11/03/1945 – Attack Against Essen
Twenty one aircraft were again detailed for operations, this time against Essen. Very slight H/F was the only opposition. Cloud was 10/10ths. A gradual blackening of the cloud tops was all that could be seen
Lancaster Mk.I RF127 AA-W
W/C Cyril Henry ‘Mac’ Baigent, RNZAF NZ411973/ 70038 – Pilot.
F/S Douglas Fairbairn, RNZAF NZ4211901 – 2nd Pilot.
Sgt. Guy Richmond , RAFVR 1805803 – Navigator.
F/S William Lockley Grattan, RNZAF NZ427566 – Air Bomber.
F/S Ian James Aitken, RNZAF NZ428062 – Wireless Operator.
F/S Harold ‘Harry’ Easter , RAFVR – Flight Engineer.
Sgt. Geoffrey Carr , RAFVR – Mid Upper Gunner.
Sgt. Ernest ‘Ernie’ Cotterell, RAFVR – Rear Gunner.
Take Off 11:52 – Landed 17:08
Flight Time 05:16
12/03/1945 – Attack Against Dortmund
Dortmund was the target for twenty one aircraft. Flak was slight to moderate, cloud 10/10ths with tops 5/6000ft. Aircraft report good results Smoke was already pushing through cloud when aircraft left. Bombing was well concentrated.
Lancaster Mk.III PB418 AA-C
F/S Douglas Fairbairn, RNZAF NZ4211901 – Pilot.
Sgt. Guy Richmond , RAFVR – Navigator.
F/S William Lockley Grattan, RNZAF NZ427566 – Air Bomber.
F/S Ian James Aitken, RNZAF NZ428062 – Wireless Operator.
F/S Harold ‘Harry’ Easter , RAFVR – Flight Engineer.
Sgt. Geoffrey Carr , RAFVR – Mid Upper Gunner.
Sgt. Ernest ‘Ernie’ Cotterell, RAFVR – Rear Gunner.
Take Off 13:04 – Landed 18:56
Flight Time 05:52
14/03/1945 – Attack Against Heinrich Hutte
Twenty aircraft were detailed to attack the above target. Crews found the target covered with 10/10ths cloud. Formation was good though the target and bombs fell away together. Very accurate moderate H/F was met on the run in and over the target. F/Lt. E. Parsons in AA”E” failed to return. His aircraft was seen to be hit causing it to spiral into cloud. F/S McLernon landed at Woodbridge but returned to base the following day.
Lancaster Mk.I HK576 AA-G
F/S Douglas Fairbairn, RNZAF NZ4211901 – Pilot.
Sgt. Guy Richmond , RAFVR – Navigator.
F/S William Lockley Grattan, RNZAF NZ427566 – Air Bomber.
F/S Ian James Aitken, RNZAF NZ428062 – Wireless Operator.
F/S Harold ‘Harry’ Easter , RAFVR – Flight Engineer.
Sgt. Geoffrey Carr , RAFVR – Mid Upper Gunner.
Sgt. Ernest ‘Ernie’ Cotterell, RAFVR – Rear Gunner.
F/O Alec Gordon Leech, RNZAF NZ413093 – Mid Under Gunner
Take Off 13:46 – Landed 18:38
Flight Time 04:52
13/04/1945 – Attack on Kiel
21 aircraft were detailed to attack Kiel. The target was covered by 10/10 cloud with tops 4/5000. Bombing was concentrated and fires were seen on leaving the target. Flak was slight. M/B was clearly heard. (AA’K’ F/O. Morgan W.) returned early, bombs were jettisoned. This was also a leaflet raid.
Lancaster Mk.I HK806 AA-B
F/S Douglas Fairbairn, RNZAF NZ4211901 – Pilot.
Sgt. Guy Richmond , RAFVR – Navigator.
F/S William Lockley Grattan, RNZAF NZ427566 – Air Bomber.
F/S Ian James Aitken, RNZAF NZ428062 – Wireless Operator.
F/S Harold ‘Harry’ Easter , RAFVR – Flight Engineer.
Sgt. Geoffrey Carr , RAFVR – Mid Upper Gunner.
Sgt. Ernest ‘Ernie’ Cotterell, RAFVR – Rear Gunner.
Take Off 20:34 – Landed 02:06
Flight Time 05:32
14/04/1945 – Attack on Potsdam
25 aircraft were detailed to attack POTSDAM. There was no cloud and visibility was good. A very concentrated attack developed and the target was well alight by the time the last aircraft were on their way home. Flak was slight and bursting well below stream. AA’T’ (F/O A.R. Baynes) was attacked by two enemy aircraft believed to be JU.88’s 20 miles S.W. of Potsdam on the homeward journey. The Flight Engineer (Sgt. Sliman) was killed by canon shell.
Lancaster Mk.I RA541 AA-J
F/S Douglas Fairbairn, RNZAF NZ4211901 – Pilot.
Sgt. Guy Richmond , RAFVR – Navigator.
W/O William Lockley Grattan, RNZAF NZ427566 – Air Bomber.
F/S Ian James Aitken, RNZAF NZ428062 – Wireless Operator.
F/S Harold ‘Harry’ Easter , RAFVR – Flight Engineer.
Sgt. Geoffrey Carr , RAFVR – Mid Upper Gunner.
Sgt. Ernest ‘Ernie’ Cotterell, RAFVR – Rear Gunner.
Take Off 19:20 – Landed 03:02
Flight Time 07:42
18/04/1945 – Attack on Heligoland
25 aircraft were detailed to attack the target HELIGOLAND. Weather was good with good visibility. Crews were able to identify northern top of Island and also western edge. The rest of the Island was obliterated by smoke. Bomb bursts on fires. The crews bombed as ordered by the Master Bomber and bombing was thought to be well concentrated, but there was some overshooting as well as undershooting.
Lancaster Mk.I HK806 AA-B
F/S Douglas Fairbairn, RNZAF NZ4211901 – Pilot.
Sgt. Guy Richmond , RAFVR – Navigator.
W/O William Lockley Grattan, RNZAF NZ427566 – Air Bomber.
F/S Ian James Aitken, RNZAF NZ428062 – Wireless Operator.
F/S Harold ‘Harry’ Easter , RAFVR – Flight Engineer.
Sgt. Geoffrey Carr , RAFVR – Mid Upper Gunner.
Sgt. Ernest ‘Ernie’ Cotterell, RAFVR – Rear Gunner.
Take Off 10:33 – Landed 15:15
Flight Time 04:42
22/04/1945 – Attack on Bremen
21 aircraft were detailed to attack BREMEN. 2-5/10ths cloud over target and many crows (???) made out river bend and factory area. Bombing results were satisfactory though slight overshooting and undershooting but not outside built up area. Flak from Wilhemshaven and Bremen was at intervals moderate and very accurate. Flight Engineer (Sgt. R. Clark) of AA/P was killed. No fighters seen.
Lancaster Mk.I NN773 AA-G
F/S Douglas Fairbairn, RNZAF NZ4211901 – Pilot.
Sgt. Guy Richmond , RAFVR – Navigator.
W/O William Lockley Grattan, RNZAF NZ427566 – Air Bomber.
F/S Ian James Aitken, RNZAF NZ428062 – Wireless Operator.
F/S Harold ‘Harry’ Easter , RAFVR – Flight Engineer.
Sgt. Geoffrey Carr , RAFVR – Mid Upper Gunner.
Sgt. Ernest ‘Ernie’ Cotterell, RAFVR – Rear Gunner.
Take Off 15:36 – Landed 21:02
Flight Time 05:26
24/04/1945 – Attack on Bad Oldesloe
21 aircraft were detailed to attack BAD OLDESLOE. JN/N (F/L Preyer) failed to take off owing to engine trouble and AA/Y (F/S Reay) made an early return owing to fire in starboard outer engine. No opposition was encountered but slight flak seen over Dutch Coast. Some of the bombs fell to the port of the A/P. Main attack considered very good.
Lancaster Mk.III PB421 AA/JN-P
F/S Douglas Fairbairn, RNZAF NZ4211901 – Pilot.
Sgt. Guy Richmond , RAFVR – Navigator.
W/O William Lockley Grattan, RNZAF NZ427566 – Air Bomber.
F/S Ian James Aitken, RNZAF NZ428062 – Wireless Operator.
F/S Harold ‘Harry’ Easter , RAFVR – Flight Engineer.
Sgt. Geoffrey Carr , RAFVR – Mid Upper Gunner.
Sgt. Ernest ‘Ernie’ Cotterell, RAFVR – Rear Gunner.
Take Off 07:21 – Landed 13:11
Flight Time 05:50
01/05/1945 – Supply Dropping at Delft
21 Aircraft were detailed for Supply Dropping at Delft. The population were very excited. There was a great deal of flag waving and thanks messages were seen painted on roof tops.
Lancaster Mk.I HK806 AA-B
F/S Douglas Fairbairn, RNZAF NZ4211901 – Pilot.
Sgt. Guy Richmond , RAFVR – Navigator.
W/O William Lockley Grattan, RNZAF NZ427566 – Air Bomber.
F/S Ian James Aitken, RNZAF NZ428062 – Wireless Operator.
F/S Harold ‘Harry’ Easter , RAFVR – Flight Engineer.
Sgt. Geoffrey Carr , RAFVR – Mid Upper Gunner.
Sgt. Ernest ‘Ernie’ Cotterell, RAFVR – Rear Gunner.
Take Off 13:50 – Landed 16:07
Flight Time 02:17
13/05/1945 – Evacuation of Prisoners of War from Juvincourt
20 Aircraft were detailed to evacuate Prisoners of War from Juvincourt. This was a bad day, for only 24 men were bought back, and these men were bought back by F/S R. Hamilton (AA.F)
Lancaster Mk.I HK597 AA-B
F/S Douglas Fairbairn, RNZAF NZ4211901 – Pilot.
Sgt. Guy Richmond , RAFVR – Navigator.
W/O William Lockley Grattan, RNZAF NZ427566 – Air Bomber.
F/S Ian James Aitken, RNZAF NZ428062 – Wireless Operator.
F/S Harold ‘Harry’ Easter , RAFVR – Flight Engineer.
Sgt. Geoffrey Carr , RAFVR – Mid Upper Gunner.
Sgt. Ernest ‘Ernie’ Cotterell, RAFVR – Rear Gunner.
Take Off 12:30 – Landed 16:16
Flight Time 03:46
25/05/1945 – Repatriation of Belgian Refugees
6 Aircraft were detailed for the repatriation of Belgian refugees. 66 persons including a two months old baby were flown to Brussels.
Lancaster Mk.I HK806 AA-B
Listed as I, but presence before and after as B, must suggest this is a typo in records
F/O Douglas Fairbairn, RNZAF NZ4211901 – Pilot.
Sgt. Guy Richmond , RAFVR – Navigator.
W/O William Lockley Grattan, RNZAF NZ427566 – Air Bomber.
F/S Ian James Aitken, RNZAF NZ428062 – Wireless Operator.
F/S Harold ‘Harry’ Easter , RAFVR – Flight Engineer.
Sgt. Geoffrey Carr , RAFVR – Mid Upper Gunner.
Sgt. Ernest ‘Ernie’ Cotterell, RAFVR – Rear Gunner.
Take Off 10:38 – Landed 16:22
Flight Time 05:44
05/06/1945 – Viewing the Effects of the Bombing Offensive
2 Aircraft were detailed for viewing the effects of the Bombing Offensive.
Lancaster Mk.I HK562 AA-C
F/O Douglas Fairbairn, RNZAF NZ4211901 – Pilot.
Sgt. Guy Richmond , RAFVR – Navigator.
W/O William Lockley Grattan, RNZAF NZ427566 – Air Bomber.
F/S Ian James Aitken, RNZAF NZ428062 – Wireless Operator.
F/S Harold ‘Harry’ Easter , RAFVR – Flight Engineer.
Sgt. Geoffrey Carr , RAFVR – Mid Upper Gunner.
Sgt. Ernest ‘Ernie’ Cotterell, RAFVR – Rear Gunner.
Take Off 07:43 – Landed 12:07
Flight Time 04:24
25/06/1945 – Checking German Radar Equipment
21 aircraft were detailed for the Post mortem operation for checking German Radar Equipment. W/O S. Sutherland (JN.K)had to make an early return through flat accumulators, but took off again in JN.T and completed the operation. F/L S. Peryer (JN.V) had a petrol leak and made an early return on three engines.
Lancaster Mk.I HK806 AA-B
F/O Douglas Fairbairn, RNZAF NZ4211901 – Pilot.
Sgt. Guy Richmond , RAFVR – Navigator.
W/O William Lockley Grattan, RNZAF NZ427566 – Air Bomber.
F/S Ian James Aitken, RNZAF NZ428062 – Wireless Operator.
F/S Harold ‘Harry’ Easter , RAFVR – Flight Engineer.
Sgt. Geoffrey Carr , RAFVR – Mid Upper Gunner.
Sgt. Ernest ‘Ernie’ Cotterell, RAFVR – Rear Gunner.
Take Off 09:53 – Landed 15:47
Flight Time 05:54
75(nz)squadron 