid Upper Gunner
14.5.45. Operation ‘Exodus’ – Prisoner of War Repatriation from Juvincourt, France
Lancaster Mk.I HK573 AA/JN-H
Same crew
16.5.45. Operation ‘Exodus’ – Prisoner of War Repatriation from Juvincourt, France
Lancaster Mk.I HK562 AA-C
Same crew
26.5.45 Operation ‘Exodus’ – Prisoner of War Repatriation fron Juvincourt, France
Lancaster Mk.I HK562 AA-C
Same crew
10.6.45. Viewing the effects of the Bombing
Lancaster Mk.III ME531 AA-K
Same crew
17.6.45 Viewing the effects of the Bombing
Lancaster Mk.I NN747 AA-D
As above
So, as always in these cases, if you have any extra information on Wynn, or any of the boys who flew in his crew, lease get in contact with I know John is very keen to find out all he can on his uncle.
75(nz)squadron 