Group Photograph, Air Gunners, Mepal 1945

With Both Ted Smith (second row from front, 5th from right)) and Norman Allen (second row from front, 4th from left) present in this photograph, I believe this to be a group photograph of Air Gunners, taken at Mepal sometime between March and June 1945. © Matt Smith

After my previous post about John ‘Ted’ Smith, I think its worth a re-post of one of the images. As I said in the last post, I have a very strong feeling that because of the presence of both Ted Smith and Russell Bank’s Rear Gunner, Norman Allen that this is another ‘trade’ group photograph from Mepal – this time of the Squadron Air Gunners. Based on the respective periods that Ted and Norman were at Mepal, this photograph could have been taken between March and June 1945. If anybody is able to identify any other individuals in this photograph then me might be able to narrow the date down further, though my gut feeling, as with the other photographs from 1945 is that it is probably round March.

I have added a numbered version of this photograph to the ‘Group Photographs’ section of the blog and as with all photographs in this section, once the page has loaded, if you click on the image, it will load larger and you should see your cursor has changed to a magnifying glass – click on the image again and you have zoomed into the maximum limit of the image – hopefully we can identify some more of the Squadron Air Gunners.

Go straight to look at the photograph here.

John ‘Ted’ Smith, Rear Gunner – Milsom crew (and Banks crew it would seem….)

The photograph that started it all……..Ted Smith (Hop Head), Norman Allen, Jimmy Wood, Russell Banks, John Mossman (standing), Jock Fraser and Maurice Wiggins. © Jimmy Wood

At the end of July last year I posted this photograph from Jimmy Wood’s photo album of the Banks crew. The photograph had caused me a degree of frustration because (at the time) I couldn’t understand the presence of the individual stood up behind Jock Fraser and Maurice Wiggins. A signature  ‘J. B. Mossman’ seemed to make no sense to me – research indicating that this individual was possibly F/Sgt John Edward Barry Mossman, RNZAF NZ42112587, Wireless Operator with Wi Rangiuaia’s crew. I was also vexed by a second signature which seemed to read ‘Ted Smith ‘Hop Head” – this signature seemed all the more strange as it was next to Jack Britnell…..

I am pleased to report that my wonderings have been, at least partly answered. I have been contacted by John and Matt, Son and Nephew respectively of John ‘Ted’ Smith, Rear Gunner with the Milsom crew and latterly also it would appear, with the Banks crew…..Many thanks also to them for supplying some fantastic pictures of Ted, both from the War period and before it.

Read my original post about the Milsom crew here.

Clearly in hindsight, a fundamental mistake I was making was to assume that the individual next to the signature ‘Ted Smith’ was Jack Britnell – obviously, I now understand it was Ted!

I have become acutely aware, that errors do exist in the ORB’s and the problem I suppose I and others have is that we have to take what is recorded in them on face value. If I take my own knowledge of the Zinzan crew, I know that 2 entries concerning the identity of the Air Bomber are incorrect – Dad flew these 2 Ops, but the ORB’s list another individual for one and someone with the same surname for the other – its only because I have his logbook that I know the information to be wrong. I say this, because this post potentially throws up another inaccuracy regarding Ted Smith and John Mossman and the Banks crew. What follows is what individuals have told me and what I have gleaned from the ORB’s – and to put no finer point on the fact that they are utterly contradictory – however as I have already observed from personal experience with Dad, given the toss up between the ORB’s and known fact – its probably better to go with the known fact…….

Now, whilst my questions have been partly answered, they have thrown up another mystery – despite the fact that John and Matt say that Ted is in the the photograph because he flew with the Banks crew – and one must assume the same for John Mossman, there appears to be no evidence of this in the ORB of this. The story is further and tantalisingly complicated by a message from Jimmy Woods, Air Bomber with the Banks crew, via his son Roger, that John Mossman did fly with the Banks crew.

Based on a 3-way scouring of the 1945 Form 541’s:
Banks crew – Norman Allen and Jack Britnell are listed as flying in every Op with the Banks crew as Mid Upper and Rear Gunner respectively apart from in 3 cases. 3rd and 7th of May, Jack, then Norman flies as Rear Gunner for 2 ‘Manna’ Ops (these did not utilise Mid Upper Gunners). on the 14th of May (Exodus), Jack Britnell is replaced by Charlie Carey as Rear Gunner.

Milsom crew – The two ‘Johns’, Williamson and Smith, fly every Op, apart from the 2nd of May, when as standard for a ‘Manna’ Op, only Ted Smith flies, as Rear Gunner.

Rangiuia crew – John Mossman flies all Ops with the crew apart from 2. These are on the 10th and 12th of May and are ‘Exodus’ flights to Juvincourt in France. On both occasions, his position as WIreless Operator is taken by Pat Wilson.

Having looked at the crew histories like this, I now simply have no idea whatsoever what is going on, part from the terrifying thought that significant portions of the ‘541 are simply wrong.

‘But……….’, I hear you ask, ‘The 541 stop at June – Russ Banks, Ted Smith and John Mossman didn’t leave till July 1945, perhaps some of these flights were in July???….’

A slim chance perhaps – but Norman, Jimmy, Alex and Jack had left Mepal by the end of June – which means they simply couldn’t have been there to be in these photographs…..

Tantalisingly, Matt has passed on another  crew photo that was in Jimmy Wood’s photo album, showing the boys of the Banks crew, both including Ted and John Mossman…..

The Banks crew in front of LM276 AA-S. Back row, left to right – Ted Smith, Jimmy Wood, Russell Banks and Maurice Wiggins. Front row, left to right – Norman Allen, John Mossman and Jock Fraser. © Matt Smith

Based on the ORB’s, The Banks crew flew LM276 AA-S 8 times (one occasion, incorrectly listed in the ORB as ‘D’ on the 7th May). This is the only ‘S’ the crew flew, so we must therefore assume that the aircraft certainly in the picture above is LM276. Between the 27th March (Hamm) and the 14th of May (Juvincourt), the Banks crew flew 10 Ops – 7 of which were in LM276. The only other time the crew flew this aircraft was on the 28th of February to Gelsenkirchen – the Milsom crew did not arrive at Mepal until the 6th of March.

During this ’10 Op period’, the Milsom crew fly 8 times – however, there is a disparity of Ops in April – the Banks crew fly only 3 against the Milsom crew’s 5. In May, the Banks crew fly 6 times, against 3 for the Milsom crew. Whilst through absolutely no proof or argument whatsoever, it might be during May that  Ted might have picked a up a few Ops with the crew – additionally, overall looking at the 2 crew’s Ops history , they appear ‘out of sync’ as it were. I have noticed that certainly towards the latter stages of the war, the larger number of crews on station seem to suggest rotated groups of aircrew, that fly as ‘sets’  on raids – these ‘sets’ seem to, broadly speaking, dovetail between each other in the Ops in the ORB.

The Banks crew in front of an unidentified aircraft. Back row, left to right – John Mossman, Jimmy Wood, Maurice Wiggins and Russell Banks. Front row, left to right – Jock Fraser, Ted Smith and Norman Allen. © Matt Smith

Additionally to these crew photographs, Matt has also passed on the following group training photograph taken whilst Ted was  in Canada.

A group training photograph from Canada of Air Gunners, Ted Smith, standing furthest to the right. © Matt Smith

With Both Ted Smith (second row from front, 5th from right)) and Norman Allen (second row from front, 4th from left) present in this photograph, I believe this to be a group photograph of Air Gunners, taken at Mepal sometime between March and June 1945. © Matt Smith

This second  photograph I think is potentially the most interesting. Ted can be seen in this picture, second row from the front, fifth from right. Initially I wondered if this was possibly another training group photograph, however on closer inspection, I realised that also on the second row from the front, this time fourth from left is, (I am pretty sure) Norman Allen, A/G with the Banks crew. The arrival of the Milsom and Banks crew at Mepal are  a month apart, so I am disinclined to believe that this is a training group photograph and that perhaps this is actually a  Squadron photograph of Air Gunners from Mepal, one would assume close to the end of the war. Based on a comment Chris made on the full Squadron photograph couple of weeks ago, a figure of approximately 70 crews were at Mepal by the end of the war – if one assumes that by this point the aircraft were essentially ‘double crewed’ the number of individuals in this photograph would be about right – I think…….

I would be fascinated if anybody can either prove or disprove this theory (having shown the picture to Kevin, he tends to agree with my theory) – if anybody can recognise any more 75(NZ) Air Gunners in the photograph, then it must be another photograph for the ‘Group Collection’

 

Ted in competition for the Ashburton Motorcycle Club, pre-war. © Matt Smith

In correspondence with John, he said that Ted was a bit of a motorcycle nut. Ted was Mid Canterbury Motorcycle Club champion several years running in the late 1930’s – what would be today’s moto-cross.  He worked as a motor cycle mechanic pre and post war.  John says he certainly wouldn’t be surprised if someone has some stories about Ted and motorcycles at Mepal!

Landing, or taking off?? © Matt Smith

Ted in his racing top from when he rode for the Ashburton Motorcycle Club (AMCC). © Matt Smith

A group photograph of the Ashburton Motorcycle Club – Ted is sat on his bike far left. © Matt Smith

So, as always, if anybody reads this and can shed light on this little conundrum, I and I am sure Matt and John, would love to hear from you.

Bomber Command Clasp presentation to veterans

Sir Andrew Pulford KCB CBE ADC, Chief of the Air Staff visited Northern Ireland and presented the Bomber Command Clasp to, on the left, Ronnie Allen, son of Norman Allen and to the right, to John McFarland’s wife Elizabeth.

Many thanks to David for passing on these lovely photographs of family members of Bomber Command veterans receiving the Bomber Command Clasp.

Sir Andrew Pulford KCB CBE ADC, Chief of the Air Staff visited Northern Ireland on St Patrick’s Day and presented Bomber Command Clasps at a ceremony at Hillsborough Castle.   Unfortunately 75 (NZ) Squadron veteran John McFarland was unable to attend as he was in hospital, and the clasp was presented to his wife Elizabeth.   Ronnie Allen, son of the late Norman Allen another 75 (NZ) Squadron veteran received his late father’s clasp.

Also in attendance to receive the clasp in person was Alfie Martin, a great friend of John McFarland. Alfie, who can be seen wearing his D.F.C. along with his other medals was an Air Bomber with 102 (Ceylon) Squadron RAF. Alfie and his crew were one of 372 aircraft that took off on the 16th April 1943 to bomb the Skoda armaments factory at Pilsen in Czechoslovakia.

 

Alfie Martin receiving his Bomber Command Clasp from Sir Andrew Pulford KCB CBE ADC, Chief of the Air Staff.

After an attack by German night fighters, Alfie’s Halifax bomber suffered an engine fire and the Skipper ordered the boys out. Alfie’s story after this incident was recorded in 2010 by the BBC. He made the interview to pay tribute to the members of the French Resistance who helped him in escaping from France. Three of the Frenchmen who were of direct assistance to him did not survive the war. Alfie escaped as did 3 of his crew, one was captured and sadly 2 were killed.

Listens to Alfie’s astonishing and very moving story here.

 

 

 

All I bring is questions…………The Banks crew.

Regular visitors will remember the fantastic images I posted a from Jimmy Wood, Air Bomber with the Banks crew. I held back on this image, as I was a little confused by one individual in the photograph and also 2 of the signatures.

On first inspection the photograph is of the Banks crew, however on closer inspection, Alex Hirst, the Wireless Operator with the crew is missing and the fellow stood behind Jock Fraser is a mystery to me……..

Secondly, there are 2 unexplained signatures on the photograph. On the left hand side of the image is what I make out to be  – and I am going out on a limb here – ‘JB Mossman’. Next to Jack Britnall is the signature ‘Ted Smith – Hop Head’

The fellow on the left hand side back row is clearly the same chap stood behind Jock in the previous picture……….

Now this all gets stranger when I remember the wonderful pictures of Maurice Wiggins that Catherine and John sent to me last month – I recall there was this strange character in the crew photo again………

If we take a punt on my ‘JB Mossman’ guess, interestingly we find the following airman;

F/Sgt John Edward Barry Mossman, RNZAF NZ42112587 – Wireless Operator. Rangiuaia crew.

The fact that he is a WOp like Alex makes it all the more bizarre. Having been through Jimmy’s logbook and the ORB’s, Alex Hirst flew every Op with the boys.

I am at a loss – someone see the obvious for me please……

Maurice Wiggins, Navigator – Banks crew

Two lovely photographs of Maurice in the ‘Office’

Many thanks to Catherine for supplying these wonderful images of Maurice Wiggins, Navigator with the Banks crew in 1945. I have a keen interest in this crew, having had the pleasure spending time with both Jimmy Banks, the Air Bomber and Norman ‘Paddy’ Allen the Mid Upper Gunner.

The third picture – a fantastic crew photo is a little bit of a conundrum – it shows the majority of the Banks crew – but the first individual on the back row, is clearly not. Could it be that this might be a training flight crew photo and Alex Hirst joined the crew later ????

The Banks crew ??
Back row L to R: ?,  Jimmy Wood, Maurice Wiggins, Russell Banks.
Front Row L to R: Jock Fraser, Jack Britnall and Norman Allen.

 

Jimmy Wood birthday celebrations at the R.A.F Club

It was with great pleasure that I went down to the RAF Club today to attend Jimmy Wood’s 90th birthday celebrations with his family and relatives of his aircrew from 1945.

Obviously the celebrations were a private family affair, so if I receive any photos from the day I will be happy to put them up, but I will not act on a presumption at this time.

It was a lovely day and it was good to see Jimmy and his son Roger, as well as meet Barry (his elder son) for the first time after all the emails and phone calls we have had since he first got in contact with me.

Jimmy was in fine form, despite what obviously must have been a long day for him, beginning at 12 o’clock at the Bomber Command Memorial just across the road from the RAF Club. Sadly limited departure times from my village and a delay owing to snow meant that I arrived, just as the memorial service was concluding, but it was good to hear Barry shout out “Ake Ake Kia Kaha!” (the Squadron Maori motto – Forever and Ever be Strong)……..

The event also allowed me to meet again Janet, Norman Allen’s daughter and her brother Ronnie and also Jill and her husband Jim, daughter of Russell Banks, Jimmy’s pilot.

Walking down the corridor out side of the Ballroom, where the birthday lunch buffet was served, I was pleased to find the 75(NZ) Squadron badge .Given that the name and badge had been gifted by the RAF to the RNZAF at the end of the war in appreciation of the sacrifices the country had made, I wasn’t sure it would be there.

Glad to be going

“Leaving Do” – The Red Lion, Granchester, Cambridgeshire 1945.
Back row, L to R: Alex Hirst, Jack Britnall, Russell Banks.
Front row, L to R: Jock Fraser, Maurice Wiggins, Norman Allen (apparently wearing Russell’s jacket).
Foreground: Jimmy Wood.
© Jimmy Wood collection.

Though perhaps tinged with a little sadness that they would now be split up, I think this  picture captures the relief that any crew that were lucky enough to complete their tour would feel. Based on the changing responsibilities of the Squadron, with the creation of ‘Tiger Force’, it could well be that Russell and Alex found themselves initially preparing to stay, only to leave after the surrender of Japan. Once again, the records by this point are scant in detail and the sudden collapse of the Squadron regarding the end of the need for a bomber force for the Far East simply lists the large scale demobilisation of aircrew, rather than the specific departure of named individuals.

Surprisingly perhaps, I learnt from Jack Jarmy, my father’s navigator, that as a crew, they went out only occasionally. After they had learnt they were to be screened in 1943 after 21 ops, they all went on a final trip out to Cambridge – the faces in the picture would be different, but I am sure the sentiments would have been the same..

Mac Baigent & John Rodgers

Wing Commander Cyril Henry Baigent, DSO, DFC, AFC, RNZAF NZ411973/ 70038
Acting Squadron Leader. John Robert  Rodgers, DFC, DFM, RNZAF NZ413956 – “B” Flight Commander. © Jimmy Wood collection.

A fantastic image from Jimmy Wood’s photo album of Wing Commander Cyril ‘Mac’ Baigent and ‘B’ Flight Commander John Rodgers.

In discussion with Jimmy, it was clear that he had very fond memories of Mac Baigent and this might be something to do with W/C Baigent going with the Banks crew on their first op to Dresden. Cyril Baigent noted in his diary;

“Rather a long trip, so I thought I had better go! Flew F/L Banks and his crew on their first Op which probably rather shook them. Set course no trouble and apart from a little flak in the Frankfurt area, the trip to the target was fairly quiet. From some distance we could see the glow from earlier attacks on Dresden and Leipzig. A steady run in, in formation with another Lanc, and dropped right in the middle of large fires, on top of a red TI. After leaving the target, we looked back and saw clouds of smoke billowing up to 16,-17,000 feet. A spot of flak at Chemnitz and Brux but we had a fairly quiet trip home. Banks flew from Strasbourg. I took over and made a reasonable landing.”

from ‘Forever Strong’ The Story of 75 squadron RNZAF 1916-1990. Norman Franks. page 153

On the same trip, Norman Allen the Banks crew Mid Upper Gunner perhaps experienced the side of Baigent that had got him to the position of Wing Commander by the age of 22. A slow response to a radio check owing to the biting cold of the upper gun turret made Baigent accuse Norman of having fallen asleep. Apparently Norman in no uncertain terms explained that he had not been asleep and it was the cold and that perhaps the W/C should get heating fitted in his aircraft!.

Jimmy Wood RAFVR 1801019/154906 logbook

As promised, the first of no doubt a number of posts of material from JImmy Wood, Air Bomber with the Banks crew from 1945.

This is a beautifully written out log book and spans the crews flights from Dreseden as their first op through to flights to view the effects of the bombing after hostilities had finished, in between the Banks crew also flew food drops to Holland and repatriation flights of Allied prisoners from Juvincourt, in France.

Amusingly, and perhaps terrifyingly, in conversation with Jimmy, he recalled whilst laying in the bomb nacelle during an op he suddenly felt a painfully cold sensation between his legs. After the bombing run he got to up to discover a flak hole about 1/4 of an inch below where his ‘undercarriage’ had just been and the fragment of shrapnel buried in the front gun turret…….. In his log book, the incident, on the 22nd April to Bremen, is simply recorded as ‘Holed’…..

See Jimmy’s logbook here

A wonderful afternoon with Jimmy Wood…..

The Banks crew. Back row L to R, Alexander Hirst, Jack Britnall, Norman Allen, Jock Fraser.
Front row L to R Jimmy Wood, Russell Banks, Maurice Wiggins. © Jimmy Wood

A couple of weeks I was passed an email contact from Kevin from Barry Wood, who’s father, Jimmy was the Air Bomber  with the Russell Banks crew. Barry was looking for information of the other members of the crew, in advance of Jimmy’s 90^th birthdays celebrations at the RAF Club in London on the 23^rd  March.

After an email to Barry I discovered that Jimmy lives only 25 miles from me, so yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting Jimmy and his other son Roger. The meeting was tinged with a little sadness, Prior to the meeting I discovered that the crew’s Mid Upper Gunner, remembered by Jimmy as ‘Paddy’ from Ireland was in fact Norman Allen, who sadly passed away just before Christmas (see here).

Jimmy was good enough to lend me a photo album and his logbook and these will appear here as I have time to up load them and do a bit of research to add information to them.

The Banks crew were as follows;
F/Lt. Russell Ashley Banks RNZAF – Pilot.
F/O Maurice Wiggins RAFVR– Navigator
F/O. Jimmy Wood – Bomb Aimer
F/Lt. Alexander Reid ‘Pat’ Hirst RNZAF – Wireless Operator
Sgt. ‘Jock’ Fraser – Flight Engineer
Sgt Norman ‘Paddy’ Allen RAFVR– Mid Upper Gunner
W/O Jack Edward Britnall DFC RAAF – Rear Gunner

If you know anything about any of the boys in the Banks crew, I am sure Jimmy would love to know what happened to them – as would Barry, Roger and I……

Sgt. Norman ‘Paddy’ Allen, Air Gunner – Banks crew

It is with great sadness that I must report the passing of Norman Allen at the age of 90, after a short illness.

I first met Norman and his son Marshall at the Winter reunion of the ‘Friends of 75(NZ) Squadron Association’ when Dad’s ashes were laid in the Memorial Garden. Marshall took the service and I spent a short time talking to Norman after the church service in the village. He struck me as a lovely gentle man.

I saw Norman for a second time after the Bomber Command Memorial unveiling this last summer, albeit very briefly. After suffering the heat of the day Bev and I had returned to a local pub down a side street not far from the RAF Club. Looking back up the road, we suddenly recognised Margaret, his daughter-in-law, following behind Norman in a wheelchair, being propelled it seemed at impressive speed by another Irish 75(NZ) Squadron veteran John McFarland!

The third and final time I saw Norman was at this years Winter Reunion – and it was with great pleasure that he signed my copy of ‘Forever Strong’.

I feel glad that I new Norman and sad that it was only for such a short while.
Ake Ake Kia Kaha

I include a piece from the Portadown Times recording Normans passing:

Mr Norman Allen, veteran of Bomber Command during WW2, with his daughter Mrs Janet Kells, who is holding a picture of his Lancaster crew – the young airman is second left back row. They were in London yesterday – along with his daughter-in-law Mrs Margaret Allen – to see the Queen unveil the £7m Memorial to the 55,000 men of Bomber Command who died during the raids on Germany. INPT27-950.

Published on Sunday 30 December 2012 09:01

SECOND World War veteran and leading County Armagh Orangeman Norman Allen has died after a short illness. He was 90.

Mr Allen was a veteran of the dangerous Second World War Bomber Command which flew deep into German territory to carry out missions on cities like Dresden, Wesel, Dortmond and Leipzig, with the loss of over 55,000 airmen – 50 per cent of the personnel.

And while his family mourn the death of a true Christian gentleman, they are gratified that he lived to see the unveiling by the Queen – in June this year – of the £7m Bomber Command Memorial in London, designed by architect Liam O’Connor and made possible through public donations.
Mr Allen, his daughter Janet Kells and daughter-in-law Margaret Allen, were among the 5,000 who attended the London ceremony, which ended six decades of controversy. Successive British Government’s, starting with Winston Churchill’s wartime administration, had tried to airbrush Bomber Command out of history, on the back on international criticism on the blanket bombing of German cities. But, in an interview with the Portadown Times after he returned from London, Mr Allen told us, “We were simply carrying out orders. So many of us put our lives on the line.”

A gunner on one of the famous Lancaster bombers, he took part in 15 missions. He was just 22 at the time and said in his Times interview, “I was one of the lucky ones. True, it was dangerous, but it was exciting and I have to admit I look back of my wartime service as the most enjoyable time of my life.”

In his personal life, Mr Allen – whose home is at Derryloughan Road Loughgall – had many diverse interests, notably the Orange Order, of which he was County Grand Master during the bicentenary year 1995. It was totally appropriate as he lived close to the Battle of the Diamond site which prompted the formation of the Order in nearby Loughgall in 1795.

At one stage, he travelled to New Zealand to meet the Brethren there, and that, too, was appropriate as he actually served in the 75th New Zealand Squadron of Bomber Command. They were based at Ely in England, and the young Norman Allen volunteered to join their ranks.

Officers of the County Armagh Grand Lodge and of Loughgall District No 3 have paid their tributes and respects. His funeral, on Boxing Day at Cranagill Methodist Church – of which he was a devout member – was well-attended, with Orangemen and women coming from all over the province to pay their respects. He was a member of Diamond Memorial LOL No 85, its former Grand Master, and loved to welcome members of the worldwide Orange family to the area where the Order was founded.

Mr Allen was a renowned apple grower and respected throughout the farming industry. Even though he was 90, he continued to “dabble” in farming, his main hobby being the keeping of free-range chickens, “just to keep me occupied”.

He was deeply loved by his entire family circle, who were proud of his wartime service and delighted that he lived to see the Bomber Command finally recognised. The Allen party flew to London with veteran John McFarland and his family, John’s plane having been shot down in April 1944, and he finished the wart in the notorious Stalag Luft III. The two heroes had much to discuss during that momentous trip.

A fortnight after the London ceremony, Mr Allen attended the County Armagh Twelfth demonstration in Keady, and as ever enjoyed the occasion.

He was a staunch unionist, being a member of the Newry-Armagh Ulster Unionist Association, and was a Justice of the Peace.

Norman Allen is survived by sons and daughters Marshall, Ronnie, Gordon, Janet and Carol, and was the father-in-law of Margaret, Gail, Phyllis, Maurice and Eddie and a devoted grandfather and great-grandfather.

After the service of thanksgiving at Cranagill Methodist Church, burial was in Cranagill Cemetery. Donations, if desired, are to the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, c/o Joseph Poots Funeral Directors, 42 Bridge Street, Portadown BT63 5AE.

Read the original article in the Portadown Times here