26/09/1942 – Operations. Gardening off East Frisian Islands
Four aircraft were detailed to carry out the above operation. 1500lb. Vegetables were successfully planted. A small amount of A.A. fire was encountered from A.A. ships. No searchlights or enemy aircraft were seen. Considerable cloud was encountered with ground haze at base. Navigation was good.
Wellington Mk.III BK.206 AA-?
F/L Charles Woodbine Parish, RAF 81927 – Pilot.
Sgt. Elmeer Robert Vance, RCAF R.94909 – Observer.
Sgt. Louis John Krulicki, RCAF R.89611 – Wireless Operator.
Sgt. James Stanley Marshall , RNZAF R.86762 – Front Gunner.
Sgt. Jack Lees, RAFVR 1004486 – Rear Gunner.
Take Off 19:15 – Landed 22:35
Flight Time 03:20
28/09/1942 – Operations. Attack Against Targets At Lingen
Three aircraft were detailed to attack the above target. Bomb load of 500lb. Was carried. All aircraft were forced to return to base owing to lack of cloud cover. A.A. fire was NIL. Two aircraft had short combats with ME109’s but results could not be observed. The weather was very cloudy to enemy coast, but then cloud broke and was clear. Navigation was good by T.R. and D.R.
Wellington Mk.III BK.206 dnc AA-?
F/L Charles Woodbine Parish, RAF 81927 – Pilot.
Sgt. Elmeer Robert Vance, RCAF R.94909 – Observer.
Sgt. Louis John Krulicki, RCAF R.89611 – Wireless Operator.
Sgt. James Stanley Marshall , RAFVR R.86762 – Front Gunner.
Sgt. Jack Lees, RAFVR 1004486 – Rear Gunner.
Take Off 14:15 – Landed 17:15
Flight Time 03:00
02/10/1942 – Operations. Attack Against Targets At Krefeld
Thirteen aircraft were detailed to attack the above target. Bomb load of 4,000 lb and incendiaries were dropped in the target area. Fires were seen, which appeared to be mainly in open country. Heavy and light A.A. fire was encountered, mainly on enemy coast. Searchlights were considerable, operating in cones over the target area. A few enemy aircraft were seen but no attacks were made. The weather was fine at target, with considerable ground haze, Navigation was good.
Wellington Mk.III BK.206 AA-?
F/L Charles Woodbine Parish, RAF 81927 – Pilot.
Sgt Elmeer Robert Vance, RCAF R.94909 – Observer.
Sgt. Louis John Krulicki, RCAF R.89611 – Wireless Operator.
Sgt. James Stanley Marshall , RAFVR R.86762 – Front Gunner.
Sgt. Jack Lees, RAFVR 1004486 – Rear Gunner.
Take Off 18:45 – Landed 23:59
Flight Time 05:14
05/10/1942 – Operations. Attack Against Targets At Aachen
Fifteen aircraft were detailed to attack the above target. Bomb load of 30lb. and 4lb. incendiaries were dropped in the target area, large fires were seen in built up area, which appeared to spread between MAASTRICH and AACHEN. Heavy and Light A.A. fire was moderate, with a few scattered searchlights. A few enemy aircraft were seen but no attacks were made. The weather over target was good with slight ground haze. Navigation was by D.R. T.R. and visual.
Wellington Mk.III BK.206 AA-?
F/L Charles Woodbine Parish, RAF 81927 – Pilot.
Sgt Elmeer Robert Vance, RCAF R.94909 – Observer.
Sgt. Louis John Krulicki, RCAF R.89611 – Wireless Operator.
Sgt. James Stanley Marshall , RNZAF R.86762 – Front Gunner.
Sgt. Jack Lees, RAFVR 1004486 – Rear Gunner.
Take Off 19:15 – Landed 23:45
Flight Time 04:30
11/10/1942 – Operations. Gardening in the Kattegat and Little Belt
Nine aircraft were detailed to carry out the above operation. 1500lb. vegetables were successfully planted in the allotted area. Wellington X.3597 captained by F/Sgt. Curr bombed a bridge near Middlefort with three 500lb. G.P. bombs, the first bomb was just short, others very close and might have hit the edge of the bridge. Light A.A. fire was encountered at Middlefort Bridge. No searchlights or enemy aircraft were seen.
There was no cloud, visibility was good. Navigation was good by D.R. T.R., and visual pin point. Wellington BK341 captained by Sergt. Shalfoon failed to return.
Wellington Mk.III BK.206 AA-?
F/L Charles Woodbine Parish, RAF 81927 – Pilot.
Sgt Elmeer Robert Vance, RCAF R.94909 – Observer.
Sgt. Marshall FW, – Wireless Operator.
Sgt. Louis John Krulicki, RNZAF R.89611 – Front Gunner.
Sgt. Jack Lees, RAFVR 1004486 – Rear Gunner.
Take Off 18:10 – Landed 01:45
Flight Time 07:35
13/10/1942 – Operations. Attack Against Targets At Kiel
Thirteen aircraft were detailed to attack the above target. Bomb load of 4,000 lb and incendiaries were dropped in the target area. Large fires were seen particularly on West side of Fiord. Light, medium and heavy A.A. fire was encountered over a large area, searchlights were also seen on the way to the target. No enemy aircraft were seen. The weather was clear, with no cloud over the target, visibility was good by the light of flares. Navigation was D.R, T.R. visual and pin-points. Wellington X3954 captained by Sergt. Watters failed to return. Wellington BJ837 captained by Sergt. Davey crashed at R.A.F. Station Lakenheath on return owing to shortage of petrol, four of the crew were injured. All taking part considered this to be a very successful raid.
Wellington Mk.III BK.206 AA-?
F/L Charles Woodbine Parish, RAF 81927 – Pilot.
Sgt. Elmeer Robert Vance, RCAF R.94909 – Observer.
Sgt. Louis John Krulicki, RCAF R.89611 – Wireless Operator.
Sgt. James Stanley Marshall , RNZAF R.86762 – Front Gunner.
Sgt. Jack Lees, RAFVR 1004486 – Rear Gunner.
Take Off 18:30 – Landed 00:40
Flight Time 06:10
20/11/1942 – Operations. Attack Against Targets At Turin
Four aircraft were detailed to attack the above target. Bomb load of 4lb. Incendiaries were dropped in the target area by two of the aircraft, the other two aircraft returned early, their bombs being dropped over South France and in The Wash. Large fires were seen in the centre of the Town. A smoke screen was seen, suspected to have come from generators on the South of the Town. A few light A.A. guns were on the river bend, near Marshalling Yards, and some light also on the North of Town, all were very inaccurate. No searchlights were seen. Some enemy aircraft were seen but no attacks were made. The weather over the target area was very good, visibility being also good. Navigation was good by Astro, D.R, and T.R., The target being easy to identify by the bend in the river.
Stirling Mk.I BF396 dnc AA-X
F/L Charles Woodbine Parish, RAF 81927 – Pilot.
Sgt. Elmeer Robert Vance, RCAF R.94909 – Navigator.
Sgt. James Stanley Marshall, RCAF R.86762 – Air Bomber.
Sgt. Louis John Krulicki, RCAF R.89611 – Wireless Operator.
Sgt. Donald Victor Smith, RCAF R.70152/ C.18587 – Flight Engineer.
Sgt. Charles Farley, RAFVR – Mid Upper Gunner.
Sgt. Jack Lees, RAFVR 1004486 – Rear Gunner.
Take Off 18:25 – Landed 00:25
Flight Time 06:00
22/11/1942 – Operations. Attack Against Targets At Stuttgart
Two aircraft were detailed to attack the above target. Bomb load of 4lb. Incendiaries were dropped by one of the aircraft in the target area, the other aircraft returned early as the rear turret became unserviceable. This raid was a good concentrated attack, fires were seen in the centre of the town, a dummy fire was seen to the North of the Town. Light A.A. fire was in the centre of the Town, four searchlights were operating from the South of the Town, which were ineffective. A few enemy aircraft were seen, but no attacks were made. The weather was good with some cloud to the edge of Stuttgart. navigation was good by D.R., T.R., loops and fixes.
Stirling Mk.I R9247 dnc AA-V/W?
F/L Charles Woodbine Parish, RAF 81927 – Pilot.
Sgt Elmeer Robert Vance, RCAF R.94909 – Navigator.
Sgt. James Stanley Marshall, RCAF R.86762 – Air Bomber.
Sgt. Louis John Krulicki, RCAF R.89611 – Wireless Operator.
Sgt. Donald Victor Smith, RCAF R.70152/ C.18587 – Flight Engineer.
Sgt. Charles Farley, RAFVR – Mid Upper Gunner.
Sgt. Jack Lees, RAFVR 1004486 – Rear Gunner.
Take Off 18:20 – Landed 20:30
Flight Time 02:10
28/11/1942 – Operations. Attack Against Targets At Turin
Four aircraft were detailed to attack the above target. Bomb load of 1000lb and 500lb were dropped in the target area by three of the aircraft. The captain of the other aircraft being forced to jettison his bombs in the Alps, as one engine cut and he was unable to maintain height with his bomb load. This raid was very successful, large fires being seen in the whole of the town, it appeared to be on fire from end to end. It is thought by the crews that both the Lancia and Fiat works were ablaze. There was some light A.A. fire at target, but heavy and light A.A. fire was encountered at Dieppe and Amiens area. Only one searchlight was seen at Turin, a few enemy aircraft were seen but no combats took place. The weather was cloudy to the Alps, it then cleared and was clear but hazy at Turin. BK608 captained by F/Sgt Blincoe ran short of petrol nearing base, the engines were failing and the aircraft was losing height, when at 900 feet he gave his crew the option of bailing out, two of the crew, the Navigator and the Rear Gunner baled out at 600ft and landed safely about 2 miles North of Stradishall, the aircraft crash landed at Stadishall, none of the crew being injured.
Stirling Mk.I BK619 AA-X
F/L Charles Woodbine Parish, RAF 81927 – Pilot.
Sgt. Elmeer Robert Vance, RCAF R.94909 – Navigator.
Sgt. James Stanley Marshall, RCAF R.86762 – Air Bomber.
Sgt. Louis John Krulicki, RCAF R.89611 – Wireless Operator.
Sgt. Donald Victor Smith, RCAF R.70152/ C.18587 – Flight Engineer.
Sgt. Charles Farley, RAFVR – Mid Upper Gunner.
Sgt. Jack Lees, RAFVR 1004486 – Rear Gunner.
Take Off 19:13 – Landed 02:52
Flight Time 07:39
03/12/1942 – Operations. Gardening off Frisian Islands
Four aircraft were detailed to carry out the above operation with 1500lb. Vegetables, only three of the aircraft got off, the fourth being cancelled owing to engine trouble. This was a successful trip, all three aircraft planted their vegetable in the allotted area and the parachute were seen to open. No A.A. fire, searchlights or enemy aircraft were seen. The weather was clear with good visibility. Navigation was very good. This operation was only made possible by a stupendous effort on the part of the armoury as this attack was changed from a land to a sea attack later in the evening. A message of appreciation to ground crews was received from the Air Officer Commanding.
Stirling Mk.I BK619 AA-X
F/L Charles Woodbine Parish, RAF 81927 – Pilot.
Sgt Elmeer Robert Vance, RCAF R.94909 – Navigator.
P/O Dugald Louis Popplewell, RNZAF NZ41357 – Air Bombing Leader.
Sgt. Mikaere Tutahunga Tomika Manawaiti, RNZAF NZ412895 – Wireless Operator.
Sgt. Joseph Germain Fabien Sansoucy, RCAF R.66953. C.86345 – Flight Engineer.
Sgt. H. Jones, RAFVR – Mid Upper Gunner.
Sgt. Harold Reginald Hamerton, RNZAF NZ412918 – Rear Gunner.
Take Off 23:00 – Landed 03:15
Flight Time 04:15
08/12/1942 – Operations. Gardening in the Baltic
Two aircraft were detailed to carry out the above operation with 1500lb. Vegetables, only one aircraft took off, but this aircraft was very successful. A wind change caused land fall in Denmark to be made way South of track, but after this was corrected the trip was uneventful. The vegetables were planted in the allotted area and three of the parachutes seen to open. No. A.A. fire, searchlights or enemy aircraft were seen. There was much heavy cloud at the gardening area, but there were also large clear areas. Navigation was very good and several pin points were made.
Stirling Mk.I R9247 AA-V/W?
F/L Charles Woodbine Parish, RAF 81927 – Pilot.
F/S Elmeer Robert Vance, RCAF R.94909 – Navigator.
Sgt. James Stanley Marshall, RCAF R.86762 – Air Bomber.
Sgt. Louis John Krulicki, RCAF R.89611 – Wireless Operator.
Sgt. Donald Victor Smith, RCAF R.70152/ C.18587 – Flight Engineer.
Sgt. Charles Farley, RAFVR – Mid Upper Gunner.
Sgt. Jack Lees, RAFVR 1004486 – Rear Gunner.
Take Off 17:00 – Landed 02:00
Flight Time 09:00
14/01/1943 – Attack Against Targets at Lorient
Three aircraft were detailed to attack the above target with bomb loads of 1,000lb. and 4 lb. incendiaries. This attack was very successful, crews bombing from 10,000 feet from large gaps in the cloud. All bombs were seen to explode in the target area and fires were seen to start. Some light and heavy A.A. fire was encountered, which was inaccurate, a few searchlights were also operating. No enemy aircraft were encountered . The weather was very good, with little cloud. Navigation was excellent and was mainly visual.
Stirling Mk.I R9250 AA-C
F/L Charles Woodbine Parish , RAFVR 81927 – Pilot.
F/S Elmeer Rober Vance, RCAF R.94909 – Navigator.
Sgt. James Stanley Marshall, RCAF R.86762 – Air Bomber.
Sgt. Louis John Krulicki, RCAF R.89611 – Wireless Operator.
Sgt. Donald Victor Smith, RCAF R.70152/ C.18587 – Flight Engineer.
Sgt. D.C/ Charles .Farley, – Mid Upper Gunner.
Sgt. Dudley Harding-Smith, RNZAF NZ405265 – Rear Gunner.
Take Off 22:30 – Landed 04:14
Flight Time 05:44
75(nz)squadron 