Stirling Mk.III EH939 JN-‘Johnny’ flown by the Mayfield crew, amongst others.
| Stirlings – 15 October 1942 to May 1944 | |||||
| Stirling Notes: Stirling I had FN7 ‘Botha’ (odd-shaped) dorsal turrets, but in Feb 1942 started converting to FN50 (like Lancaster) dorsal turrets.
First mention of C Flight I have found so far is February 1943 when G.Rothwell took over the flight. (pg74, Forever Strong.) Bomber Sqns mentions flight formed early 1943. From The Stirling Story – MJF Bowyer: ‘Increased production permitted formation of ‘C’ Flights, from which new squadrons would form, making 1000 Stirling sorties per night feasible. That benchmark was first attained on 23 May. Third Flights doubled operational effort within two months. On 1 April No 85 Squadron became the first to expand having eight Stirlings added to strength.’ ‘To support a faster rate of crew output on 1 May 1943 a 32-aircraft ‘Stirling half Conversion Unit’, No. 1665 was formed. Mepal being unready, it opened at Waterbeach and placed lodger aircraft at Stradishall and Great Ashford, before consolidating after moving on 7 june to Woolfox Lodge, a newly opened satellite to Noth Luffenham’ So it seems 75(NZ) got Mepal more by luck than planning…… Also, regarding the formation of ‘C’ Flight in 75 Squadron, the following is from the March 1943 ORB; |
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| Serial | Flight | Code | Type | Mark | Notes |
| N3683 | ?? | ? | Stirling | I | Ex- 1657CU to 75 and then back to 1657CU |
| N3685 | ?/ | ? | Stirling | I | Delivered 15-1-43 – from RAF at Newmarket |
| N3704 | ?? | ? | Stirling | I | Delivered 16-10-42 – from RAF at Newmarket. Ex- 15 Sqn to 75 and back to 15 Sqn |
| N6123 | AA | Q | Stirling | I | Delivered 15-1-43 – from RAF at Newmarket Shot down mining-Frisian Islands 3.3.43; crew killed. From Chorley: Sgt. R.C. Going Sgt. E.H. Weaver P/O A.M. Bridgman F/S F.A.W. Willis Sgt. K.C. Eyre Sgt. F.B. Stewart Sgt. C.S. Burton t/o 2003 Newmarket to lay mines off the Frisian Islands. Lost without trace. All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. |
| R9200 | ?? | S | Stirling | I | Delivered1-3-43, accident Jurby 21-4-43 – from RAF at Newmarket |
| R9243 | AA | C | Stirling | I | Delivered 21-10-42, code C – from RAF at Newmarket. From ‘The Stirling Story – MJF Bowyer: C |
| R9245 | AA | N | Stirling | I | Delivered 25-10-42 – from RAF at Newmarket. Crashed on take-off and exploded; aircraft had swung in x-wind, with starboard main wheel striking the ‘Devil’s Dyke’ on the airfield perimeter, causing the inner oil tank to break away. The engine quickly seized and aircraft unable to maintain height: crew were all killed. 16.12.42. Target was mining Bordeaux. |
| R9246 | AA | S | Stirling | I | Delivered 31-10-42 – from RAF at Newmarket. Code AA-S from Bomber Command database. After air-firing exercise, crash-landed with u/c retracted in bad weather near Home, Hunts. 24.11.42. |
| R9247 | AA | V/W | Stirling | I | Delivered 21-10-42 – from RAF at Newmarket. Code V from Bomber Command database. Shot down target Fallersleben 17.12.42; crew killed. ‘. |
| R9248 | AA | H | Stirling | I | Delivered 7-11-42 – from RAF at Newmarket. Code AA-H from Bomber Command database. Shot down target Lorient 23.1.43; crew killed except Capt. evaded. |
| R9250 | AA | C | Stirling | I | Delivered 2-11-42, coded as C in – from RAF at Newmarket and from Bomber Command database. “C” from Combat Report 17/18.12.42, Me109 probable and ME109 damaged target Fallersleben. Shot down target Hamburg 3.2.43; crew killed. Code confirmed in ‘For Your Tomorrow 2’. From Chorley’s Bomber Command Losses 1943: P/O K.E. Blincoe Sgt. A.J.N Scott Sgt. D.D. Hayward Sgt. F.A. Boese Sgt. G.W. Cook P/O H. Lowe Sgt. E. McDermott Sgt. D. Clearwater t/o 1821 Newmarket. Shot down by a fight-fighter and crashed at 2000 at Ingen (Gelderland), 8 km NNE of Tiel, Holland. All crew are burried in Amersfoort (Oud Leusden) General Cemetery. |
| R9280 | ?? | ? | Stirling | I | FTR Hamburg 3-2-43- from RAF at Newmarket. Is this correct? |
| R9283 | JN | K | Stirling | I | Codes/serial from RAF at Newmarket |
| R9290 | AA | X/Y | Stirling | I | Delivered 28-1-43, code Y – from RAF at Newmarket. Code AA-X from Bomber Command database. Shot down mining Kiel Bay 28.4.43; crew killed. From Chorley: AA F/S A.E. Lewis Sgt. A. Graham Sgt. H.G. Corin F/O C.J. Bickham Sgt. F.A. Moulton Sgt. J.H. Whitehart Sgt. V.C. Howes t/o 2041 Newmarket on mine laying duties in the Radish area (Kiel) of the Fehmarn-Belt. Crashed in the sea off the Danish island of Lolland. All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. |
| R9316 | AA | K | Stirling | I | Ex- 214 Sqn. Delivered 23-1-43 – from RAF at Newmarket. Shot down target Lorient 13.2.43; crew killed except MU evaded and 4 POW. From Chorley: Sgt. R.A. Williams Sgt. K. Gudmunsen F/S D.E. Browne Sgt. H. Sawyer Sgt. T.H. Smith Sgt. L. Willis Sgt. D. Harding-Smith t/o 1753 Newmarket. Hit by flak over the target and later abondoned near Plouay (Finistere), 18 km NNE of Lorient. The 2 airmen who died are buried in Guidel Communal Cemetery. Sgt Harding- Smith RNZAF was the son of the Venerable Archdeacon Thomas James Smith of Nelson, New Zealand. |
| W7455 | AA | ? | Stirling | I | Delivered 29-1-1943 – from RAF at Newmarket. |
| W7469 | AA | T/C/O | Stirling | I | Ex- 149 Sqn. Delievered 28-1-43 – from RAF at Newmarket. Code AA-O from Bomber Command database. Was regular of Des Thompson- had his school’s coat of arms on nose: Forever Strong. Shot down target Ludwigshaven 16.4.43; crew killed except one POW. From Chorley: Code ‘C’ P/O K.F. Debenham Sgt. D. Wainwright WO2 R.J. Barnes Sgt. D.M.T. Watts Sgt. P.B. Pearson Sgt. J.L. Marlow Sgt. J.J. Davis t/o 2217 Newmarket. Crashed at Katzenbach. Those who died are buried in Rheinberg Cemetery. |
| W7513 | AA | G | Stirling | I | Delivered 4-3-1943 – from RAF at Newmarket. Photo. Ex-149 Sqn. Shot down mining Kiel Bay 28.4.43; crew killed. From Chorley: AA Sgt. K. Halliburton Sgt. D.S. Sidhu Sgt. P.T. Hunter Sgt. L.T. Scarfe Sgt. D. Church Sgt. C.H.G. Boxall Sgt. A.C. Howell t/o2042 Newmarket, on mine laying duties in the Radish area (Kiel) of the Fehmarn-Belt. Lost without trace. All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. |
| BF311 | ?? | ? | Stirling | I | Ex-149 Sqn, delievered 20-10-42 – from RAF at Newmarket. 75 Sqn and then to 15 Sqn. |
| BF318 | AA | B | Stirling | I | Codes from RAF at Newmarket. |
| BF321 | ?? | ? | Stirling | I | To 1657CU. |
| BF337 | ? | ? | Stirling | I | Delivered 30-1-43 from RAF at Newmarket. |
| BF339 | AA | D | Stirling | I | Crashed near Oakington 28.11.42; crew killed: from Bomber Command database. |
| BF340 | AA | Q | Stirling | I | Crashed in the Waddenzee 6.5.43; crew killed: from Bomber Command database. |
| BF377 | ?? | J | Stirling | I | Ex- CRD to 75 Sqn 11-4-43 and then to 1651(1657?) CU 21-6-43 from RAF at Newmarket (and J code). |
| BF392 | ?? | ? | Stirling | I | From RAF at Newmarket. |
| BF396 | AA | X | Stirling | I | Ex-1657CU, delivered 23-10-42 from RAF at Newmarket. Shot down target Fallersleben 17.12.42; crew killed. Code from ‘For Your Tomorrow 1’. |
| BF397 | ?? | ? | Stirling | I | Ex-1657CU to 75 23-10-42, overshot base 23-1-43 (from RAF at Newmarket) and then to 1651CU. |
| BF398 | AA | F/P | Stirling | I | Delivered 24-10-42, coded F from RAF at Newmarket, coded P from Bomber Command database. “P” from Combat Report 3/4.3.43 French crew attacked by a Ju.88, target Hamburg. Lost both outer engines and crew baled out 17.5.43; one killed and pilot killed while trying to crash land. “Sgt. L.C. Wright Sgt. J.H.R. Carey Sgt. T. Beaver Sgt. J.L. Roberts Sgt. P.G. Knight F/S M. Brady Sgt. N.A. Macleod Sgt. A.J. Francis AC2 R.G. Bailey” “Partially abandoned after both outer engines had failed. Realising he was over a built up area, Sgt. Wright tried to force-land, but crashed 0100 at Linley Hall Farm, Talke, 4 miles NW of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. Sgt. Francis was killed after he feft the aircraft.from the May ORB (The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO). AIR 27/646/Form 541/p462 Outstanding Events/ Training); At 01.00 hours on the 17th. May 1943 1943, Sergeant L.C.Wright was carrying out a cross country fight in Stirling Mk.1 BF398, when the starboard outer and port outer engines failed. The aircraft lost height and the Captain ordered the crew to bale out, this included a passenger AC1 BAILEY, R.G. Of the crew who baled out, all landed safely with the exception of Sergeant A.J.Francis, who was reported missing and found four days later. The Captain remained at the controls, as the aircraft was in the vicinity of the Town of STOKE-UPON-TRENT and it appears that rather than crash land over the town, he attempted to land in the nearest field, the aircraft crashed however, and he was killed. The MAYOR of STOKE-UPON-TRENT has been in communicaton with the Squadron, and expressed his admiration, shared also by the townspeople, for the gallentry displayed by Sergeant L.C. WRIGHT. |
| BF399 | AA | O | Stirling | I | Delivered 7-11-42, coded O from RAF at Newmarket. Crashed on training flight from RAF Oakington 28.11.42; crew killed. |
| BF400 | AA | G/O | Stirling | I | Shot down target Fallersleben 17.12.42; crew killed. Code from ‘For Your Tomorrow 1’. (Coded G from Bomber Command database, O from RAF at Newmarket). |
| BF412 | ?? | Y | Stirling | I | Ex-15 Sqn to 75 9-3-43, coded Y and then to 1665CU 16-6-43 from RAF at Newmarket. Combat Report 4/5.4.43 Fowler crew attacked by Ju.88, target Kiel. |
| BF434 | AA | Y/X | Stirling | I | Delivered 13-4-43, code X confirmed from RAF at Newmarket. “Y” from Combat Report 29/30.5.43 Burley crew attacked by Ju.88, target Wuppertal. “Y” from Combat Report 21/22.6.43 Burley crew attacked by Me.109, claimed as damaged, target Krefeld. “Y” from Combat Report 12/13.8.43 (recorded in Form 541 as EF434) Burley crew attacked by unid t/e e/a, claimed as damaged, target Turin. Same crew damaged an acft target Turin 13.8.43. To 1665CU. From Simon Sommerville: 10 May 1943: Sgt Burley and crew arrived at 75 (NZ) Squadron, Newmarket. (Ewen and the Navigator may have arrived separately the day before?)
Ewen’s crew (the Burley crew) was: Burley the skipper flew his second dickie (familiarisation) op’ with P/O French and crew, on 12/13 May to Duisburg in Stirling BK777, AA-U Burley crew Operational History: (Squadron relocated from Newmarket to Mepal) 03/04 Jul 43 Cologne, Stirling BK777, AA-U 12/13 Aug 43 Turin – Italy, Stirling EF434 17/18 Aug 43 Peenemünde (V2 rocket research establishment) EH949, AA-P EF137, P/O Burley and crew, found themselves involved in three separate combat actions; one with a single-engined fighter, which the M/U gunner, F/O S Strong, succeeded in shooting down and claiming as destroyed. And then against two unidentified twin-engined fighters, which he claimed as breaking off, damaged, from his gunfire. 27/28 Sep 43 Hannover, Stirling EF137, AA-E Ewen left the Squadron on 27 Nov 1943, posted to No. 1665 Heavy Conversion Unit, RAF Woolfox Lodge.. He survived the war, and on returning to New Zealand he married and settled down on the family sheep and beef farm at Waverley, South Taranaki, not far from his cousin Jim. |
| BF435 | Stirling | I | Mis-type of EF435 | ||
| BF437 | AA | L | Stirling | I | Delivered 28-1-43, AA-L from Bomber Command database, also code L from RAF at Newmarket. Shot down target Nuremberg 8.3.43; crew killed. |
| BF443 | AA | V | Stirling | I | Delivered 2-2-43, also code V from RAF at Newmarket. “V” from Combat Report 1/2.3.43 J.M. Bailey crew attacked by Me.110, target Berlin. “V” from Combat Report 25/26.6.43 A. Alexander crew attacked by Ju.88, target Gelsenkirchen. Flown by Sgt P Mosely 24/25 July 1943. “V” from Combat Report 24/25.7.43 Moseley crew attacked by unid e/a, target Hamburg. To 1651CU. Photo with Bailey crew. Project ORB, February 43, under “ARRIVALS AND DESPATCHES OF AIRCRAFT”: “2.2.43 Stirling I BF443 received from Short & Harlands, Long Kesch. Auth:41G/9286.” – refers to this aircraft, Mk I Stirling BF443, AA-V:I believe that the guy between Hosie and Bailey is Jack Wall, A/B. The other crew members will be Sgt’s Livingston, Ottaway, and Thompson (not able to identify which is which, although that’s probably the F/E Livingston to the right of Bailey, since the other two are wearing gunner-type suits). This was during Jack Bailey’s first tour with 75, the same Jack Bailey who went on to become O/C C Flight at 75 (NZ) Sqdn on his second tour, and of course regular Pilot of Lancaster NE181, JN-M, The Captain’s Fancy! It looks like Jack Wall followed Bailey and was in his second tour crew as well. The first Bailey crew began on Wellingtons (first op’ 26 August 1942), then converted to Stirlings in October 42. AA-V eventually became their regular a/c and it looks like they flew 15 op’s in her between 26/27 February 43 (Cologne), and 04/05 May 43 (Dortmund). |
| BF451 | AA | J/Z | Stirling | I | Delivered 1-2-43, also code Z from RAF at Newmarket. “J” from Combat Report 1/2.3.43 F/L Rothwell crew attacked three times, two by unid. t/e e/a, and one by a Ju.88, latter claimed as probably destroyed, target Berlin. Recorded incorrectly in Form 541 as BF456 for this op’. Shot down target Ludwigshaven 16.4.43; crew killed except one POW. From Chorley: P/O K.H.G. Groves WO2 J.O. Way Sgt. L.C. Cameron Sgt. T.G. Shergold Sgt. R.F. Wanstall Sgt. R.L. Pierson Sgt. R.C. Stone Sgt. L.L. Everden t/o 2214 Newmarket. Believed shot down by a night-fighter, crashing twixt Rilly-la-Montagne and Chigny-les-Roses (Marne), 10km and 11km respectively S of Reims. All were taken for burial in Reims, but when the city was liberated by the Americans in 1944, arrangements were made for their bodies to be taken to Antillly. Since September 1944, their remains have been exhumed and transferred to Choloy War Cemetery. |
| BF455 | AA | Y | Stirling | III | Delivered 8-2-43, also code Y from RAF at Newmarket. Combat Report 14/15.4.43 Groves crew attacked by Me.110, target Stuttgart. Ditched on return target Frankfurt 10.4.43; crew safe. From Chorley: F/S C. Rothschild Sgt. E. Grainger Sgt. G. Samson Sgt. J.L. Richards Sgt. R.E. Tod Sgt. R.D. Tod Sgt. H.E. Moss Sgt. W.A. Hardy t/o 2335 Newmarket. Damaged by flak over the target and later engaged in a running battle with night-fighters. Low on fuel, the bomber was ditched in the Channel, some 3 miles off Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex. All were picked up by an air sea rescue Walrus amphibian. Lost unusually, the crew included 2 brothers, Robert Ernest and Richard Douglas Tod. Both were destined to die later that year. |
| BF456 | AA | J/K | Stirling | III | Rec’d 9-3-43 from Short & Harlands. AA-J from Bomber Command database, also code J from RAF at Newmarket. Possible confusion with BF451, AA-J? Shot down target Frankfurt 10.4.43; crew killed. From Chorley” Sgt. J. Webb Sgt. J.R. Inglis Sgt. D.V. Jones Sgt. D.T. Anthony Sgt. R.W. Lowther Sgt. L.R. Cunningham Sgt. E.J. Letherbarrow t/o 0006 Newmarket. Crashed at Steeg. All are buried in Rheinberg War Cemetery. ‘K’ in ‘The Stirling Story – MJF Bowyer. |
| BF458 | JN | A/P | Stirling | III | Delievered 2-5-43, Code JN from Chorley, JN-P from Bomber Command database, code A from RAF at Newmarket. Shot down target Remscheid 30.7.43; 2 POW and 5 killed. “P/O A.J. Thomas Sgt. J.W. Gale Sgt. H.A. Stewart P/O F.W.R. Cumpsty Sgt. R.H. Boxell Sgt. J.H. O’Farrell Sgt. E.F. Henry” t/o 2241 Mepal. Crashed at Krefeld-Uerdingen. Of those who died, three are commemorated on the Runntmede Memorial, while the graves of Sgt. Gale and Sgt. Farrell are in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. |
| BF459 | JN | G/E | Stirling | III | Delievered 2-5-43, JN-G from Bomber Command database,. Code E from RAF at Newmarket. Shot down target Mannheim 23.9.43; crew killed except 2 POW. Code from FYTomorrow “F/O C.C.P. Logan Sgt. T. Stewart F/S G.P. Sowerby F/O J.P. Ingham Sgt. T.J. Hegarty Sgt. F.E.W. Crowther F/S A.J. Knox” t/o 1945 Mepal. Crashed at Lamertheim, 12km N of Mannheim. Sgt. Crowther was critically wounded and he died of his injuries on 3rd October . He is buried, along with the others who were killed, in Durnbach War Cemetery. Code JN from Chorley. Code ‘JN-E’ from The Stirling Story. |
| BF461 | AA | B | Stirling | III | Delivered 2-5-43, also code B RAF at Newmarket. AA-B from Bomber Command database, also code from Simon Sommerville site. “B” from Combat Report 30/31.7.43 G. Williams crew attacked by unid t/e e/a, claimed as destroyed, target Remscheid. “B” from Combat Report 6/7.8.43 (recorded in Form 541 as EF461) Roberts crew attacked by unid e/a, target mining Gironde. “B” from Combat Report 16/17.9.43 G. Williams crew attacked by Ju.88 claimed as destroyed, and a second Ju.88, claimed as damaged, target Modane. “B” from Combat Report 27/28.9.43 Masters crew attacked by Me.110, target Hannover. Same crew shot down mining Baltic Sea 4.11.43; 1 killed, 1 evaded and 5 POW. “P/O G.K. Williams Sgt. H. Moffat F/S W.F. Morice Sgt. F.E. McGregor Sgt. W.J. Champion F/O J.A. Black Sgt. R. Ingrey” t/o 1601 Mepal to lay mines in the Kattegat. Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed at Kallerup, 8km SW of Thisted, Denmark. Sgt. Champion is buried in Friederikshaven Cemetery. In captivity Sgt. Ingrey exchanged identity with Private B. Cooper, whose service details are not recorded. Code AA from Chorley. |
| BF465 | JN/AA | J/K | Stirling | III | Delivered 2-3-43, code AA-K RAF at Newmarket. Ex-15 Sqn. “K” from Combat Report 10/11.4.43 McCaskill crew attacked by unid. s/e e/a, target Frankfurt. “K” from Combat Report 14/15.4.43 Bennett crew attacked by unid. s/e e/a, target Stuttgart. “K” from Combat Report 29/30.7.43 Hartstein crew attacked by JU.88, target Hamburg. “K” from Combat Report 23/24.8.43 Whitehead crew attacked by Me.109, claimed as probably destroyed, then a second attack by an unid e/a, claimed as destroyed, target Berlin. Different crew, shot down target Berlin 23.8.43; crew killed except 1 POW. “P/O A. Rankin Sgt. F.M. Freeman P/O M.A. Ericksen P/O J. Third F/S F.W. Thorstensen Sgt. D. Catterick Sgt. G. Ogden” t/o 1601 Mepal to lay mines in the Kattegat. Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed at Kallerup, 8km SW of Thisted, Denmark. Sgt. Champion is buried in Friederikshaven Cemetery. In captivity Sgt. Ingrey exchanged identity with Private B. Cooper, whose service details are not recorded. Code from FYTomorrow. Code JN from Chorley. Code AA-J/K from ORBs/A.Wilson logbook. |
| BF467 | AA | W | Stirling | III | Delivered 13-3-43, AA-W from Bomber Command database, code W RAF at Newmarket. 75 to 214 Sqn back to 75. Shot down mining Kiel Bay 28.4.43; crew killed. From Chorley: AA P/O D.L. Thompson Sgt. C. Abbott WO2 J.A. Ramsay F/S J.M. Willaims W/O E.R. Jenkins Sgt. G. Phillips Sgt. J.T. Glendinning t/o 2038 Newmarket, on mine laying duties in the Radish area (Kiel) of the Fehmarn-Belt. Hit bt Kreigsmarine flak and crashed at 0008 in the Baltic off Nakskov on the W side of Lolland Island, Denmark. All are buried in Svino Churchyard. Although not unique, a crew comprising of RAF, RAAF, RCAF and RNZAF airmen was unusual. |
| BF473 | ?? | ? | Stirling | III | Ex-218, 90 Sqns to 75 and then to 199 Sqn and 1651CU. |
| BF506 | AA | P | Stirling | III | Delievered 6-4-43, AA-P from Bomber Command database, also code P from RAF at Newmarket. Shot down target Rostock 20.4.43; crew killed. From Chorley: AA F/O A.G. Tolley Sgt. G.A.R. Town F/S W.H. Ellis F/S F.W. Upton F/S C.T. Cobb Sgt. F.J. Earle F/S I.C. Salt t/o 2205 Newmarket. Last heard on W/T at 0300 signalling ‘starboard inner on fire’. Nothing further was heard, and the Stirling crashed 0326 at Boegballe, 15kn N of Vejle, Denmark. It’s demise is reported as having been caised by a night-fighter attack. All rest in Esbjerg (Fourfelt) Cemetery. |
| BF513 | AA | E | Stirling | III | Delivered 8-4-43 from RAF at Newmarket. AA-E from Bomber Command database. Shot down target Stuttgart 14.4.43; crew killed. BF513 was shot down by an enemy night-fighter (Lt. Friedrich Graeff , Stab. I /NJG4) over Belgium at 02.25hrs, crashing at Regniéssart, (Namur), 3 miles SE of Couvin. All the crew are buried at Florennes’ Communal Cemetery, from AH75S. McCaskill crew was in A Flight, from http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/Cenotaph/29243.detail. “E” from FYT. AA-E from ADF and 3GBC. Also from Guy Lapaille: We have in our archives the report of the German commando which evacuated the wreck and the plane is identified as follows: “Flugzeugmuster : Stirling – Absturz am 15.04.43 – Kennzeichen AA -Kokarde- E -Werknummer : BF513”. |
| BF516 | ?? | ? | Stirling | III | Delivered 11-4-43 from RAF at Newmarket. To 214 Sqn. |
| BF517 | AA | O | Stirling | III | Delivered 6-4-43 from RAF at Newmarket. Coded ‘O’ according to ‘Images of the Air War’. Confirmed AA-O by A.Simpson, flown by Peter Buck. “O” from Combat Report 26/27.4.43 Buck crew attacked by unid. e/a, R/G mortally wounded, W/Op and M/U/Gnr also wounded, target Duisburg, crash landed at base, Buck awarded immediate DFC. |
| BF518 | AA | E | Stirling | III | Delivered 8-4-43, AA_E from Bomber Command database, also coded E from RAF at Newmarket. Combat Report 13/14.7.43 Nicol crew attacked by unid t/e e/a, target Aachen. Damaged acft target Aachen 14.7.43. “F/O G.M. Duncan Sgt. Jones P/O O’Brien” Landed 1247 down wind at West Malling, ran off the runway and damaged beyond repair. The crew had been tasked to collect the crew of another Stirling EF454 AA-A which had been damaged by a night fighter during operations to Berlin twenty four hours previous. Seen 2.3.43 ‘Bombing Colours’ |
| BF561 | AA | O | Stirling | III | Delivered 2-5-43 from RAF at Newmarket. AA-O from Bomber Command database. “O” from Combat Report 13/14.5.43 Mitchell crew attacked by Me.110 which was claimed as destroyed, then by a Ju.88, then a third unid e/a, target Bochum. Shot down target Wuppertal 29.5.43; crew killed. “F/S S.R. Thornley Sgt. C.W. Larkin Sgt. A. McWilliams Sgt. A.C.A. McPhail Sgt. D. Ruocco Sgt. J.V. Dartnell Sgt. F.G. Hooper” t/o 2314 Newmarket. Crashed at Gladbeck-Rentfort. All rest in the Reichswald Forest Cemetery. From Chorley. |
| BF564 | JN | W | Stirling | III | Delivered 5-5-43 from RAF at Newmarket. JN-W from Bomber Command database. “W” from Combat Report 25/26.5.43 Sedunary crew attacked by Fw.190, target Dusseldorf. Shot down target Berlin 23.8.43; crew killed. Code from FYTomorrow. “P/O A.J.L Sedunary DFC F/S F.P. Lundon Sgt. F.K. Alcock MiD P/O A. Lens Sgt. C.R. Parish P/O D.H. Moss Sgt. J.E. Nicholson Sgt. J.J. Gratton” t/o 2051 Mepal. Crashed at Martensmuhle, 6km, SSW of Trebbin, 22km SE of Potsdam. All rest in Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery. Code JN from Chorley. |
| BF569 | AA | ? | Stirling | III | Code from http://rnzaf.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=Wartime&thread=13372&page=1 |
| BF573 | ?? | ? | Stirling | III | Delivered 5-5-43 from RAF at Newmarket. To 149, 620, 1653CU, 1657CU. |
| BF575 | ?? | H | Stirling | III | Delievered 14-5-43, code H from RAF at Newmarket. To 295 Sqn. |
| BF577 | JN | M | Stirling | III | Delivered 28-5-43, JN-M from Bomber Command database, also coded M from RAF at Newmarket. Shot down target Hamburg 2.8.43; crew killed. “F/S J.A Couper Sgt. J.W. Sneddon Sgt. G.A. Walker F/S G.S. Corlett F/S S.C.O. Reeves Sgt. T.E. Wadeson Sgt. A. Ashworth” t/o 2331 Mepal. Collided in the air with a Do 217 flown by Fw Krauter, II./NJG3 crashing at Kaiser Wilhelm-Koog. All are buried in Hamburg Cemetery, Ohlsdorf. John Norman Corlett, brother of F/S Corlett RNZAF, also died on active service. Their parents lived in Liverpool. Code JN from Chorley. |
| BK434 | ?? | ? | ? | ? | Serial from ‘The Stirling Story’ – MJF Bowyer, maybe ‘BF434’? |
| BK464 | ?? | ? | ? | ? | Serial from ‘The Stirling Story’ – MJF Bowyer, maybe ‘BF464’? |
| BK602 | AA | R | Stirling | I | Delivered 21-12-42, also coded R from RAF at Newmarket. Ex-7 Sqn. “R” from Combat Report 29/30.3.43 French crew attacked by Me110, target Berlin. Shot down target Dusseldorf 25.5.43; crew killed. “F/S T.W. Darton Sgt. A. McQuater Sgt. D.D. Coates Sgt. J.M.P. Riordam Sgt. J.C.L. Whiteman Sgt. S. Redpath Sgt. F.P. Wilsher” t/o 0006 Newmarket. Shot down by a night-fighter operating off the Belgian/ French coast and went down in the sea.Four bodies were washed ashore. Sgt Coates RNZAF and Sgt. Whiteman are buried in Oostende New Communal Cemetery; Sgt. Redpath lies in Dunkerque Town Cemetery and sgt. Willsher rests at Bergen op Zoom War cemetery in Holland. The others are commemorated on the Runymede Memorial. Code AA from Chorley. |
| BK604 | AA | S | Stirling | I | Delivered 15-1-43 from RAF at Newmarket. Shot down target Hamburg 3.2.43; crew killed except 3 POW. From website http://home.introweb.nl/~ecws/… listed as ‘AA’-S. On the night of 3/4th February 1943 this aircraft took off from Newrnarket at 18.23 hrs. lts target was Hamburg. It was shot down bv a night fighter flown by Hptm. Wolfgang Thimmig of III/NJG1. It crashed at 20.13 hrs. at Enter (Overiijssel), Which is 9 Km. S.W. of Almelo, Holland. Those who were killed are buried in Wierden General Cernetery, The crew were: P/O J. McCullough, D.F.C., RNZAF killed, buried at Wierden P/O R. W. Henderson, RNZAF P.O.W. at Stalag Luft, Sagan & Bellaria. No.162 Sgt.F. F. Allen RNZAF killed, buried at Wierden F/Sgt. V. E. Gibbes RNZAF P.O.W. at Stalag Luft, Sagan & Bellaria. No.27526 Sgt. T. A. Murrphy RNZAF killed, buried at Wierden Sgt. K. J. S. Smith RAF P.O.W. at Stalag Luft, Sagan & Bellaria. No.27557 Sgt. K. E. Kimberley RAF P.O.W. at Stalag Luft, Sagan & Bellaria. No.27453 Sgt. P. R. Trevayne RAF killed, buried at Wierden |
| BK608 | AA | T | Stirling | I | Delievered 21-10-42, coded T from RAF at Newmarket. (Note: AA_T from Bomber Command database, if BK609 below is definitely AA-T, then this is unlikely to be T also, as C Flight not established until early 1943.) Engines cut on landing at Stradishall due to lack of fuel on return from Turin; u/c collapsed on heavy landing 28.11.42. To 3565M. |
| BK609 | AA | R | Stirling | I | Code AA-R from Bomber Command database. Delivered 18-10-42 from RAF at Newmarket. Overshot after aborting sortie to Turin; crash landed at Bradwell Bay 28.11.42 |
| BK614 | JN | H | Stirling | I | Delivered 13-3-43 from RAF at Newmarket. “H” from Combat Report 13/14.5.43 Thomas crew attacked by Fw.190 which was claimed as probably destroyed, R/Gnr wounded, target Bochum. Lost without trace while minelaying Gironde Estuary 6.8.43. From FYTomorrow. “F/S J.R. Mayo Sgt. R. Booth Sgt. A.E Turner F/S I.S. Rothstein F/S T.H. Gittins Sgt. S.T. Kitching Sgt. R.H. Amstell” t/o 2145 Mepal for mine laying duties over the Gironde estuary. Lost without trace. All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. Code JN from Chorley. |
| BK615 | ?? | ? | Stirling | I | Delivered 21-10-42, to Franborough 2-1-43 from RAF at Newmarket. To RAE, 1654CU, 12FU. |
| BK617 | AA | D | Stirling | I | Delievered 24-10-42, also coded D from RAF at Newmarket. Shot down mining-Frisian Islands 5.2.43; crew killed. From Chorley: Sgt. R.E. Redding Sgt. R.C. Legge Sgt. A.J.D. Barton Sgt. H. Dennis Sgt. C.G. Phillips Sgt. W.W. Wilson Sgt. P.P.D. Freeman t/o 1943 Newmarket for mine laying duties off the Frisians. Outbound, caught fire in the air at 1,500 ft and dived into the sea some 2 miles off Cromer, Norfolk. All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. |
| BK618 | AA | Q | Stirling | I | Delivered 24-10-42 from RAF at Newmarket. Shot down target Frankfurt 2.12.42; 2 crew killed, others POW. |
| BK619 | ?? | O/X | Stirling | I | Delivered 3-11-42, coded X from RAF at Newmarket. Flew 42 missions: 4th highest amongst Stirlings. To 1651CU. |
| BK620 | AA | A | Stirling | I | Delivered 31-10-42 from RAF at Newmarket. Code AA-A from Bomber Command database. Shot down target Fallersleben 17.12.42; crew POW. Bomb Aimer E.E.Williams wrote ‘The Wooden Horse’. From Jack Wall’s Memoirs: On the 17th December 1942 four out of five Stirling Bombers failed to return from a raid on the Opel works at Fallersleben — one of these being short Stirling BK620 and the Bomb Aimer was Eric Williams the author of ‘The Wooden Horse’ escape story. The plane had been damaged and after the other crew members had baled out the Pilot Sgt. Ken Durmall ditched the plane in Lake Westeinder, not far from Amsterdam. He was also taken prisoner so that all the crew escaped with their lives and ended up as P.O.W.s The Germans tried to get the aircraft to the shore but did not succeed and years later a Dutch Aircraft Recovery Group managed to get several parts ashore and these were placed in a museum. |
| BK624 | AA | A | Stirling | I | “A” from Combat Report 17/18.1.43 Bennet crew attacked by Me.110 and 2 Ju.88s, target gardening Gironde Est.. “AA” since C Flight didn’t form until 1 April. Ex-1651CU to 75 and then to 1651, 1665CU. |
| BK646 | AA | N | Stirling | I | Delivered 16-2-43, also coded N from RAF at Newmarket. “N” from Combat Report 26/27.2.43 Lowe crew attacked by 2 e/a, target Cologne. “N” from Combat Report 8/9.3.43 Lowe crew attacked by two Ju.88s, 2P wounded, target Nuremburg. “N” from Combat Report 13/14.7.43 Rankin crew attacked by Ju.88, claimed as destroyed, target Aachen. Shot down mining Gironde Estuary 14.6.43; 1 killed, 4 POW and 2 evaded. “F/O J.L. Edwards Sgt. J.G.F. Sanscoucy Sgt. E.G. Dunnett P/O R.G. Kirby Sgt. B.W. Rawlinson Sgt. E.A.F. Jones Sgt. T. Maxwell” t/o 2253 Newmarket for mine laying duties over the Gironde estuary. Shot down by a combination of flak and night-fighters, crashing at Moulines (Calvados), 8km SSW of Bretteville-sur-Laize, France, where F/O Edwards lies in the Canadian War Cemetery. Code AA from Chorley. |
| BK647 | AA | M | Stirling | I | Delivered 10-2-43 from RAF at Newmarket. Port inner lost power on take-off from Newmarket for Hamburg. Crash-landed 1 mile NW of Rowley Mile 3.3.43. From Chorley: P/O R.F. Bennett Sgt. J.B. Harrison Sgt. A.L. Davidson Sgt. E.R. Belford Sgt. R.V. Weavers Sgt. J.A. Pirie Sgt. C.P.F. Middleton t/o 1920 Newmarket but lost power from the port inner and crash landed. No injuries reported. |
| BK664 | AA | M | Stirling | III | Delivered 11-3-43, also coded M from RAF at Newmarket. Crashed on landing from mining Gironde; crew safe but injured 16.4.43. From Chorley: F/L D.C. Lowe Sgt. C. Logan Sgt. A.G. Warr Sgt. F. Carswell F/S F. Ellis Sgt. A.J. Bodley Sgt. K. Wilmer Sgt. B. Welch /o 2200 Newmarket. Hit by flak over the target and on return to base the pilot discovered he was unable to control his throttles. This resulted in the Stirling colliding with a partially built hangar and being damaged beyond repair. No one was seriously hurt in the incident. From ‘The Stirling Story’: P/O R F Bennett, heading 75 Squadron’s nine participants, had an early engine seizure. Aboard was a 2,000lb bomb and 2x 1,000lb bombs, supplemented with a 1,740x4lb and 32x30lb incendiares, he and his crew being very lucky in safely landing, load aboard, at Newmarket. |
| BK695 | AA | N/X | Stirling | III | Code X from RAF at Newmarket. “N” from Combat Report 4/5.1.44 Burke crew attacked by Fw.190, claimed as damaged, target Special Target (V1 site). “N” from Combat Report 25/26.2.44 Rowberry crew attacked by unid e/a, target mining Baltic. Ex-15 Sqn to 75 and then to 199 Sqn, 1653CU. Gordon Galloway – “I can confirm however, that Stirling BK695 was coded “N” Nuts, but am unsure as to the other aircraft that Dad flew in on 75Sqn.” SW Galloway was in B Flt. during this period, hence ‘AA’. |
| BK721 | AA | Z | Stirling | III | Delivered 2-5-43, also coded Z from RAF at Newmarket. Crashed on take-off target Duisberg 13.5.43; some crew (2) injured others killed. From Chorley: AA F/L E.R.M. Appleton Sgt. R.F. Harvey Sgt. J.S. Andrews F/O J. Johnston P/O S.J. Clubb F/S S.G. Cocks Sgt. B.A.R. Moore Sgt. J. Wykes t/o 0037 Newmarket but crashed after the starboard inner engine failed, causing the Stiring to clip Devil’s Dyke before coming down NW of the airfield. F/L Appleton recovered from his injuries, only to lose his life on 31 August 1943 while flying in an American B17 Fortress. The three RNZAF airmen ae buried in Newmarket Cemetery. |
| BK768 | AA | L | Stirling | III | Delivered 22-5-43, also coded L from RAF at Newmarket. “L” from Combat Report 11/12.6.43 Perrott crew attacked by unid t/e e/a, claimed as damaged, target Dusseldorf. Shot down target Gelsenkirchen 25.6.43; crew killed. “F/O W.R. Perrott Sgt. W.W. Hilditch F/S G.D. Thomson F/S C.J. Whitelaw Sgt. C.C. Mould Sgt. G.W.Colyer Sgt. H. Squire” t/o 2335 Newmarket. Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed into the Ijsselmeer. Three rest in Amsterdam New Eastern Cemetery; F/S Thomson RNZAF lies in Harderwijk General Cemetery, his body having been recovered on 4th July, while the others are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. Code AA from Chorley. |
| BK770 | AA | L | Stirling | III | Delivered 2-4-43, also coded L from RAF at Newmarket. Crashed on return at Bressingham, Norfolk; crew killed, target was Duisberg 8.4.43. From Chorley: W/O J.A.E. Walsh Sgt. J.H. Worthington F/S B.A. Moffat Sgt. F.H. Redicliffe Sgt. J.W. Scudder Sgt. S.A. Curtis Sgt. P.G. Stuart t/o 2130 Newmarket. Homebound, crashed at Valley Farm, Bressingham, 3 miles WNW of Diss, Norfolk. The three Comonwealth airmen , along with Sgt. Reddicliffe and Sgt. Curtis, rest in Newmarket Cemetery. This was the first Stirling Mk.III written off by 75(NZ) Squadron. |
| BK776 | AA/JN | B/R | Stirling | III | Coded AA-B from Bomber Command database, but code JN from Chorley. Delivered 8-4-43, code R from RAF at Newmarket. (Note: B and R look similar so possible typo somewhere?) “B” from Combat Report 4/5.5.43 Sedunary crew attacked by Ju.88 which was claimed as probably destroyed, target Dortmund. Shot down target Wuppertal 29.5.43; 5 killed and 3 POW (a second pilot was on-board). “P/O R.F. Bennett Sgt. R.F. Norman Sgt. J.B. Harrison F/S A.L. Davidson F/S F.A. Bandy W/O S.L. Kavanagh F/S J.A. Pirie Sgt. C.P.F. Middleton” t/o 2309 Newmarket. Crashed at Odenspiel, 22km WNW od Siegen. Four were buried at Odenspiel om 31 May, but P/O Bennett RNZAF was laid to rest three days later at Koln-Sud. His grave is now in Rheinberg War Cemetery, while the others have been taken to the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. |
| BK777 | AA | F/U | Stirling | III | Delivered 8-4-43, coded F from RAF at Newmarket. “U” from Combat Report 13/14.7.43 A. Alexander crew attacked by Me.210, claimed as probably destroyed, target Aachen. Probable ME210 target Aachen 14.7.43. Same crew claimed probable ME110 target Berlin 24.8.43. “U” from Combat Report 5/6.9.43 Menzies crew attacked by unid e/a, target Mannheim. Flown by Allan Alexander from 1943 on. Flown by Dick Broadbent, C-Flight commander April-October 1943, lost November 43 over Denmark. ‘Night After Night, p. 183. ‘Alexander’s Ragtime Crew’ nose-art – the flags behind the NZ flag are (obviously) a Union Jack, but the other one is the American flag – Allan’s Rear Gunner, Armstrong ‘Doc’ Lyon was originally from Pennsylvania, but enlisted in Montreal in 1941. He completed a second tour with 214 Squadron, being awarded the DFC in Feb 45 and being credited with the destruction/ damage of 4 enemy aircraft. Mickey Mouse above bomb talley, plus two dancing stick-figures with either halos or boater hats, either side of the banner? With AA U , its Alexanders Rag Time Crew not Boys , sorry my mistake. I will organize a better photo. Allans Chiefy was a sign writer and did the painting in correct colours , a Stars n stripes, union Jack and NZ flag. The letters on the scroll were all different fonts and colours. A pair of Saints hold the banner . Allen told me he took over Dick Frenchs near new Mk111 when his tour expired and painted it up then.His crew included five Kiwis , Allan as pilot,Des Andersen Nav, Phil Pullyn BA, Tom Mayhew W/op, and Bill McDonald RG ( KAO France 1944).F/E was Frank Howard UK and M/U gunner American Doc Lyon who had enlisted through the RCAF : source Peter ? |
| BK778 | JN | U | Stirling | III | Delivered 4-4-43, also coded U from RAF at Newmarket. “U” from Combat Report 25/26.6.43 S/L Broadbent crew attacked by unid s/e e/a, claimed as destroyed, target Gelsenkirchen. “U” from Combat Report 23/24.8.43 Logan crew attacked by Me.110, claimed as destroyed, target Berlin. “U” from Combat Report 16/17.9.43 S/L Broadbent crew attacked by another Stirling, target Modane. Shot down mining Baltic Sea 4.11.43; crew killed. “P/O W.S. Masters Sgt. A.A. Copeland F/S G.B. Imrie F/S C. James Sgt. R.J. Thomas Sgt. L. Grimwood F/S L.S. Crawford-Watson” t/o 1600 Mepal to lay mines in Kattegat. Shot down by a night-fight and crashed at Berstedgaard near Thisted, Denmark. Six are buried in Frederikshavn Cemetery, while Sgt. Copeland is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. Code Forever Strong pg98, confirmed Code from Simon Sommerville site. (So are all his Stirlings C Flight JN?) |
| BK783 | AA | Q | Stirling | III | Delivered 2-5-43 from RAF at Newmarket. Shot down target Dortmund 23.5.43; crew killed except one POW. “Sgt. S/M. Tietjens Sgt. S.J. Wayman Sgt. G.W. Turnbull Sgt. F.J.L. Joblin Sgt. R. Bell Sgt. D.G.A. Storey Sgt. L.R. Vale” t/o 2315 Newmarket. Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed at Beesd (Gelderland), 8km SSW of Culemborg, Holland. Those who died are buried in Beesd General Cemetery. Code AA from Chorley. |
| BK807 | AA | M | Stirling | III | Shot down mining Kiel Bay 28.4.43; crew killed. From Chorley: AA P/O D.V. Hamer Sgt. G.L. Lennox Sgt. D.R. Ross F/S R.C. Buckley F/S W.L.F. Brian Sgt. H.P. Holme Sgt. M.E.J. Shogren t/o 2030 Newmarket, on mine laying duties in the Radish area (Kiel) of the Fehmarn-Belt. Hit by Kreigsmarine flak battery MAA508, and crashed 0023 in the Baltic, close to where the Hamer (BF467 AA-W) crew came down. Five are commemorated on the Runnynede Memorial, while both air gunners lie in Svino Churchyard. |
| BK809 | AA/JN | T | Stirling | III | Delivered 2-5-43, code AA-T from Bomber Command database, also coded T from RAF at Newmarket. Crashed into house on take off 8.9.43 target Boulogne. Confirmed FYTomorrow. 75 (NZ) Sqn RAF Operations Record Book (ORB) 8/9/43 Operations. Seventeen aircraft were detailed to attack the above targets. The carried their maximum bomb load in bombs of 1,000lb., and 500lb.. One aircraft crashed whilst taking off and two returned early. The remainder successfully dropped their bombs in the target area. Not many fires were seen but numerous huge explosions were observed. Some heavy and light predicted A.A.Fire and a few searchlights were encountered but caused no trouble. A few enemy aircraft were seen, but no combats took place. The weather was good and visibility was clear except for slight ground haze. Navigation was excellent.The aircraft that crashed during take-off was captained by F/O. I.R.MENZIES. Whilst taking off it swung off the runway and crashed into two houses on the far side adjoining the perimeter track. It caught fire almost simultaneously, and in the fire, various bombs exploded, causing the aircraft to be a total wreck. Three members of the crew, a W.A.A.F. Officer of R.A.F. Station MEPAL and an aircrew Sergeant, and 2 civilians were killed and other civilians were injured. The W.A.A.F. Officer and the aircrew sergeant lost their lives whilst trying to render assistance. Page 587, 1943. Form 540/ 541 AIR27/ 646 75(NZ) Squadron RAF, Mepal. National Archives. Stirling Mk.III BK809 JN-T P/O. Derek Albert Arthur Cordery RAFVR 136360. Navigator. P/O. Norman Hathway Gale RAFVR 849986. Air Bomber. Sgt. Ralph Herbert Barker RNZAF NZ417189. Wireless Operator. Sgt. Albert Leslie Mellor RAFVR 943914. Flight Engineer. Sgt. Bullivant G RAFVR 1395379. Mid Upper Gunner. Sgt. Stewart Donald Muir RNZAF NZ416967. Rear Gunner. The Flight Sergeant and W.A.A.F Officer that were killed when attempting to offer assistance were; F/Sgt Peter Gerald Dobson MiD RNZAF NZ439022. Navigator. 16th Mar to 8th Sep 1943. Died Wednesday 8th September 1943, age 28. A 75 Sqn Stirling, (BK809), fully laden with fuel and bombs for an attack on a long-range gun battery nr Boulogne, France, swung on take-off and crashed between two houses off the end of the runway. F/Sgt Dobson was killed by exploding bombs as he went to the assistance of the aircrew crew and the occupants of the houses. Buried Cambridge City Cemetery, England. Section Officer Joan Majorie Easton WAAF/RAF 2986. 24th July 1943 to 8th Sep 1943. Died Wednesday 8th September 1943, age 26, when a 75 Sqn Stirling (BK809) fully laden with bombs and fuel, swung on take-off for an attack on a long-range gun battery nr Boulogne and crashed between two houses off the end of the runway. S/O Easton was killed when the bomb load exploded as she went to the assistance of the aircraft crew and the occupants of the houses. Buried Greenwich (Charlton and Kidbrook) Cemetery. London, England. Additionally, another member of the Squadron came to the aid of the crash victims. Unlike Peter and Joan, Terence survived the incident and was awarded the British Empire Medal for his bravery that night. Cpl Terence Henry King BEM RAF 610334. ELECT 1, Electrical Sect. Citation BEM (24 Dec 1943) “In September 1943, an aircraft which was taking off with a load of bombs crashed into two houses on the edge of an airfield and burst into flames. Corporal King hurried to the scene and, although fully aware that high explosive bombs were likely to explode at any moment, he went to the cottages a few yards from the burning aircraft to warn the occupants of their imminent danger and render assistance. An injured man was found and while Corporal King, with the help of a civilian, was taking him to safety a bomb exploded. The bravery shown by Corporal King was instrumental in saving a life and many more lives might have been lost had it not been for his prompt action in helping to warn occupants of the nearby houses. “ The exact circumstances of that night will probably never be known – ironically, as I mention in a reply to Dave, based on the crew order that night my Father might have taken off just before the crash occurred. I have read of the rear double tail wheel having a habit of running out of line on takeoff – even to the point that anecdotal evidence suggests the Rear Gunner would sometimes rotate his turret to the side and hang out to check it was running straight – sometimes hanging out to give it a kick if it wasn’t! Perhaps another question mark hangs over the undercarriage – absurdly tall and only modified to the final 2 story height to meet the Air Ministry performance specifications, the original design failed to meet regarding maximum take-off distance – the addition of the taller undercarriage was essentially used to increase the angle of attack of the aircraft’s wings, thus increasing lift and thus shortening it’s take off distance. A Stirling at almost takeoff speed, suffering a collapse, or partial collapse to its starboard undercarriage would probably have been impossible to control – its forward momentum taking it where ever it planned to go, irrespective of any attempts by the Pilot or Flight Engineer to rest control. |
| BK810 | AA | G | Stirling | III | Delivered 2-5-43, also coded G from RAF at Newmarket. JN according to ‘Kiwis Do Fly – photo. Shot down target Mulheim 22.6.43; 5 POW and 2 killed. “P/O F.M. McKenzie Sgt. R.A.W. Triptree Sgt. A.E. West F/S J.F. Blank Sgt. B.H. Broadhead Sgt. J.R.G. Chrystal Sgt. E.W. McGonigal” t/o 2347 Newmarket. Shot down by a combination of flak and night-fighter, the latter believed to have been flown by Hptm Wilhelm Herget of I.NJG1, crashing at 0210 at Oostrum (Limburg) 3kn E of Venray, Holland. P/O McKenzie RNZAF is buried in Jonkerbos War Cemetery, but the grave for F/S Blank RNZAF is located in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, thus suggesting he may have left the aircraft prior to the night-fighter making its attack. Source – Chorley. Crashed in/near:Oostrum and Geijsteren in the wood “De Hoogerheide” alongside the road. Crash due to: Night-fighter Hptm. Wilhem Herget 1./III/NJG1. (Shot down by flak 22.6.43. Details ‘For Your Tomorrow’.) From Extracts of original WW2 letters regarding the crash of Max McKenzie and his crew over Holland.:——————————————————————————– NO 75 (NZ) Squadron Dear Mrs McKenzie, I find it a sad and difficult task indeed to have to write in such circumstances as these. Your son had been with my Squadron for only a short time, yet he had quickly and happily settled down and had become extremely popular amongst all ranks by his cheerful willing and confident personality. He was an outstanding operational pilot, one who was ever keen to strike a blow against the enemy. His loss, a temporary one I pray, is a heavy blow to the Squadron, to the Service and to the great cause for which he so noble fought. On the night he failed to return he was making his second operational flight with this Squadron, and was Captain of his own Arcraft. He was detailed to attack a heavily derfended target siutated deep into german territory, but after the aircraft left base nu further message was received from it. Knowing however, the skill and efficiency of this crew and that he himse4lf did not take unnecessary risks, I feel we may yet learn during the course of the next few weeks that they are all safe and well, although in enemy hands. Any news which is received will be passed on to you without delay. In the meantime , all your son’s personel effects have been carefully listed, packed and despatched to the Central Committee of Adjustment(..) The Officers, NCO’s and men of my Squadron join with me in expression of deepest sympathy to you during this time of sorrow and anxioyus waitinmg. We pray with you for your son’s safety and well being. Yours sincerely, Wing Commander, Commanding No 75 (NZ) Squadron, RAF. ——————————————————————————– Air Department 16th December, 1947 Further to my letter of the 31st July 1947 , I have to advise that a reply has now been received from Air Ministry. This states that Missing Research and Enquiry Service recently conducted investigations into your son’s case, and it has been ascertained that your son’s plane crashed on the 23rd of june, 1943 at approx. 3.a.m. at oostrum. Mr Hendircks, a local farmer, stated that the plane was shot down by GeRman fighters, and that only one bodY was recOvered from the crash. It would appear therefor that as all the remaining members of the crew, with the exception of Sgt. J.F.Blank RNZAF successfully baled out, and were later taken POW, that your son sacrificed his life in an endeavour to maintain his plane on a level keel in order to enable his crew to attempt a safe parachute jump. The remains recovered from the crash, were buried in the Venlo Cemetery, Row 24, Grave no 344, and have been identified as those of your son. Sgt. J.F.Blank is thought to be buried in the Municipal cmetery at Oostrum. This will be confirmed during further investigations. Air Ministry advise that arrangements are being made to re-inter your son’s remains in a British Military cemetery but in thje meantime have forwarded two photographs of your son’s present resting place in the Venlo Cemetery. Immediatly the task of re-interment is completed, you will be further advised. I am fully aware of the distressing nature of thgis report Mrs McKenzi, but I am sure yiou would rather have all the information received by this Department. Once again, on behalf of the Air Board I desire to express my deepest sympathy in your great loss. Yours faithfully, Air secretary.. ——————————————————————————– FLIGHT / CRASH HISTORICAL INFORMATION F/Sgt. John Frederick BLANK, 20, Ab, 422175, RNZAF Prisoners: (POWcamp 4B = Mühlber (Elbe). POWcamp L6 = Stalag Luft 6 – Heydekrug.) |
| BK817 | AA | B | Stirling | III | Delivered 2-5-43 from RAF at Newmarket. Flown at one point by A Flight Commander so ‘AA’? Shot down target Dusseldorf 11.6.43; crew killed, except 1 POW. “S/L R.H. Laud Sgt. J.H. Russell Sgt. A.R. Waite Sgt. H.S. McQuade Sgt. H.S. Mulholland F/S T. Whatmough Sgt. F.J. Hawkins Sgt. M.K. Matthews” t/o 2348 Newmarket. Shot down by a night-fighter (Oblt Wilhelm Telge, Stab,II/NJG1) and crashed 0135 at Frodtheir (Liege), 10km N of Verviers, Belgium. Those who died are buried in Heverlee War Cemetery. S/L Laud hailed from Campbells’s Bay in New Zealand and had joined the Royal Air Force just prior to the outbreak of war. From Chorley |
| EE878 | AA | P | Stirling | III | Also coded P from RAF at Newmarket. Shot down target Berlin 31.8.43; crew killed except 4 POW. Codes from Simon Sommerville site. “P/O D.C. Henley Sgt. L.P. Parsons F/O C.A. Watson F/S I.H.R Smith Sgt. R.N. Quelch Sgt. D.C. Box Sgt. J.S. Grant” t/o 2031 Mepal. Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed at Ahrbruck, 12 km SW of Ahrweiler. Those who died were buried on 4th September at Mayschoss, since their remains have been taken to Rheinberg War Cemetery. From Chorley. |
| EE881 | JN | G | Stirling | III | Delivered 16-6-43 from RAF at Newmarket. “G” from Combat Report 31.8/1.9.43 Logan crew attacked by Me.109, claimed as damaged, target Berlin. Codes from ‘The Stirling Story’ – MJF Bowyer. To 1657CU. |
| EE886 | AA | L | Stirling | III | Landed with flat tyre at Oakington on return from target Aachen 13.7.43; u/c collapsed and acft overturned, crew all injured, except MU killed and RG safe. “F/O E.C. Eddy Sgt. P Hartstein Sgt. H. Waring P/O A.W. Lane F/S H. Hurt Sgt. H. Burgeois Sgt. E.C. Viccars F/S H. Lucas” t/o 0110 Mepal. On return the crew landed 0435 at Oakington, but a flat tyre caused the undercarriage to collapse and before coming to a halt the Stirling over turned. Sgt. Viccars is buried in Southend-on-Sea (Sutton Road) Cemetery. Codes AA-L from Chorley. |
| EE890 | AA | L | Stirling | III | Delivered 24-6-43, also coded L from RAF at Newmarket. Shot down target Hamburg 24.7.43; 3 POW and 4 killed. “W/O H. Nichol Sgt. C.E. Radford F/S A.J. Robinson P/O E.J. Mansell Sgt. W.H. Garvin Sgt. H.S. Norrington F/S B.L. Cooksey” t/o 2204 Mepal. Shot down by night-fighter (Fw Meissner, II./NJG3) crashed at Neumunster. Sgt. Norrington is buried in Hamburg Cemetery, Ohlsdorf; the others who died have no known graves. Code AA from Chorley. |
| EE891 | AA | Q | Stirling | III | Delivered 14-6-43, also coded Q from RAF at Newmarket. Shot down mining Gironde Estuary 115.8.43; crew killed. AA as flown by A.Alexander. “F/S N.B. Whitta Sgt. F.D. Mason F/O J.G. Turnbull F/S M. Costello Sgt. R.F. Andrews Sgt. R.G. Crisp Sgt. J.E. Lovewell” t/o 2409 Mepal to plant mines in the Gironde estuary. Presumed lost over the sea. Three rest in Olonne-sur-Mer Communal Cemetery. F/S Costello RCAF is buried in la sables-d’Olonne (la Chaume) New Communal Cemetery, while F/O Turnbull RNZAF and Sgt. Lovewell are perpetuated by the Runnymede Memorial. From Chorley. |
| EE892 | AA | F | Stirling | III | Delivered 6-6-43, also coded F from RAF at Newmarket. Shot down target Essen 25.7.43; crew killed. “Sgt. M.H.C Ashdown Sgt. R. Broadley Sgt. R.K. Harrold Sgt. R.W. Threadgold Sgt. E.C. Denyer Sgt. A Cleveland Sgt. H.C. Dawson” t/o 2239 Mepal. Came down in the sea off Southwold, Suffolk, while returning to base. Eye witnesses report the Stirling as being on fire before it struck the water. Four bodies were picked up by the Aldeburgh lifeboat; Sgt. Dawson RCAF is buried in Scottow Cemetery; the others were taken back to their home towns. Three, Sgt. Harrold, Sgt. Threadgold and Sgt. Cleveland RCAF, are commorated on the Runnymede Memorial. Code AA from Chorley. |
| EE893 | JN | N | Stirling | III | Delivered 14-6-43,also coded N from RAF at Newmarket. N from https://75nzsquadron.wordpress.com/2843-attack-against-targets-at-hamburg/. “N” from Combat Report 31.8/1.9.43 (recorded as EE898 in the Form 540) Wilkinson crew attacked by Ju.88, claimed as damaged, target Berlin. Same crew shot down target Mannheim 5.9.43; crew killed except 3 POW. Airborne from Mepal 1959 5Sep43. Cause of loss not established. Crashed at Schwanheim. Those killed were buried at Schwanheim. They are now interred in the Rheinberg War Cemetery. P/O E.S.Wilkinson RNZAF KIA Sgt T.Whatley KIA F/S G.N.Simes RNZAF PoW F/S N.G.R.Treacher RNZAF PoW Sgt J.J.Waterman KIA Sgt E.S.Robson PoW F/S G.S.Wilkinson KIA Sgt E.S.Robson was interned in Camp 4B, PoW No.222770 with F/S N.G.R.Teacher, PoW No.222848. F/S G.N.Simes in Camp 357, PoW No.43282. Code JN from Chorley. |
| EE897 | AA | G | Stirling | III | Delivered 24-6-43, also coded G from RAF at Newmarket. “AA-G” from Combat Report 27/28.7.43 Roberts crew attacked by JU.88, claimed as damaged, target Hamburg. 20 ops completed before lost w/o trace mining Baltic Sea, Kattegut area 3/4.11.43. According to Jack Richardson, that night, prior to take-off, Alf Dance wrote ‘Dance man Dance’ on the tail plane. Norman Wilson being a disciplinarian insisted it was cleaned off with a rag given by ground crew – the crew then boarded in less than cheerfull mood. They never returned…. apparently Ray Stratton’s mother never accepted his loss and every time she went out she left the key in the back door so he could get in.F/O Norman Clarence Bruce Wilson RNZAF NZ417139. Pilot. (Commemorated on Panel 198 Runnymede Memorial.) F/O Thomas Lodge RNZAF NZ417284. Navigator. (Commemorated on Panel 197 Runnymede Memorial.) P/O Alfred Thomas Dance RNZAF NZ42495. Air Bomber. (Commemorated on Panel 197 Runnymede Memorial.) F/S Ronald Carlton RAFVR 644136.Wireless Operator. (Commemorated on Panel 135 Runnymede Memorial.) Sgt. Raymond Walter John Stratton RAFVR 1166593. Flight Engineer. (Commemorated on Panel 166. Runnymede Memorial.) Sgt. Leonard Charles Gaskins RAFVR 1392668. Mid Upper Gunner. (Commemorated on Panel 150 Runnymede Memorial.) Sgt. Arnold Goodrick Fawcett RNZAF NZ422698. Rear Gunner. (Commemorated on Panel 198 Runnymede Memorial.) Code ‘G’ in FYTomorrow and Simon Sommerville site. Data and ‘C’ from Chorley- meant to be ‘G’? |
| EE898 | AA | D | Stirling | III | Delivered 13-6-43, also coded D from RAF at Newmarket. “AA-D” from Combat Report 29/30.7.43 (Form 541 says EE893) Duncan crew attacked by JU.88, claimed as damaged, target Hamburg. Destroyed and also damaged 2 acft target Hamburg 31.7.43. To 1651CU. From ‘The Stirling Story’ – MJF Bowyer – ‘D’. AA from ORBs. |
| EE915 | AA | X | Stirling | III | Coded AA-X from Bomber Command database. “X?” from Combat Report 24/25.7.43 Fear crew attacked by Ju.88, target Hamburg. “X” from Combat Report 29/30.7.43 Darney crew attacked by unid e/a, target Hamburg. Shot down target Remscheid 30/31.7.43; crew killed. |
| EE918 | AA | D | Stirling | III | Shot down target Berlin 31.8.43; crew killed except 1 POW. Codes from Simon Sommerville site. “F/S E.J. Roberts Sgt. E. Saunders F/O R.G. Rainford P/O J.C. Giles F/S K.C. Jackson P/O J.H. Haydon F/S D.L.C. Haub” “t/o 2019 Mepal. Crashed at Derental, 10km SSE of Hoxter, where those who died were first laid to rest. Their graves are now in Hannover War Cemetery.Dianne (Daughter of Jack Haydon, the sole survivor of the crew) supplied the following regards the events of that tragic night; On the night of 31 August, 1943 he was mid-upper gunner in Stirling Mk.111 EE918 AA-D and was returning home, having dropped bombs on Berlin, when the aircraft was hit by enemy fire. The aircraft sustained damage but continued to fly for possibly 10 – 15 minutes. Eric, the pilot radioed Jack (as mid upper gunner he was the closest to the rear gun turret) and requested that he go back and check on Darcy (rear gunner) because he had heard nothing from him since the attack. Jack discovered that he was dead and was returning to his position when there was an explosion which broke the plane into two pieces. Jack, the only member of the crew not in his position, was not in his harness and therefore fell out of the plane which went down with the rest of the crew all still harnessed in. Upon landing, Jack only suffered a badly injured foot, which caused him trouble for the rest of his life. He began walking to habitation, where he was captured.” In a return mail to Dianne, I included a group picture including dad from 1651 – I had already identified Eric Roberts, the Wireless Operator Kensington Jackson and Darcy Haub, the Rear Gunner. Dianne was unable to identify Jack in the image – but I am confident we will find him. The Roberts Crew were; F/O. Robert Gorman Rainford RAFVR 134553. Navigator. Plt Off John Cecil Giles RAFVR 138329. Air Bomber. F/Sgt Kensington Campbell Jackson RNZAF NZ 42330. Wireless Operator. Sgt Eric Saunders RAFVR 1605321. Flight Engineer. F/O Jack Henry Haydon RAAF AUS.408400. Mid Upper Gunner. F/Sgt Darcy Leslie Conrad Haub RNZAF NZ42326. Rear Gunner. Roberts crew Operational History; Dianne sent the following regards the event of that tragic night; Jack, the only member of the crew not in his position, was not in his harness and therefore fell out of the plane which went down with the rest of the crew all still harnessed in. Upon landing, Jack only suffered a badly injured foot, which caused him trouble for the rest of his life. He began walking to habitation, where he was captured. After being given medical treatment for his , Jack was now a Prisoner of War and was first moved to Dulag Luft. Dulag Luft was the abbreviated name given to Prisoner of War (POW) transit camps for Air Force prisoners captured by Germany during the Second World War. Their main purpose was to act as collection and interrogation centres for newly captured aircrew, before being transferred in batches to the permanent camps. Dulag Luft derives from the German Durchgangslager der Luftwaffe (Transit Camp – Air Force). Several camps where set up throughout Germany and the occupied countries, however the main centre used throughout the war was at Oberursel near Frankfurt. A satellite camp at Wetzlar was set up later in the war to help cope with the large numbers of aircrew captured as the bombing campaign intensified against Germany. Allegations of interrogation under torture have been made by numerous POWs who passed through the camps. |
| EE938 | AA | X | Stirling | III | Shot down target Berlin 23.8.43; crew killed. “W/O T. Fear Sgt. C. Munro Sgt. B.H. Ruddy Sgt. A. Bain Sgt. D.G. Woolcott Sgt. J.A.C. Holmes Sgt. A Davidson” t/o 2037 Mepal. Crashed at Mahlsdorf, 12km ESE of Berlin, where six lie in the city’s 1939-1945 War Cemetery. Sgt. Munro has no known grave. Data and code AA from Chorley. |
| EE955 | AA | D | Stirling | III | Shot down target Nuremberg 27.8.43; crew killed. Code from FYTomorrow. “F/S F.D. Higham Sgt. R. Renfrew Sgt. J.R. Culshaw F/S M. Bailey F/S C.J. Bridger Sgt. H. Jennings Sgt. A. Clarke” t/o 2130 Mepal. Crashed at Schwarzenau, 21km ENE of Wurzburg. All are buried in Durnbach War Cemetery. Their average age was 23. Code AA from Chorley. |
| EE958 | ?? | V > A | Stirling | III | “V” from Combat Report 31.8/1.9.43 Moseley crew attacked by unid t/e e/a, claimed as damaged, target Berlin. “V” from Combat Report 23/24.9.43 Moseley crew attacked by Ju.88, claimed as damaged, Captain and M/U/Gnr wounded, target Mannheim. “A” from Combat Report 10/11.2.44 Herron crew attacked by JU.88, target La Rochelle. To 513, back to 75, then to 1653CU. |
| EF117 | ?? | ? | Stirling | III | Not 75 sqn according to Stirling File; 620 Sqn. Not sure where this code has come from. However, also in RAF at Newmarket, serial only. |
| EF126 | AA | J | Stirling | III | Codes/serial from RAF at Newmarket |
| EF130 | JN | M | Stirling | III | “M” from Combat Report 2/3.9.43 Grubb crew attacked by two unid e/a, target mining Friesian Is.. Shot down target Frankfurt 4.10.43; crew killed. “Sgt. H.J. Middleton Sgt. E.F. Hudson Sgt. C.J. Massie Sgt. C. Pennycook Sgt. L. Pow Sgt. E. Thorpe Sgt. T. Lackenby” t/o 1850 Mepal. Crashed at Russelsheim. All are buried in Durnbach War Cemetery. Data and code JN-M from Chorley. |
| EF135 | JN | W/T | Stirling | III | Code JN-W from Bomber Command database. “T” from Combat Report 16/17.9.43 Mitchell crew attacked by another Stirling, target Modane. Made fast landing at Mepal on return from Hanover 28.9.43; flew along gaining height to 25′ in bad vis; cut throttles and stalled, u/c collapsed. To 4202M 10.43 (8 RS). “P/O H.C. Williams Sgt. C. Dickenson F/S D. Dill F/S A. Carson Sgt. M. Williams Sgt. W. Hemsley F/S I. Kaye” t/o 2005 Mepal. Returned to base in very poor visibility, landed at high speed and bounced back into the air. The Stirling commenced to float and the Pilot immediately closed the throttles. This action led to the bomber stalling 0135 into the ground., whereupon it was damaged beyond repair. No injuries reported. The airframe was later taken to No.8 Radio School as a ground instruction trainer, serial number 4202M. from information published in the Stirling File, it’s operational record stood at three sorties. From Chorley. |
| EF137 | AA | E | Stirling | III | “Y” from Combat Report 23/24.9.43 (recorded in the Form 541 as EF462) S/L Burley crew attacked by one unid s/e e/a, claimed as destroyed, and two unid t/e e/a, both claimed as damaged, target Mannheim. Different crew shot down mining Kiel Bay 23.4.44; crew killed. |
| EF142 | AA | C | Stirling | III | Crashed 1 1/2 miles SW of Mepalwhilst going round at 300’on return to base from mining operation 24.10.43. Details from FYTomorrow. “F/S J.R. Randle Sgt. I.E. James F/S P.M. East Sgt. J.J. Purves Sgt. W.R. Myhill Sgt. W. Ramsay Sgt. E.H. Blissett” t/o 1744 Mepal. Overshot on return to base and while trying to go around again at 300 feet crashed SW of the airfield. The three RNZAF aiman are buried in cambridge City Cemetery while Sgt. Myhill lies in Acle (St. Edmund) Churchyard, Norfolk. Data and code AA from Chorley. |
| EF148 | AA | R | Stirling | III | “R” from Combat Report 27/28.9.43 Horgan crew attacked by Ju.88, claimed as destroyed, target Hannover. Different crew shot down target Berlin 22.11.43; crew killed. “F/S J.C. Turner Sgt. G.J. Blackman F/O S.H. McKenzie F/O W.G.S. Pagett F/S J.L. Cowie Sgt. R. McL More Sgt. McGloin” t/o 1713 Mepal. Crashed at Rulle, 7km NNE of Osnabruck. All rest in the Reichswald Forest Cemetery. Data and code AA from Chorley. |
| EF152 | ?? | T | Stirling | III | “T” from Combat Report 23/24.9.43 S/L Mitchell crew attacked by one unid e/a and one Fw.190, claimed as damaged, target Mannheim. To 1653CU. |
| EF163 | JN | L | Stirling | III | Crashed in bad vis upon return Bedingham’s (Biddington?) Farm, Sutton, Cambridgeshire. Crew killed except MU injured. One mine hung up which may have affected the CoG. Target was mining Frisians 16.12.43. Code from FYTomorrow. “P/O C.J. Kinross Sgt. R. Askew F/O R.F. Jenkin Sgt. R.H. Emmerson Sgt. W. Savage Sgt. S. Newman Sgt. J. Warner” t/o 1700 Mepal for mine laying operations off the Frisians. Crashed in bad visibility at Biddington Farm, Sutton Cambridgeshire. The three Commonwealth airmen rest in Cambridge city Cemetery. The cause of the crash may have been due to the aircraft’s centre of gravity being effected by a mice that had failed to release. Data and code JN from Chorley. |
| EF181 | JN | ? | Stirling | III | To 218 Sqn. Looks like an ‘N’ in photo. |
| EF200 | ?? | ? | Stirling | III | To 513 sqn, 1660CU. |
| EF201 | ?? | ? | Stirling | III | To 513 sqn, 1660CU. |
| EF205 | ?? | ? | Stirling | III | To 513 sqn, 1660CU. |
| EF206 | ?? | ? | Stirling | III | To 513 sqn, 1660CU. |
| EF207 | ?? | ? | Stirling | III | To 218, 149 sqns, 1653CU. |
| EF211 | ?? | ? | Stirling | III | To 513 sqn, 1660CU. |
| EF215 | AA | M | Stirling | III | Shot down Special Operation Trainer 124 4.3.44; crew killed except 1 POW. Code from FYTomorrow, code AA from Bomber Command database. |
| EF217 | ?? | ? | Stirling | III | From 622 sqn to 75 and then to 1653CU. |
| EF233 | ?? | ? | Stirling | III | From 214 sqn to 75, the to 218, 149 sqns, 1657CU. |
| EF236 | AA | J | Stirling | III | Code AA-J from Bomber Command database. Aileron control broke on way to Brest; overshot landing on short runway at Castle Combe, Wiltshire 14.3.44. |
| EF251 | ?? | ? | Stirling | III | To 90 sqn, 1653CU. |
| EF254 | ?? | ? | Stirling | III | To 90 sqn. |
| EF327 | ?? | ? | Stirling | I | Delivered 28-1-43, to 149 Sqn 11-2-43 from RAF at Newmarket. |
| EF332 | ?? | ? | Stirling | I | From 214, 149 sqn to 75 24-3-43, then to 1657CU 9-5-43 from RAF at Newmarket. |
| EF337 | ?? | ? | Stirling | I | Delivered 1-2-43 from RAF at Newmarket. To 149 Sqn 25-2-43, 1657, 1655CU. |
| EF340 | ?? | Q | Stirling | I | Delivered 24-3-43 from RAF at Newmarket. From 218, 149 Sqns. Shot down mining Frisian Islands 5.5.43; crew killed. |
| EF398 | AA | A | Stirling | I | Delivered 2-5-43 from RAF at Newmarket. Shot down target Wuppertal 29.5.43; crew killed. “F/O R.B. Vernazoni Sgt. W. Bramwell Sgt. O.A. Innes F/O H. Tong F/O C.H. Riddle Sgt. A.R. Cardoo Sgt. J.J. Chandler” t/o 2332 Newmarket. Shot down by a night-fighter (Obit Manfred Meurer, I./NJG1) and crashed between vlodrop and Roermond (Limburg), Holland. Five have no known graves; Sgt. Cardoo and Sgt. Chandler lie in Jonkerbos War Cemetery, having been found in the temporary military cemetery at Venlo. Code AA from Chorley. |
| EF399 | AA | O | Stirling | III | From 15 Sqn. Shot down target Mulheim 22.6.43; crew killed. “F/S K.A. Burbidge Sgt. G. Lockey F/S W.F. Wilcockson F/S A.J. McEwin F/S D.E. Martin Sgt. G. Cameron Sgt. K.F. Shaw” t/o 2337 Newmarket. Last heard on W/T at 0225 indicating the Stirling had been badly damaged by flak. Soon after making this call, the bomber was intercepted by a noght-fighter (Hptm Egmont Prinz zur Lippe Weissenfeld, III./NJG1) and shot down at0247 near Markelo (Overijssel) 23km SW of Hengelo, Holland. All are buriedin Markelo General Cemetery. Data and code AA from Chorley. |
| EF400 | ?? | ? | Stirling | III | Delivered 23-5-43, to 149 Sqn 6-6-43 from RAF at Newmarket. |
| EF408 | AA | P | Stirling | III | Delivered 21-5-43, also AA-P from RAF at Newmarket. Shot down target Mulheim 22.6.43; crew killed. “F/S B.B. Wood Sgt. S.L. Webb F/S G.K. Samson F/S S.R. Bisset Sgt. E.H. Reader Sgt. F. J. Hobbs Sgt. C.B. Hemmings” t/o 2340 Newmarket. Hit by flak and crashed near Gelsenkirchen, where all are buried in the Bismark Friedhof. Their graves are now in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. Data and code AA from Chorley. |
| EF426 | ?? | W | ? | ? | Serial and ‘W’ in ‘The Stirling Story – MJF Bowyer. |
| EF435 | JN | J > Y? | Stirling | III | Delivered 12-6-43, also coded J from RAF at Newmarket. “JN-J” from Combat Report 27/28.7.43 White crew attacked by JU.88, target Hamburg. “J” from Combat Report 30/31.7.43 White crew attacked by unid t/e e/a, claimed as damaged, target Remscheid. “Y” from Combat Report 5/6.9.43 (recorded as EF434 in the Form 541) Batger crew attacked by three Me.109s, one claimed as probably destroyed, target Mannheim. Destroyed ME109 target Mannheim 6.9.43? Hit by flak and fighter target Berlin 23.8.43; some crew baled out, RG killed, aircraft crash landed at base. “I am researching the Berlin Raid of 23/24 August 1943 and am trying to trace two UK airmen, F/S Cyril Allan Worledge [573978], the Flight Engineer, and F/O Timothy James Collins [199742], Mid-upper Gunner, who returned, with the pilot, to the 75 NZ Squadron base of Mepal on their severely damaged Stirling aircraft EF435 JN:J. The three airmen were decorated. There are now unfortunately no surviving New Zealand crew members from the mission. They had baled out over Germany to become POW’s. |
| EF436 | AA | A | Stirling | III | Code AA_A from Bomber Command database. Delivered 13-6-43from RAF at Newmarket. Shot down mining Frisian Islands 5.7.43; crew killed. |
| EF440 | ?? | ? | Stirling | III | To 620 Sqn, 1653CU. |
| EF443 | ?? | M | ? | ? | Serial and ‘M’ in ‘The Stirling Story – MJF Bowyer. |
| EF446 | ?? | O | ? | ? | Serial and ‘O’ in ‘The Stirling Story – MJF Bowyer. |
| EF451 | ?? | ? | Stirling | III | To 620 Sqn. |
| EF454 | ?? | A > C | Stirling | III | “A” from Combat Report 31.8/1.9.43 Hartstein crew attacked by Ju.88, claimed as damaged, target Berlin. “C” from Combat Report 6/7.1.44 Carey crew attacked by Ju.88, claimed as damaged, target mining Gironde Est.. O 1657CU. ‘A’ in ‘The Stirling Story – MJF Bowyer. |
| EF456 | ?? | H | Stirling | III | H’ in ‘The Stirling Story – MJF Bowyer.To 1657CU. |
| EF458 | ?? | ? | Stirling | III | To 90 Sqn. |
| EF461 | Mis-type of BF461 | ||||
| EF462 | ?? | M | Stirling | III | “M” from Combat Report 8/9.10.43 Humphries crew attacked by Ju.88, claimed as probably damaged, target Bremen. To 218 Sqn, 1653CU. |
| EF464 | ?? | ? | Stirling | III | Damaged JU88 target mining 7.1.43. |
| EF465 | ?? | H | Stirling | III | “H” from Combat Report 27/28.9.43 Burton crew attacked by Ju.88, claimed as destroyed, target Hannover. To 75, then to 513 sqn, back to 75 and then 1651, 1657CU. |
| EF466 | AA | H/K | Stirling | III | Coded AA-H from RAF at Newmarket. From CRD, BDU, AAEE, 75 and to 1653CU. Code from ww2images.com |
| EF491 | AA | O | Stirling | III | “O” from Combat Report 30/31.8.43 (recorded as BF491 in the Form 541) Batger crew attacked by unid e/a, target Munchen-Gladbach. Probable acft target Munchen-Gladbach 31.8.43. “F/S H. Batger Sgt. R. Dalkins F/S G. Reade Sgt. F. Stewart Sgt. T. Nation Sgt. C. Billington Sgt. J. Manns” t/o 2025 Mepal. Came under fire E of Osnabruck, believed from another Stirling, sustaining damage to the port outer engine. Turned for home and while over the North Sea fought off an attack from a ME110. Crash-landed at Coltishall airfield, Norfolk. No injuries reported. Data and code AA-O from Chorley. |
| EF501 | AA | K | Stirling | III | Probable ME110 target Munchen-Gladbach 31.8.43. Same crew shot down target Berlin 1.9.43; crew killed except 2 POW. Code AA from Simon Sommerville site. “F/S S.A. McGregor Sgt. G.A.A. Bond F/O J.B. Lovelock F/S W.A. Kilby F/S J.G. Baker Sgt. G.F. Dummett Sgt. T. Grange” t/o 2023 Mepal. Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed at Potsdam. Those who died have no known graves. Data from Chorley. |
| EF507 | ?? | P | Stirling | III | “P” from Combat Report 27/28.9.43 Andrews crew attacked by unid t/e e/a, target Hannover. “P” from Combat Report 18/19.11.43 (recorded in Form 541 as EK507) Allen crew attacked by two unid s/e e/a, target Ludwigshaven. To 1332CU. |
| EF512 | AA | A | Stirling | III | “AA-A” from Combat Report 18/19.11.43 Spiers crew attacked by Me.109, claimed as damaged, target Ludwigshaven. “A” from Combat Report 28/29.1.44 Baker crew attacked by Me.110, M/U/Gnr and F/E wounded, target mining Kiel Bay, crash landed at Coltishall. To 1661CU. |
| EF513 | ?? | E | Stirling | III | To 75 and then to 1657CU. “E” from Combat Report 22/23.10.43 McKenzie crew attacked by unid e/a, target mining Friesian Is.. Code from Simon Sommerville site. |
| EF514 | AA | D | Stirling | III | “D” and “A Flight” from Combat Report 10/11.11.43 McKenzie crew attacked by Ju.88, claimed as damaged, target mining Gironde Est.. To 199 and then 1651CU. |
| EF515 | AA | F | Stirling | III | Shot down target Hanover 27.9.43; 1 killed and 6 POW. “Sgt. R.E. Martin Sgt. C.A. Smith Sgt. H.C. Dwight Sgt. E. McKay Sgt. W. Harries Sgt. A.R. Bangs Sgt. R.F. Summerhayes” t/o 1942 Mepal. Crashed in the vicinity of Haverbeck-Hamelin. Sgt. Bangs lies in Hannover War Cemetery. Sgt. Smith died in captivity on 8th April 1944; he rests in Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery. Two others, Sgt. McKay RNZAF and Sgt. Summerhayes RNZAF, were repatriated on 6th February 1945, arriving at Liverpool aboard the Arundel Castle. Data and code AA-F from Chorley. |
| EF915 | AA | X | Stirling | III | “F/S J.N. Darney F/L L.C. Dive-Robinson F/S R.J. Stone Sgt. R.C.G. Evans Sgt. G.C. Davies F/O P.S.A. St.Ledger Sgt. T.J. Vercoe” t/o 2234 Mepal. Lost without trace. All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. F/L Dive-Robinson was the Squadron’s Flight Engineer Leader. Data and code AA-X from Chorley. |
| EF929 | ?? | ? | Stirling | III | To 75 and then to 15 Sqn and 1661CU. |
| EF930 | ?? | ? | Stirling | III | To 75 and then to 15, 199 Sqn and 1661CU. |
| EH877 | JN | C | Stirling | III | Delivered 8-5-43, also coded C from RAF at Newmarket. “C” from Combat Report 23/24.8.43 Burley crew attacked by unid e/a, claimed as damaged, target Berlin. “JN-C” from Combat Report 5/6.9.43 Whitmore crew attacked by one Me.109, claimed as probably destroyed, and two unid s/e e/a, target Mannheim. Destroyed an acft target 6.9.43. Same crew shot down target Hanover 27.9.43; 6 killed and 1 POW. Code from FYTomorrow, confirmed Code from Simon Sommerville site. “P/O R.C. Whitmore Sgt. J.B. Beresford F/O D.M. Adamsom Sgt. H. Munn Sgt. F.C. Cowan Sgt. F.J.C. Chesson P/O T.H. Waerea” t/o 1957 Mepal. Crashed at Sartedt Moor, 18 km SSE of Hannover, where those who died are buried in the War Cemetery. Data from Chorley. |
| EH808 | ?? | ? | ? | ? | Serial in ‘The Stirling Story – MJF Bowyer. EH880? |
| EH880 | AA | D > J | Stirling | III | Coded AA-L also from RAF at Newmarket. “D” from Combat Report 11/12.6.43 Whitehead crew attacked by Ju.88, claimed as damaged, target Dusseldorf. Different crew damaged an acft target Turin 17.8.43. “J” from Combat Report 31.8/1.9.43 A. Alexander crew attacked by two Me.109s, one claimed as destroyed, one damaged, target Berlin. “J” from Combat Report 4/5.10.43 S/L Joll crew attacked by Me.109, claimed as possibly damaged, target Frankfurt. Crashed into house while attempting to land at Acklington 1.12.43; target was mining Denmark. Codes from S Sommerville. To 149 Sqn 14-5-43 from RAF at Newmarket. |
| EH881 | AA | Z | Stirling | III | Delivered 15-6-43 from RAF at Newmarket. Damaged ME109 target Berlin 1.9.43? Shot down target Wuppertal 29.5.43; 3 killed and 4 POW. A rare flying log book This is the book of 404079 Flight Sergeant Norman Alexander MacLeod 75 NZ Squadron. He was killed in action 30 May 1943 aged 26.MacLeod served as the rear gunner aboard Stirling III bomber EH881/Z. On the night of 29/30 May 1943, his was one of 719 aircraft to take part in a raid on Wuppertal, Germany. 36 planes were lost, including EH881, which crashed at Aachen, in the eastern district of Eilendorf. The flight engineer, navigator, air bomber, and wireless operator survived and were captured. The captain and both air gunners were buried in the local cemetery initially but later reinterred at Rheinberg. At the time of his death, MacLeod had logged 460 hours’ flight time but was only on his first operation. The Captain was Flight Sgt J H R CAREY (killed). Crew were AB Sgt P G Knight (POW), Nav Sgt J L Roberts (POW), WOP Slight Sgt M Brady (POW), FE Sgt T Beaver (POW but repatriated), MU Flight Sgt W A Ownes (KIA), Rear Gunner Flight Sgt N A MacLeod (KIA). It is an ironic and cruel twist of fate that this crew were essentially the complete (apart from F/S Owens) surviving members of the extended crew of BF398 AA-P, which crashed on the 16th May, just outside of Stoke-on-Trent. One must sumise that Leslie Wright, who was killed in the previous accident was taking this new crew on a training flight. the only other airman killed in that accident was Alan Francis, the crew’s rear gunner – for this op, he had been replaced by William Owens.” |
| EH886 | ?? | J | Stirling | III | Delivered 15-6-43 from RAF at Newmarket. “J” from Combat Report 12/13.8.43 (recorded in Form 541 as EH880) Wyatt crew attacked by unid e/a, claimed as damaged, target Turin. |
| EH889 | AA | Z | Stirling | III | Delivered 15-6-43, also coded Z from RAF at Newmarket. Shot down target Mulheim 22.6.43; crew killed. “F/L T.F. McCrorie Sgt. E. Grainger P/O W. Stuckey Sgt. J.L. Richards WO2 R.E Tod WO2 R.D. Tod Sgt. R.A. Kennedy” t/o 2348 Newmarket. Shot down by a night-fighter (Obit Lthar Linke, IV./NJG1) and fell 0026 into the Ijsselmeer. F/L McCrorie lies in Hemelumeroldeferd (Molkwerum) Protestant Curchyard; P/O Stuckey rests in Wonseradeel (Makkum) Protestant Churchyard and the Tod twins lie in Medemblik General Cemetery. Sgt. Kennedy is buried at Wieringermeer (Middenmeer) General Cemetery, while the others are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. WO2 R.E. Tod’s award was gazetted on 7th May 1943. Data and code AA-Z from Chorley. |
| EH901 | JN | O/R | Stirling | III | Delivered 8-6-43, also coded O from RAF at Newmarket. O from Simon Somerville, https://75nzsquadron.wordpress.com/75nz-squadron-raf/. “O” from Combat Report 23/24.8.43 Wilkinson crew attacked by Ju.88, claimed as damaged, target Berlin. Different crew damaged an acft target Turin 17.8.43. Damaged JU88 target Berlin 24.8.43. To 1657CU. ‘R’ in ‘The Stirling Story – MJF Bowyer. JN-R from Arthur Bernard, rear Gunner with Alan Single’s crew. |
| EH902 | AA | K | Stirling | III | Delivered 8-6-43, also coded K from RAF at Newmarket. Shot down target Wuppertal 24.6.43; crew killed. “P/O N.B. Bluck Sgt. J.W. Gillard F/S J.B. Cooksey F/S G.W. Strong Sgt. M. Kendlan Sgt. D. Armitage Sgt. L.R. Cant” t/o 2323 Newmarket. Shot down, either by flak or by a night-fighter, crashed into the sea off Wissenkerke on the Dutch Island of Beveland. Four are buried in Vlissingen Northern Cemetery and three rest at Bergen op Zoom War Cemetery. Data and code AA from Chorley. |
| EH905 | AA | R | Stirling | III | Delivered 14-6-43, also coded R from RAF at Newmarket. Hit by bombs from above on 1/9/1943 and crashed (according to German KE Report) near the Autobahn(Berlin ring road)at the crossroads of Ludwigsfelde and Vorwerk Genshagen. The crew were as follows, Sgt P/O G.V. Helm Pilot + F/Sgt, J.G.A. Fisk B/A + F/Sgt, D.M. Stewart Nav. + Sgt. O. McCoo F/E + Sgt.A.J. Bishop W/O +Sgt.G.T. Buglass M/ UG P.O.W Sgt F.T.J. Harries T/G P.O.W The 5 dead (+) were buried along with 7 crew from Stirling 111 EE879 OJ-G of 149 Sqdn and 5 crew from Lancaster ED 986 AR-JZ of 460 Sqdn at 22.30 hours on 3/9/1943 in the Russian P.O.W Cemetery at Ludwigsfelde Heide The MRES investigation found the graves of the (17) deceased air crews on the east side outside the actual cemetery in sandy ground which had been levelled and there were no crosses or markings of any kind.Five “Coffins “with 5.3,2.2. and 4 bodies in them were located by prodding the sandy ground with poles. t/o 2032 Mepal. Hit by bombs over the target and crashed at Ludwigsfields, 16km SE of Potsdam. Those who perished now rest in Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery – from Chorley. |
| EH908 | ?? | R | ? | ? | Serial and ‘R’ in ‘The Stirling Story – MJF Bowyer. |
| EH928 | AA | M/A | Stirling | III | Shot down by nightfighter, target Hamburg 2.8.43; crew killed. Code shown as ‘A’ in ForYTommorow’. Code AA-A from Bomber Command database. “P/O C.P. Bailie F/S J. Thomson Sgt. W.H. Thomson F/O W. Turner Sgt. J. Isherwood Sgt. E. Millward Sgt. T. Purdie Sgt. E.F. Hunting ” t/o 2314 Mepal. Shot down by a night-fighter (Hptm Hans Joachim Jabs, IV./NJG1) and crashed into the sea off Terschelling. P/O Bailie is buried in Lemvig Cemetery, Denmark, his crew are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. Data and code AA-A from Chorley. ‘A’ in ‘The Stirling Story – MJF Bowyer. |
| EH935 | JN | K | Stirling | III | “K” from Combat Report 30/31.8.43 Logan crew attacked by Me.110, claimed as possibly destroyed, target Munchen-Gladbach. Different crew shot down target Mannheim 23.9.43; crew killed except 2 POW. “F/O L.J. Kirkpatrick Sgt. C.P. Ellins F/O H.P. Sands F/O W.R.A. Mason Sgt. J.E. Hoey Sgt. J. Elliott F/S W.L. Jarvis” t/o 1952 Mepal. Crashed between Edesheim and Knoringen, 9km S of Neustadt. Those who died lie in Rhineberg War Cemetery. Sgt. Elliot was repatriated on 6th February 1945, arriving home aboard the Arundel Castle. Data and codes JN-K from Chorley. |
| EH936 | JN | W | Stirling | III | Possibly ‘T’? Sgt H Williams and crew damaged 2 JU88s on Dortmund raid 24.5.43 in ‘T’, destroyed a FW190 in EH936 26.7.43 on Essen raid and apparently damaged an acft Bremen raid 9.10.43??. “?” from Combat Report 25/26.7.43 H. Williams crew attacked by unid s/e e/a, claimed as destroyed, then by unid t/e e/a, target Essen. Shot down target Mannheim 23.9.43; different crew killed. “F/L G. Turner F/O K. Albiston Sgt. J.S. Thomson Sgt. A.H. Cleghorn F/O A.D. Howlett Sgt. M.V. Bloxham Sgt. R. Wilks F/S C.F. McRae” t/o 1926 Mepal. Crashed at dirmstein, 8 km NW of Frankenthal. All are buried in Rheinberg War Cemetery. Data and codes JN from Chorley. |
| EH937 | ?? | S | ? | ? | Serial and ‘S’ in ‘The Stirling Story – MJF Bowyer. |
| EH938 | AA | F | Stirling | III | Shot down target Munchen-Gladbach 30.8.43; crew killed except 1 evaded. “F/S V.T. Parkin Sgt. T. Silcock F/S T. Watters Sgt. R.V.C. Johnson Sgt.W. Horrigan Sgt. R.F. Grove Sgt. A.F. Saunders” t/o 0019 Mepal. Crashed at Lommel (Limburg) Belgium. Funerals for those who died were held at St-Truiden; their graves are now in Heverlee War Cemetery. Data and codes AA from Chorley. |
| EH939 | JN | J | Stirling | III | To 90 Sqn and 1653CU. “J” from Combat Report 30/31.8.43 S/L Broadbent crew attacked by unid e/a, target Munchen-Gladbach. Confirmed JN-J from photo from Simon Sommerville site. |
| EH942 | ?? | ? | Stirling | III | Not in Stirling File as 75 sqn. |
| EH944 | ?? | A | ? | ? | Serial and ‘A’ in ‘The Stirling Story – MJF Bowyer. |
| EH946 | ?? | ? | Stirling | III | To 75 and then to 620 Sqn. |
| EH947 | ?? | ? | Stirling | III | Control lost after outer engines failed at 600′ on return from special operation. Crashed at Hicklingham, Suffolk 11.4.44. |
| EH948 | AA | Q | Stirling | III | Code AA-Q from Bomber Command database. “Q” from Combat Report 27/28.8.43 Phillips crew attacked by Ju.88, target Nuremburg. Shot down mining Kiel Bay 24.4.44; crew killed. |
| EH949 | JN/AA | P | Stirling | III | Seen 2.3.43 ‘Bombing Colours’. To 75 sqn and then to 1651CU. Simon Somerville lists as ‘AA’. From ‘The Stirling Story’ – Michael JF Bowyer: ‘EH949, a standard MK.III, wore smooth mid-war finish, had Dull Red letters and the usual reduced number of fuselage windows aft. Assigned to 75(NZ) Squadron, Mepal, on 18 July 1943, it was recorded on the 20 August carrying the identity letters JN-P of 75 Squadron ‘C’ Flight. EH949 participated in some of the last Main Force raids, against Turin (16th) and subsequently Peenemunde (18th), Berlin (23rd and 31st), Monchengladbach (30th), Mannheim(5 september), Montlucon (15th), Modane (16th) and Hannover (22nd). “JN-P” from Combat Report 22/23.9.43 S/L Turner crew attacked by unid e/a, target Hannover. “JN-P/R?” from Combat Report 25/26.2.44 Willis crew attacked by five Ju.88s, target mining Baltic. When low flying on 4 december a propellor blade clipped a tree top and the aircraft landed back on three engines. Soon repaired, EH949 laid mines in Biscay on 16 December 1943. After more activity its final operation, against Aulnoye marshalling yards, was flown on 25 march 1944. Eh949 was assigned to 1651 HCU on 29 April upon which day, when taking off from Witchford, its port undercarriage leg collapsed and the aircraft was categorised AC. It returned to training service and then on 6 November 1944 was transferred to 1660 HCU. This active Stirling was struck off charge on 24 April 1945. |
| EH955 | AA | K | Stirling | III | Code AA-K from Bomber Command database. Shot down by nightfighter over Denmark on return from mining Kiel Bay 23.4.44; 4 crew killed and 3 POW. |
| EJ108 | AA | O | Stirling | III | “O” from Combat Report 4/5.11.43 Witting crew attacked by unid e/a, R/Gnr F/S Walter Hurdle killed, target mining Baltic. Photos of EJ108 with Witting crew (skyhawkdon, WONZ). To 75 and then to 1657CU. From website http://www.sweffling.freeserve.co.uk/glemham.htm… As a result of the above account appearing here I was contacted by Mrs Russell, from New Zealand, regarding her uncle F/Sgt Walter Hurdle. Prior to being on the strength on 1657 CU, the Stirling had been with 75(NZ) Sqn. It was at this time F/Sgt Hurdle had flown and died in EJ108. Posted to the squadron at Mepal on 8th September 1943, he became the Rear Gunner on F/O Eric Witting’s crew. All were novices, the others had only arrived at the sqn a few days earlier. New crews were often sent on mine laying, ‘gardening’, sorties, as they were regarded as safer for new crews to gain experience on. Their first was such a trip, in EE958, to the Gironde estuary, on 18th September. Together they also flew six operations in EJ108. Going twice to Hanover, once each to Kassel and Mannheim and on two more mine laying flights, both to the Kattegat. The second of these was on 4th November 1943, unable to lay the mines due to bad weather and cloud cover. As they returned they were attacked by a nightfighter, it made at least one pass during which the aircraft was badly damaged and F/Sgt Hurdle was killed. F/O Witting was able to regain control and returned to Mepal airfield, jettisoning the mines en-route.
Walter Hurdle was buried in Cambridge City Cemetery, here he remains one of 829 Commonwealth servicemen buried there. EJ108 sustained extensive damage, the starboard flap was shot away, the port elevator was almost severed, the rear turret was badly damaged and large holes were left in the fuselage. She was repaired and returned to the squadron on 13th December 1943, but was not used on operations again until 27th January 1944. She flew a total of 26 operations with 75(NZ) Sqn before being posted to 1657 CU. |
| LJ441 | ?? | ? | Stirling | III | To 75 and then to 1653CU. |
| LJ442 | JN | F | Stirling | III | Shot down target Leverkusen 19.11.43; 2 evaded, 1 POW and 4 killed. “F/S N.N. Parker Sgt. S. Watkins Sgt. R.E. Griffiths F/S J.E. Hyde P/O W.R. Kell Sgt. W. Gilfillan Sgt. M.I.R. Day” t/o 1701 Mepal. Shot down by a night-fighter (Lt. Otto Fries, 5/NJG1) and crashed at Horrues (Hainaut), 4km NW of Soignies, Belgium. Those who died rest in Chievres Communal Cemetery. From Chorley. |
| LJ453 | AA | K | Stirling | III | From 15 Sqn. Shot down target Berlin 22.11.43; crew killed. Code from FYTomorrow. “F/S A.R. Single Sgt. I.G. Holbrook F/O J. Brothwell F/S J.E.S. Margetts F/S E.R. Whittington Sgt. V.S. Hughes F/S A.G. Bernard” t/o 1714 Mepal. Crashed between Gemmerich and Dolberg, 6km SSE of Ahlen. All lie in Rheinberg War Cemetery. Data and codes AA from Chorley. Confirmed AA-K from Arthur Bernard, rear Gunner with Alan Single’s crew |
| LJ457 | ?/ | ? | Stirling | III | To 75 and then to 1657CU. |
| LJ462 | AA | O | Stirling | III | Coded AA from Bomber Command database. From 15 Sqn. “O” from Combat Report 19/20.11.43 (recorded in Form 541 as EH943) Horgan crew attacked by Fw.190, and Ju.88, the latter claimed as damaged, target Leverkusen. Different crew shot down mining St. Nazaire 13.3.44; crew killed. |
| LJ473 | AA | R | Stirling | III | Code AA-R from Bomber Command database. On overshoot at Mepal on return from mining N of Biarritz, swung into steep turn and had to belly-land 5.1.44. |
| LK378 | ?? | ? | Stirling | III | RG lost over target when starboard tailplane, elevator and turret shot away by flak, target Kassel 3.10.43. Not in Stirling File but definitely on sqn as flown by S/L Gibb, S.Galloway on 30-12-43 and 29-2-44. |
| LK384 | JN | X | Stirling | III | From ORBS, appears consistently with the Young crew. Through Simon, identified as JN-X and more interestingly, it had a name……
‘Our crew was allocated the Stirling bomber JN ‘X‘ for X-ray in ‘C‘ Flight with the logo, ‘ Excuse please Mr, I go, I come back’, a catch phrase taken from the radio show, Tommy Handley’s ‘lTMA’.’ |
| MZ262 | ?? | K | ? | ? | Serial and ‘K’ in ‘The Stirling Story – MJF Bowyer. |
| RAF at Newmarket = The Royal Air Force at Newmarket 1939 – 1947 (first and second editions) by John F Hamlin. Date? | |||||
75(nz)squadron 
EE 905 AA-R (AS LATER STATED) SHOULD READ EH 905 AA-R WHICH WAS HIT BY BOMBS FROM ABOVE ON 1/9/1943 AND CRASHED(according to German KE Report) near the Autobahn(Berlin ring road)at the crossroads of Ludwigsfelde and Vorwerk Genshagen.
The crew were as follows,
Sgt P/O G.V. Helm Pilot +
F/Sgt, J.G.A. Fisk B/A +
F/Sgt, D.M. Stewart Nav. +
Sgt. O. McCoo F/E +
Sgt.A.J. Bishop W/O +
Sgt.G.T. Buglass M/ UG P.O.W
Sgt F.T.J. Harries T/G P.O.W
The 5 dead (+) were buried along with 7 crew from Stirling 111 EE879 OJ-G of 149 Sqdn and 5 crew from Lancaster ED 986 AR-JZ of 460 Sqdn
at 22.30 hours on 3/9/1943 in the Russian P.O.W Cemetery at Ludwigsfelde Heide
The MRES investigation found the graves of the (17) deceased air crews on the east side outside the actual cemetery in sandy ground which had been levelled and there were no crosses or markings of any kind.Five “Coffins “with 5.3,2.2. and 4 bodies in them were located by prodding the sandy ground with poles.
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What a veritable mine of information! Amazing!!
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Simon
I have left a comment regarding ee897
I see the aircraft listing was updated on 30th september i notice the crew listing for ee897 is incorrect can you shed any light
regards
simon
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Hi Simon
I passed on your original query about this to Ian – but not heard anything back yet ……
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Thank you for this information. In my 70th year, I am finally following up on my uncle, Alfred John Thomas, Pilot Officer on Stirlings who died over Germany on the night of 30/31 July 1943. I just put in the date his name and the town and there was all this information. I do have some additional information but also wonder if anyone else does too. I can email more at another time. Gratefully, Lyn
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I have a photo of Stirling 3 ‘The Bad Penny’ with code ‘J’ clearly visible on nose lying on its belly at Mepal – all propellers were turning at time of impact. Can anyone tell me about this incident.
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Hello Richard – obviously I would love to present the picture you speak of if you would like to share it with the readers of the blog – I believe the a/c in question may have been Stirling Mk.III EF435 JN-J – though I did not know it had the name of ‘Bad Penny’.
From the Form 541 diary entry for the Berlin Op 23rd of August 1943:
“The aircraft captained by F/Sgt. WHITE, O.H. whilst approaching the target area was coned by searchlights and repeatedly hit by heavy A.A. fire, sustaining considerable damage to port mainplane. He continued towards the target though still coned by searchlights and was then attacked by a JU88 sustaining hits in the rear of the fuselage which shattered the rear turret and killed Rear Gunner Sgt. Poole, J.. The aircraft was forced into an uncontrollable dive and the captain warned his crew ‘Prepare to abandon the aircraft’. Unfortunately, in the middle of this order the inter-communication failed, and the Navigator, Air Bomber and Wireless Operator abandoned the aircraft, due to the fact that they were unable to contact their Captain. F/Sgt. WHITE jettisoned his bomb load whilst in the dive directly over the target area, managed to regain control of the aircraft when height had been lost down to 6,000ft. The captain and two remaining members of the crew after taking stock of the damage decided to attempt the long and hazardous return journey to base. This they did successfully and made a perfect crash landing at base without lights, flaps or under carriage, as the electrical leads were shot away.”
I hope this is of interest to you and I look forward to seeing the picture
best
Simon
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Stirling R 9200 My dad Group Captain Michal wasse piloted this plane on 28 November 1943 with 7 crew and carried out low level attack on Fiat factory in Turin . Comment in log book “Stupid idea ! At that time he was in command at No 149 squadron Lakenheath.
Then 13 January 1943 successful trip on Lorient submarine base before being posted to command 75 Squadron at Newmarket on 7 april 43
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Hi, my Dad, Arthur Smith (1386088) was one of the airmen who baled out over Berlin on the 23/24th August 1943. In EF435 JN-J. He became a PoW (222644) at Stalag IVB. I am trying to build up a story about his RAF life. Tim Collins was my Dad’s best man but I don’t have any other information about him.
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