75(NZ) Squadron group photograph March 1945

Full Squadron 1945 heald NUMBERED

5. F/L John Rees “Aussie” Layton, DFC, RNZAF, NZ425914 – Pilot. confirmed – Chris Newey
11. F/O Reginald Charles Weeden, RAFVR, 1602823/ 153661 – Navigator. Ford crew. confirmed – Scott Weeden.
12. F/L Grant Alan Russell DFC, RNZAF NZ411729 – Bombing Leader 75 (NZ) Sqdn. confirmed – Chris Newey
16. A/Sqn Ldr ‘B’ Flight Cmdr. John Robert ‘Jack’ Rodgers DFC, DFM, RNZAF NZ413956 – Pilot. confirmed – Simon Sommerville
17. Wg Cdr Cyril Henry ‘Mac’ Baigent, DSO, DFC, AFC, RNZAF NZ411973/ 70038 – Pilot. confirmed – Simon Sommerville
18. P/O Owen Joseph ‘Cookie Cook RAAF AUS.428456 – Pilot. confirmed – Campbell McTavish
19. Sqn Ldr. John ‘Jack/ Irish Jack’ Mathers Bailey, DFC and bar, RNZAF NZ412183 – Pilot & O/C ‘C’ Flight. confirmed – Chris Newey
21. F/L Charles Crossfield Bewsher, RAF (100122) – Adjutant 75 (NZ) Sqdn. confirmed – Chris Newey
29. F/Sgt Alan John Rhodes, RNZAF NZ42340 – Wireless Operator. Stevens, Hannan & Clement crews. confirmed – Wayne Kitchen
32. F/O Vernon John ‘Taffy’ Zinzan RNZAF NZ425314 – Pilot. confirmed – Simon Sommerville
40. F/Sgt Stanley John Heald, RNZAF – Air Bomber.  Ware crew. confirmed – Chris Newey
41. F/Sgt G B White, RCAF, R.209852 – Mid Upper Gunner. Ware crew. confirmed – Chris Newey
43. Sgt David Carter, RAFVR – Flight Engineer. Ware crew. confirmed – Chris Newey
45. F/O Alexander Annandale ‘Sandy’ Sommerville, RNZAF NZ425459 – Navigator. Sinclair crew. confirmed – Chris Newey
64. Sgt. Samuel Joseph Hughes, RAFVR 2218612 – Flight Engineer. Abraham crew. confirmed – Graham Hughes
65. F/O William ‘Bill  Tubby’ Evenden RAFVR 1337365/ 196039 – Pilot. confirmed Roly Williams// Andrew Nodwell
68. F/L Duncan Matthew Stevenson RNZAF NZ426016 – Pilot. confirmed – Kevin King
69. F/L Ronald Christie Flamank, RNZAF NZ427270   – Pilot. confirmed – Chris Newey
74. F/O Norman Bartlett, RAF 54290 – Flight Engineer. Bailey crew. confirmed – Chris Newey
75. P/O Richard ‘Dick’ Pickup, RAFVR 989260/188816 – Wireless Operator. Bailey crew. confirmed – Chris Newey
84. Sgt. William ‘Bill’ Smith RAFVR – Flight Engineer. Milsom crew. confirmed – Keith Springer
99. P/O Clive Woodward Estcourt, RNZAF, NZ391045 – Bomb Aimer. Layton crew. confirmed – Chris Newey
100. F/S Leslie Dixon “J” Moore, RNZAF, NZ421327 – Rear Gunner. Layton crew. confirmed – Chris Newey
106. F/Sgt David Onslow “Jack” Light, RNZAF, NZ4212848 – Mid Upper Gunner. Layton crew. confirmed – Chris Newey
108. P/O Ta Tio Tuaine “Tai” Nicholas, RNZAF, NZ425658 – Wireless Operator. Layton crew. confirmed – Chris Newey
109. F/O Percival McDowell Johnston RNZAF NZ4215865 – Navigator. Wakelin & Wright crew. confirmed – Sue Saunderson
133. F/S Gerald Newey RNZAF NZ425285 – Wireless Operator. Wood crew. confirmed – Chris Newey
134. F/Sgt Ralph Charles “Tweet” Sparrow, RCAF, R.263518  – Rear Gunner. Wood crew. confirmed – Chris Newey
135. F/O John Henry Thomas ‘Jack’ Wood, DFC, RNZAF NZ426239 – Pilot. confirmed – Chris Newey
136. F/S Jim Hooper, RAF – Air Bomber. Wood crew. confirmed – Chris Newey
138. Sgt Douglas Williamson RAFVR – Flight Engineer. Wood crew. confirmed – Chris Newey
140. F/S John Austin White ‘Jack’ Pauling, DFM,  RNZAF NZ422976 – Navigator. Wood crew. confirmed – Chris Newey
147. F/O Esmond ‘Eddie’ Edgar Delwyn Ware, RNZAF NZ42486 – Pilot. confirmed – Chris Newey
149. Leonard Walter Hannan RNZAF NZ42397 – Pilot. confirmed – Chris Newey
151. F/O Colin Campbell Emslie, RNZAF NZ431170 – Navigator. Ware crew. confirmed – Chris Newey
156. F/O Ian Foster RAAF AUS.423091 – Wireless Operator. Sinclair crew. confirmed – Chris Newey
157. F/O Leslie Gordon Sinclair, RNZAF NZ428917  – Pilot. confirmed – Chris Newey
170. F/S  Albert Neville Staples, RNZAF NZ427338 – Navigator. Evenden crew. confirmed Roly Williams// Andrew Nodwell
172. Sgt. H. Morgan, RAFVR – Flight Engineer. Evenden crew. confirmed Roly Williams// Andrew Nodwell
173. F/S Tom Lane, RAFVR – Air Bomber.  Evenden crew. confirmed Roly Spencer/ Andrew Nodwell
175. P/O Norman Edgar Waite RAFVR 1800049/ 196736 – Flight Engineer. Stevenson crew. confirmed – Kevin King
177. F/S Leslie Gordon RAFVR 1811745 – Rear Gunner. Stevenson crew. confirmed – Kevin King
179. F/O Kenneth Charles George Nees RNZAF NZ425797 – Air Bomber. Stevenson crew. confirmed – Kevin King
181. P/O Roger William ‘Mick’ Rennie RNZAF NZ4213928 – Navigator. Stevenson crew. confirmed – Kevin King
182. Sgt Alan Gardner RAFVR – Mid Upper Gunner. Stevenson crew. confirmed – Kevin King
191. Sgt A. Ackroyd RAFVR – Flight Engineer. Zinzan crew. confirmed – Simon Sommerville
194. P/O James Sydney George Coote RAFVR 517881/ 56715 -Navigator. Zinzan crew. confirmed – Simon Sommerville
196. F/L Robert Douglas ‘Jock’ Sommerville RAFVR 1562617/ 161049 – Air Bomber. Zinzan crew. confirmed – Simon Sommerville
197. F/S Miles ‘Joe’ Parr RAFVR – Wireless Operator. Zinzan crew. confirmed – Simon Sommerville
202. F/S Sidney George Frederick Sizeland, RAFVR 196611 – Mid Upper Gunner. Martin & McKenna crew. confirmed – George Sizeland
206. F/S Edward Maxwell “Max” Spooner, RNZAF NZ428162 – Wireless Operator, Amohanga crew. confirmed – Chris Newey
209. P/O Kiwi Ernest Amohanga, RNZAF NZ425492 – Pilot. confirmed – Chris Newey
210. F/O Jack Cresswell Richardson, RNZAF NZ427323 – Mid-Upper Gunner, Amohanga crew. confirmed – Chris Newey
211. F/S Alexander Freedman “Sandy” Strachan, RNZAF NZ4210193 – Rear Gunner, Amohanga crew.confirmed – Chris Newey
212. F/L Charles MacKenzie Stevens RNZAF NZ4210535 – Pilot. confirmed  – Sam Smith
222. F/L Alexander Reid Hirst RNZAF NZ41588 – Wireless Operator. Banks crew. confirmed – Simon Sommerville
223. F/L Russell Ashley Banks RNZAF NZ416437 – Pilot. confirmed – Simon Sommerville
224. F/O James  Earnest ‘Jimmy’ Wood. RAFVR 1801019/154906 – Air Bomber. Banks crew. confirmed – Simon Sommerville
226. F/O Maurice Wiggins RAFVR 1219661/ 164286 – Navigator. Banks crew. confirmed – Simon Sommerville
233. Sgt Harry ‘Jock’ Fraser RAFVR – Flight Engineer. Banks crew. confirmed – Simon Sommerville/ Andrew Devlin
234. Sgt Norman ‘Paddy’ Allen RAFVR – Mid Upper and Rear Gunner. Banks crew. confirmed – Simon Sommerville
237. Sgt Leslie Hofert RAFVR – Flight Engineer. Stevens crew. confirmed – Paul Reay
238. F/S Leslie Robert Hall RNZAF NZ429331 – Navigator. Stevens crew.
OR   F/S George Giles RAFVR – Rear Gnner. Stevens crew. needs confirmation – Nigel Saunders
245. P/O James Harold ‘Jim’ Saunders RAFVR 1392219/ 196874 – Air Bomber. Stevens crew. confirmed – Nigel Saunders
246. Sgt. Ronald Creasey RAFVR – Mid Upper Gunner. McRitchie crew. confirmed – Richard Welton
255. Sgt. Reginald Arthur Smith, RAFVR 1606544 – Mid Upper Gunner. Adamson crew. confirmed – Kevin Smith
286. Sgt J Wildish, RAFVR – Mid Upper Gunner. Clement crew. confirmed – Chris Newey
288. F/O Ross Manley Cato, RNZAF NZ4212791 – Air Bomber. Clement crew. confirmed – Chris Newey
289. Sgt Thomas (Tom) ‘Paddy’ Benson RAFVR 1901416 – Rear Gunner. Lukins crew. confirmed – Brian Benson
293. F/L Douglas St. Clair Clement, RNZAF NZ421679 – Pilot. confirmed – Chris Newey
294. Sgt. Peter Harold  Goldie, RAFVR 3030947 – Rear Gunner. Egglestone crew. confirmed – Susan Claire Bowerman
300. F/S Roland ‘Roly’ Spencer Williams, RNZAF NZ4215269 – Rear Gunner. Evenden crew. confirmed Roly Williams// Andrew Nodwell
303.  F/S William ‘Bill’ Goddin, RAFVR – Wireless Operator. Evenden crew. confirmed Roly Williams// Andrew Nodwell
305. F/S Norman Alec Peter Dixon, RNZAF NZ4215733 – Mid Upper Gunner. Evenden crew. confirmed Roly Williams/ Andrew Nodwell
307. F/O Herbert Wilfred Hooper, DFC, RNZAF NZ40111 – Pilot. confirmed – Chris Newey
315. F/S Mervyn Price RAFVR 1836910 Flight Engineer. Ohlson crew. confirmed – Stephen Price
317. F/S John Edward Barry Mossman, RNZAF NZ42112587 – Wireless Operator. Rangiuaia crew. confirmed – Chris Newey
281. F/O John ‘Ted’ Smith RNZAF NZ428291- Rear Gunner. Milsom crew. confirmed – John Smith

14 thoughts on “75(NZ) Squadron group photograph March 1945”

  1. Vic Jay

    Does anyone know the exact date when this picture was taken? I’ve tried again to find my dad and am pretty sure he is not there. As I have mentioned before it could be because the picture was taken during the week his crew were at Feltwell for Gee-H training (11th-17th March) but it would be good to have that confirmed.

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    1. 75nzsquadron Post author

      Hi Vic
      I think Bob’s absence, rather cruelly for you, lends to the hypothesis that it was taken during that week – nothing concrete, but by the speculative musings and processes of elimination we are all familiar with, it seems the most likely way to place the photograph within this time period.

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  4. Chris Newey

    Clive Estcourt (A/B Layton crew) has a caption on his copy of this photo which states that when he joined 75 (NZ) Sqdn in June ’44 there were 35-38 crews in the Squadron, and that when he left in March 1945 (when this photo was taken), there were at least 72 crews!

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  5. Richard Welton

    No. 246 is my grandfather Ronald Creasey, mid-upper gunner on the Hells Angel aircraft found elsewhere in your blog. He used to have this very photo proudly hanging up on his dining room wall.

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  6. Wayne Kitchen

    No. 29 is my grandfather F/Sgt Alan John Rhodes, RNZAF NZ42340, Wireless Operator. He also had this same photo displayed on his wall, along with another that crash landed, all survived and granddad received a medal for reconnecting communications while under attack. Both photos are now proudly displayed on my wall.
    Thank you Wayne Kitchen.

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  8. Wayne Kitchen

    Hi, just checking to see how you are going with the information a sent you regarding No. 29 Alan John Rhodes? I sent you information in August. Thank you.

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  10. Scott

    I actually think it’s quite special that our fathers were in the same photo in 1945, and now the sons are talking together 70 years later! Great work on your blog. Keep the faith …

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