31/07/1942 – Attack Against Targets at Dusseldorf
Eleven a/c were detailed to carry out an attack on the above targets. Bomb load of 4000lbs, 30lb and 4lb incendiaries was dropped in target area. Good results were obtained and hits observed. A.A. fire was moderate and search lights although numerous, were ineffective. Well.III, X3396 was attacked by a JU88 but evaded successfully. F/Sgt. Lewis, rear gunner of Well.III, X3646 was struck and injured by a 4lb incendiary bomb falling from another a/c. Weather was good and navigation was by DR and TR
Wellington Mk.III BJ.584 AA-C
F/O Arthur ‘Artie’ Ashworth, RAF 43699 – Pilot.
F/O Laurence St. George Dobbin, NZ401375 – 2nd Pilot.
Sgt. W.E. Braddock, RAFVR 1267404 – Observer.
F/S Leonard Chambers, RNZAF NZ403758 – Wireless Operator.
P/O R. Girvan, RNZAF 124913 – Front Gunner.
P/O Francis William John Chunn, RNZAF NZ40735 – Rear Gunner.
Take Off 00:40 – Landed 04:50
Flight Time 04:10
09/08/1942 – Attack Against Targets at Osnabruck
Seven aircraft were detailed to attack the above target. Bomb load of 500lb, incendiaries and flares was dropped in target area, bomb bursts and fires were seen in target area and vicinity. A small amount of light A.A. fire was encountered, the target was ringed by a heavy concentration of searchlights. No enemy aircraft were seen. The weather was good. Navigation was good by T.R. and D.R.
Wellington Mk.III BJ.767 AA-V
F/O Laurence St. George Dobbin, RNZAF NZ401375 – Pilot.
Sgt. Hector Bernard Duffett, RAFVR 1176955/ 141020 – Observer.
Sgt. James McQueen, RNZAF NZ404466 – Wireless Operator.
Sgt. Jack Leslie Jury, RNZAF NZ411764 – Front Gunner.
Sgt. William George Henry White, RNZAF NZ41717 – Rear Gunner.
Take Off 00:25 – Landed 04:50
Flight Time 04:25
11/08/1942 – Attack Against Targets at Mainz
Nine aircraft were detailed to attack above target. Bomb load of 4000lb, 1000lb, 500lb and incendiaries were dropped in target area. A.A. fire was light, searchlights were scarce and ineffective. One fighter was seen by P/O Horne in Wellington B.J.765 as he was crossing the Dutch Coast homeward bound, no attack was made. The weather was moderate, being cloudy near target. Navigation was good by D.R. and T.R. Wellington BJ837 captain Sgt. Hockaday.N.J., five minutes from the English coast on way to target, fabric stripped off nose of aircraft to port and starboard, the Bomb load was jettisoned and the aircraft returned to base. Three aircraft failed to return, Wellington B.J.767 captained by F/O Dobbin, Wellington B.J.625, Sgt Barclay.T.S., captain, Wellington X.3646 captain Sgt Bradey.G.E.
Wellington Mk.III BJ.767 AA-V
F/O Laurence St. George Dobbin, RNZAF NZ401375 – Pilot.
Sgt. W.E. Braddock, RAFVR 1267404 – Observer.
Sgt. James McQueen, RNZAF NZ404466 – Wireless Operator.
Sgt. Jack Leslie Jury, RAFVR NZ411764 – Front Gunner.
Sgt. A. Elson, RAFVR 751538 – Rear Gunner.
Take Off – – Landed –
Flight Time – Missing
Wellington Mk.III BJ.767 AA – V, was brought down in the vicinity of Venlo (Limburg), Holland. BJ.767 was attacked by an Me.110 and after 5 minutes was on fire. The Observer, Sgt. William Braddock, having been knocked unconscious by shrapnel, came round to discover that Sgt.’s McQueen and Elson had already baled out. Sgt. Williams helped the Front Gunner from his turret and fixed the Pilots parachute and then was ordered by F/S Dobbin to bale out, which he did. It would appear that the Pilot, F/S Dobbin and Sgt. Jury the Front Gunner, failed to exit the stricken aircraft before it crashed.
Three of the crew survived the crash and were taken prisoners of war, indicating the captain, F/L Dobbin, had probably attempted a crash landing. Unfortunately he and Sgt Jury both failed to survive and were buried initially at Venlo.
F/O Laurence St.George Dobbin, RNZAF NZ401375 – Pilot.
Killed age 29.
Son of George Hill Dobbin and Alice Dobbin, of Opunake, Taranaki, New Zealand; Husband of Marjorie Dobbin, of New Brighton, Canterbury, New Zealand.
Buried Jonkerbos War Cemetery, Nijmegen, Holland. .
Grave location – 24. F. 8.
Sgt. W.E. Braddock, RAFVR 1267404 – Observer.
P.o.W
Prisoner of War Number: 325637
Prison Camps: Dulag Luft, StalagVIIIB/344. Promoted to W/O whilst interned
Date of return to United Kingdom: 28th of April 1945
Sgt. Jack Leslie Jury, RNZAF NZ411764 – Front Gunner.
Killed age 20.
Son of Francis Raymond Jury and of Elsie May Jury, (Nee Mccarthy), of Auckland City, New Zealand.
Buried Jonkerbos War Cemetery, Nijmegen, Holland. .
Grave location – 24. F. 9.
Sgt. James Mcqueen, RNZAF NZ404466 – Wireless Operator.
P.o.W
Prisoner of War Number: 25680
Prison Camps: Dulag Luft, StalagVIIIB/344. Promoted to W/O whilst interned
Date of return to United Kingdom: 9th April 1945
Sgt. A. Elson, RAFVR 751538 – Rear Gunner.
P.o.W
Prisoner of War Number: 25696
Prison Camps: Dulag Luft, Stalag VIIIB/344.
Date of return to United Kingdom: not known
75(nz)squadron 