20.11.44 – Attack Against Homberg – a reflection…..

With a few days gap, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody who has responded so positively regarding my ‘multiple’ Homberg posting last Friday – the 71st anniversary of the Homberg Op.

I must confess, it was one of those classic – ‘this is a great idea’ moments that, as the following day unfolded, I wondered about the coherency and communication of the event.

Based on feedback, I think it worked and I think for those that know the Squadron and it’s history it chimed.

I will confess – the idea of generating multiple posts based on a real time event line would always be challenging – particularly if you missed the first contextual post and as I started wading through the first of what would be 56 individual posts, I wondered if this was a fantastic idea, or an appallingly misguided adventure.

I received some criticism and questioning as well – but, to be honest those that responded in this way are not known to me – perhaps these individuals are like neighbours at a family get together – they watch, they try to understand, but ultimately, they are simply ignorant of the ways, history and knowledge of the family – they smile and purse their lips – but they simply do not understand…..

Looking back, the concept was simple enough – to use the WordPress scheduled post feature to post each a/c up and down based on recorded times. This was to be punctuated with a ‘respite’ post about half way through the Op ( I gave up trying to try to calculate the relative achievable speed of a Lancaster fully bomber up, versus  post target regarding an approximate time of ‘over target’. This was then finished after what I thought to be an appropriate and realistic delay to note the missing status of the three crews that were lost that night.

I actually hoped for not a sensational, but perhaps a surprised, engaged realisation that the Squadron were leaving on an Op – the spectacle of departure and then, simply the awful wait, the looking at watches, at Ops room clocks, the pacing and sipping from NAAFI tea cups, until the low lands filled with the tired howl of Merlins and the names of the crews could be checked off the board. The final realisation that three Lancasters and their crews were missing, was intentionally left like that.

It was about trying to capture that awful, dawning acceptance that time had simply run out – all avenues of alternative havens had been exhausted – the boys would simply not come back……

My inclination, at a point later, not advertised is simply to remove these posts. Perhaps in this way we recorded the brief event – witnessed but then lost and only held in our thoughts, as if we were there to see it – to be able to say it happened and you saw it, but now, again it is gone.

The poignancy of Leo McCartin’s Last Post at the Australian War Memorial this morning/ afternoon is a fitting final paragraph to this post – I am glad that Phil Smith was mentioned as well and as the Last Post started, I shed more than a singe tear –

these lost boys, again made real.

Ake Ake Kia Kaha

Just a reminder – Patrick Leo McCartin, Australian War Memorial – last post

PLEASE, set your alarms or whatever, but if you can, please take the chance to view the live feed of the Last Post for Leo McCartin today/ tomorrow morning.

The ceremony is streamed live, so with regional adjustments this means the service will be able to be watched:
05:55 – United Kingdom (London)
18:55 – New Zealand  (Wellington)
00:55 – Canada (Ottawa)

The live stream of the ceremony can be viewed here.

The McCartin crew are well documented within this blog an Op history for the crew can be found here and the incredibly moving and poignant collection of correspondence between Leo’s Father and the Australian War Ministry, after the crew’s first report as being lost can be read here.

Patrick Leo McCartin – Australian War Memorial, Last Post – 24th November 2015

The crew of ND911 JN-V. Back row L to R; P/O John Miles (Nav), F/O Patrick ‘Leo’ McCartin (Pilot), F/O Leonard Martin (A/B), F/Sgt. Phillip Smith (WOP). Front row L to R; Sgt. John Gray (R/Gnr), Sgt. Dennis Bryer (Mug), Sgt. John Warlow (FE)
The picture, based on the bomb tally for ND911, appears to have been taken between the 17th and the 20th of November. The next Op, the aircraft and the entire crew apart from Rear Gunner, John Gray, would be lost over Homberg.

Having been contacted by Paul I would like to give everybody advance notice of a daily event that takes place at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

At the end of each day, commencing at 4.55 pm AEST, the Memorial farewells visitors with its moving Last Post Ceremony. The ceremony begins with the singing of the Australian National Anthem, followed by the poignant strains of a Lament, played by a piper. Visitors are invited to lay wreaths and floral tributes beside the Pool of Reflection. The Roll of Honour in the Cloisters lists the names of more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations over more than a century. At each ceremony the story behind one of these names will be told. The Ode is then recited, and the ceremony ends with the sounding of the Last Post. 

I am proud to pass on the news that on the 24th of November, F/O Patrick Leo McCartin, AUS.419328, Royal Australian Air Force  will be honoured in the Last Post ceremony.

The ceremony is streamed live, so with regional adjustments this means the service will be able to be watched:
05:55 – United Kingdom (London)
18:55 – New Zealand  (Wellington)
00:55 – Canada (Ottawa)

The live stream of the ceremony can be viewed here.

The McCartin crew are well documented within this blog an Op history for the crew can be found here and the incredibly moving and poignant collection of correspondence between Leo’s Father and the Australian War Ministry, after the crew’s first report as being lost can be read here.

 

Operations – Attack Against Homberg
Twenty eight aircraft took off to attack the Oil Refinery Plant at Homberg. Twenty two aircraft in daylight attacked the target in ten tenths cloud with tops at 23,000 ft, which made formation flying very difficult. They carried 4,000 lb, and 500 lb bombs. Results of bombing could not be observed, but it is considered that the raid was unsatisfactory. One aircraft returned early owing to icing trouble and two aircraft bombed last resort targets at Duisburg and Hamborn. Three aircraft failed to return. These were captained by 185116 F/O R. Gordon, AUS419328 F/O P. McCartin and 152402 F/O H. Rees.

I am immensely proud that through the blog, I have been able to connect with relatives of airmen from all three crews and that they, have then been able connect with each other.

Whilst the 24th will be about Leo, it might perhaps provide a point of reflection regarding the memories of all of the airmen in these 3 crews that were lost or taken Prisoner of War on that night over Homberg.

Lancaster Mk.III ND911 JN-V
F/O Patrick Leo McCartin, RAAF AUS.419328. Pilot. Died age 28.
Buried Reichswald Forest War Cemetery Germany.
25. G. 4.
Sgt. John Miles, RAFVR 845847/ 187426. Navigator. Died age 35.
Buried Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany.
Coll. grave 7. B. 5-7.
F/S Phillip Francis Smith, RAAF AUS. 427206. Wireless Operator. Died age 20.
Buried Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany.
Coll. grave 7. B. 5-7.
Sgt. William John Warlow, RAFVR 1653307. Flight Engineer. Died age 30.
Buried Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany.
Coll. grave 7. B. 5-7.
Sgt. Dennis George Albert Bryer, RAFVR 1874880. Mid Upper Gunner. Died age 19.
Buried Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany.
Coll. grave 7. B. 5-7.
Sgt. John Gray, RAFVR. Rear Gunner.
Sole survivor of the crew of 7.  Prisoner of War, No. 1241. Dulag, Stalag Luft VII. Return date to United Kingdom not known

Lancaster Mk.I PB689 AA-X (X-Ray)
F/O Ronald Gordon RAFVR 1580245/ 185116. Pilot. Died age 22.
Buried Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany.
Coll. Grave 29 B1-16.
F/O John Robson Bell RAFVR 173943. Navigator. Died age 34.
Buried Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany.
Grave 29 B1-16.
F/Sgt Albert John Weston RAFVR 1115103. Air Bomber. Died age 29.
Buried Reichswald Forest War Cemetery Germany.
Coll. Grave 29 B1-16.
P/O Louis David Sampson RAFVR 186413. Wireless Operator. Died age 28.
Buried Reichswald Forest War Cemetery Germany.
Grave 29 C2.
Sgt Carl Robert Freeman RAFVR 189608. Flight Engineer. Died age 33.
Buried Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany.
Grave 25 G5.
Sgt Sidney George Hone RAFVR 2221190. Mid Upper Gunner. Died age 35.
Buried Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany.
Grave 25 G14.
Sgt James Leonard Forrester RAFVR 3010665. Rear Gunner. Died age 19.
Buried Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany.
Grave 25 G3.

Lancaster Mk.III PB520 AA-G
F/O Hubert ‘Hugh’ Rees, RAFVR 152402 – Pilot.
Prisoner of War. Dulag Luft, Stalag Luft I. Return date to the United Kingdom, not known.
F/O Raymond Charles Preston, RAFVR 1494143/ 153457 – Navigator.
Prisoner of War. Dulag Luft, Stalag Luft I.Return date to the United Kingdom, not known.
F/O Douglas Cooper ‘Westy’ Westwood, RNZAF NZ427483 – Air Bomber.
Prisoner of War, No.6799. Dulag Luft, Stalag Luft I. Returned to United Kingdom 13th May 1945.
F/L William French Morison Naismith, RAFVR 47714 – Wireless Operator .
Prisoner of War. Dulag Luft, Stalag Luft I. Return date to the United Kingdom, not known.
Sgt. James Edward Mulhall, RAFVR 2202223 – Flight Engineer.
Prisoner of War, No.1252. Dulag Luft, Stalag Luft III.Return date to the United Kingdom, not known.
Sgt. Robert Alderson, RAFVR 2221636 – Mid Upper Gunner.
Prisoner of War, No.1317. Dulag Luft, Stalag Luft VI. Return date to the United Kingdom, not known.
Sgt. Charles ‘Chaz’ Allen, RAFVR 1898556 – Rear Gunner.
Prisoner of War, No.1218, Dulag Luft, Stalag Luft VII. Return date to the United Kingdom, not known.

 

Australian War Memorial – information update

I am pleased to relay to all of you that I received an email from Chris,
Assistant Curator, Military Heraldry & Technology at the Australian War Memorial this morning informing me that, to the best of his and his teams knowledge all items held in the collection which encompasses uniforms, badges, medals  etc and items of military technology has had it’s information updated to correctly/ accurately  reflect the name of the Squadron.

I am really pleased to have received this information as it represents an ongoing effort by the AWM to update their records after an initial request made by myself slightly over a year ago. My first contact was replied to very quickly, but obviously a task of this kind takes time and coordination and obviously has to fit within other projects and activities that the curatorial staff are involved with.

As I said in my original post about this work, whilst a small detail of correction, it’s a significant one , I am sure , for the families and relatives of the 32 Australian airmen that died with 75(NZ) Squadron RAF.

Many thanks to all of the Australian War Memorial staff who have helped make this happen.

Visit the Australian War Memorial here.

Request for information – Solingen, 4th of November 1944

Target photo taken by Jack Wall, A/B with Jack Bailey’s crew over Solingen on the 4th of November 1944. The information at the foot of the photograph contains the following information: Squadron Base – Mep is Mepal. Date. Height. Compass bearing. Time. Target. Bomb Load. Camera and Flash setting. Pilots Rank and Name. Aircraft letter and Squadron number.

I was contacted by Matthias last week with information of a potentially fascinating project. Matthias works for the local TV station in Wermelskirchen who are preparing to make a programme about the raid on Solingen on the 4th of November 1944. He is keen to gather as much information as possible – and has contacted me to put out a request to any relatives of the boys who flew on the Op, who might have any information, whether it be stories, photographs or even perhaps logbook notes. Matthias is particularly keen to try to make contact with any relatives of Harry Scott’s crew, who were all lost on the Solingen Op.

Having put together the complete crew list for this Op, I was fascinated to see perhaps a tie up in a detail mentioned in this post and elsewhere on the blog. The first aircraft in the Op list below is LM266 AA-A. The AIR14/3463 Damage Report for this Op lists this aircraft as being hit by debris from an exploding aircraft. Putting in a blind, but optimistic search into the blog through up a post I had made about the myth of the ‘Scarecrow’ and amazingly, the logbook entry by John Dickinson (Mid Upper Gunner with Charlie Spain’s crew) that recorded a ‘Scarecrow’ was Solingen – Whilst I cannot be sure, the proximity of the 195 Squadron aircraft  (HK658 ) to LM266, the fact that John witnessed it, I think, makes it quite a possibility – of the 4 aircraft lost on this Op (3 from 195 and ND917 from 75(NZ) Squadron), only HK658 is listed in the AIR14/3463 Damage Report as exploding – and in fact identifies 2 other aircraft, both from 195 Squadron being hit, Like LM266, with the debris.

Extract form John Dickinson’s logbook for the Solingen raid, 4th November 1944, noting the loss of a Lancaster by a ‘Scarecrow’. © Dickinson Estate

04/11/1944 – Attack Against Solingen
Twenty one aircraft took off to attack Solingen in daylight, carrying 8,000 lb, 4,000 lb, 1,000 lb, 500 lb, 4 lb incendiaries and No.17 Clusters. All crews dropped their bombs in the target area, but the raid appeared to be scattered. Flak opposition was moderate. One aircraft captained by NZ428797 F/O J. Scott, failed to return.

Lancaster Mk.I LM266 AA-A ” (43)
Damage not due to Enemy Action – Hit by debris from an exploding Lancaster – thought to be 195 Sqdn HK658 ‘C’ (exploded)

F/L Alan Roy Bidwell Barton, RNZAF NZ413930 – Pilot.
P/O John Gerald Birch, RNZAF NZ429035 – Navigator.
Sgt. William Semple, RAFVR 1558692/ 190519 – Air Bomber.
P/O John Alister MacDonald Stuart, RNZAF NZ404633 – Wireless Operator.
Sgt. H. Smith, RAFVR – Flight Engineer.
Sgt. Leslie John Moore, RAFVR 2219346/ 188668 – Mid Upper Gunner.
Sgt. F. Williams, RAFVR – Rear Gunner.

Take Off 11:51 – Landed 16:23
Flight Time 04:32
Lancaster Mk.III LM740 AA-B  (15)

W/C Roy John Alexander Leslie, RAFVR/ RNZAF 36255/ NZ2427 – Pilot.
F/L Frank Ross Dawes, RNZAF NZ417273 – Navigator.
P/O Raymond Alexander Ramsay, RNZAF NZ416866 – Air Bomber.
F/S Ronald Vincent Kemp, RAFVR 1492881/ 188505 – Wireless Operator.
Sgt. A. Funnell, RAFVR – Flight Engineer.
Sgt. George Woods, RAFVR – Mid Upper Gunner.
Sgt. Cliff Newman, RAFVR – Rear Gunner.

This appears to essentially be Nelson Bright’s crew – though I have no information to explain why Nelson is absent.

Take Off 11:45 – Landed 16:07
Flight Time 04:22
Lancaster Mk.I HK593 AA-H  (6)

F/O Jeffery Baines, RNZAF NZ414577 – Pilot.
Sgt. Peter Allen Holt, RNZAF NZ4211049 – Navigator.
F/S John Kennedy Clements, RAAF AUS.418070 – Air Bomber.
Sgt. J. Brown, RAFVR – Wireless Operator.
Sgt. J. Aldridge, RAFVR – Flight Engineer.
Sgt. D. McCleod?, ? – Mid Upper Gunner. No apparent record of this individual
Sgt. E. Bates, RAFVR – Rear Gunner.

Take Off 11:44 – Landed 16:15
Flight Time 04:31
Lancaster Mk.I HK576 AA-G  (25)

F/O Raymond Arthur Cumberpatch, RNZAF NZ427543 – Pilot.
Sgt. Norman Frederick Wilson, RAFVR 1584666/ 190665 – Navigator.
F/S Clayton Dickson Williams, RNZAF NZ4214071 – Air Bomber.
W/O Lindsay Roy Switzer, RNZAF NZ422008 – Wireless Operator.
Sgt. J. Sinclair, RAFVR – Flight Engineer.
F/S Tom Grady, RNZAF NZ416829 – Mid Upper Gunner.
F/S Walter Dalziel Sneddon, RNZAF NZ425436 – Rear Gunner.

Take Off 11:45 – Landed 16:01
Flight Time 04:16
Lancaster Mk.III PB418 AA-C  (32)

F/L Leslie Arthur Martyn, RNZAF NZ417082 – Pilot.
P/O Thomas Issac Elliot, RNZAF NZ421364 – Navigator.
P/O Allan Roy Frank Dunkerley, RAAF AUS.423083 – Air Bomber.
P/O Henry James Abrahams, RAFVR 1313153/ 183761 – Wireless Operator.
F/S A. Golembeck, RAFVR – Flight Engineer.
Sgt. George Lindsay, RAFVR 1624589 – Mid Upper Gunner.
P/O Andrew Roy Wright, RCAF J.88789 – Rear Gunner.

Take Off 11:42 – Landed 16:10
Flight Time 04:28
Lancaster Mk.III LM544 AA-J  (60)

F/O Maurice Edward Dare, RNZAF NZ425238 – Pilot.
F/O Gordon Howe Warren, RNZAF NZ4212904 – Navigator.
F/S Norman Farquhar McDonald, RNZAF NZ429073 – Air Bomber.
F/S William Donovan Neville, RNZAF NZ425538 – Wireless Operator.
Sgt. J. Dunbar, RAFVR – Flight Engineer.
F/S Alfred Thomas Bannan, RNZAF NZ425760 – Mid Upper Gunner.
F/S Gordon Lawton, RNZAF NZ4210874 – Rear Gunner.

Take Off 11:40 – Landed 16:08
Flight Time 04:28

Lancaster Mk.III PB421 AA-K  (29)

S/L Roy Campbell Earl, RNZAF NZ411388 – Pilot.
F/O Edgar William Lovejoy, RAFVR 745516/ 142868 – Navigator.
F/O J. Rich, RAFVR – Air Bomber.
P/O Patrick Hugh Finnegan, RAFVR 1344819/ 159025 – Wireless Operator.
W/O Leslie Howells, RAFVR 1417820/ 187820 – Flight Engineer.
W/O W. Brown, RAFVR – Mid Upper Gunner.
F/O William Henry Goodridge, RAFVR 635318/ 53370 – Rear Gunner.

Take Off 11:41 – Landed 16:03
Flight Time 04:22
Lancaster Mk.I ME751 AA-M ‘Mother’ (50)

F/L Wylie James Wakelin, RNZAF NZ391390 – Pilot.
P/O Percival McDowell Johnston, RNZAF NZ4215865 – Navigator.
P/O Graham Barker Appleby, RNZAF NZ422653 – Air Bomber.
Sgt. John De Hoop, RAFVR 1810752/ 191161 – Wireless Operator.
Sgt. R. Leveridge, RAFVR – Flight Engineer.
Sgt. Frank Watts, RAFVR – Mid Upper Gunner.
Sgt. T. Kennedy, RAFVR – Rear Gunner.

Take Off 11:40 – Landed 16:20
Flight Time 04:40
Lancaster Mk.I HK574 AA-R  (39)

F/O Donald Francis Atkin, RAFVR 1585981 – Pilot.
F/S Eric Thomas Coulson, RNZAF NZ429310 – Navigator.
F/S Reginald John Thurston, RNZAF NZ4210046 – Air Bomber.
F/S Wesley Murray Curtis, RAAF AUS. 423524 – Wireless Operator.
Sgt. A. Jones, RAFVR – Flight Engineer.
Sgt. W. Madden, RAFVR – Mid Upper Gunner.
Sgt. G. Johnstone, RAFVR – Rear Gunner.

Take Off 11:45 – Landed 16:30
Flight Time 04:45
Lancaster Mk.III PB427 AA-U  (19)

F/O Charles Thomas Spain, RAFVR 921159/ 178068 – Pilot.
F/S P. Johnson,   – Navigator
F/S Leonard Charles James, RNZAF NZ4211046 – Air Bomber.
F/S Laurence Percy Bergman, RAAF AUS.424579 – Wireless Operator.
Sgt. D. McNeil, RAFVR – Flight Engineer.
Sgt. John Townson Dickinson, RAFVR 2221282 – Mid Upper Gunner.
Sgt. John ‘Steve’ Chamberlain, RAFVR – Rear Gunner.

Take Off 11:35 – Landed 16:15
Flight Time 04:40
Lancaster Mk.I NN710 AA-Q  (25)

F/O Kenneth William Cooper, RAFVR 1440684 – Pilot.
F/S Ian Campbell Cowie, RNZAF NZ425738 – Navigator.
Sgt. J.J. Fitzgerald, RAFVR 658963 – Air Bomber.
F/S Vernon John Smith, RNZAF NZ416826 – Wireless Operator.
Sgt. J. Alderson, RAFVR – Flight Engineer.
Sgt. W. Cousins, RAFVR – Mid Upper Gunner.
Sgt. T. Clayton, RAFVR – Rear Gunner.

Take Off 11:40 – Landed 16:15
Flight Time 04:35
Lancaster Mk.I HK562 AA-L ‘Lucy’ (42)

F/O Martin Adam Kilpatrick, RNZAF NZ421919 – Pilot.
P/O Raymond Sinclair Tait, RNZAF NZ4213951 – Navigator.
Sgt. M. ‘ Jock’ Cattenach, RAFVR – Air Bomber.
Sgt. Wesley Geoffrey ‘Geoff’ Davenport, RAFVR 1817811/ 196353 – Wireless Operator.
Sgt. Benjamin Charles ‘Ben’ Barton, RAFVR 56702 – Flight Engineer.
Sgt. Albert ‘Titch’ Halliday, RAFVR 1899145 – Mid Upper Gunner.
Sgt. Robert ‘Bob’ Olive, RAFVR – Rear Gunner.

Take Off 11:40 – Landed 16:20
Flight Time 04:40
Lancaster Mk.I LM276 AA-S ‘Sugar’ (30)

P/O Douglas Ross Sadgrove, RNZAF NZ425292 – Pilot.
F/S Robert Trevor Dixon, RNZAF NZ4212652 – Navigator.
Sgt. D. Stimpson, RAFVR – Air Bomber.
F/S Frederick Flemming, RNZAF NZ425241 – Wireless Operator.
Sgt. Bernard John Mahoney, RAFVR 1628335/ 190539 – Flight Engineer.
F/S Robert Samuel Bawden, RNZAF NZ4212629 – Mid Upper Gunner.
Sgt. Douglas Dallimore, RAFVR – Rear Gunner.

Take Off 11:40 – Landed 16:20
Flight Time 04:40
Lancaster Mk.III ND801 JN-X ‘Get Sum Inn’ (69)

F/L Thomas Christie Waugh, RAFVR 159174 – Pilot.
P/O Colin William Hannam Woonton, RNZAF NZ429055 – Navigator.
F/S Robert Irwin Swetland, RAFVR 1098818, 186577 – Air Bomber.
F/S P. Kidd, RAFVR – Wireless Operator.
Sgt. N. Southgate, RAFVR – Flight Engineer.
F/S James Baird Nickels, RNZAF NZ425852 – Mid Upper Gunner.
F/S David Frank Sage, RNZAF NZ424824 – Rear Gunner.

Take Off 11:31 – Landed 16:24
Flight Time 04:53
Lancaster Mk.III NE181 JN-M ‘The Captains Fancy’ (73)

S/L John Mathers ‘Jack’ Bailey, RNZAF NZ412183 – Pilot.
P/O Jack Geoffrey Brewster, RNZAF 130520 – Navigator.
F/O Jack Christopher Wall, RAFVR 143421 – Air Bomber.
Sgt. Richard Pickup, RAFVR 98926/ 188816 – Wireless Operator.
F/O Norman Bartlett, RAFVR 54290 – Flight Engineer.
P/O Thomas Douglas Gregory, RAFVR 1283636/ 183718 – Mid Upper Gunner.
W/O Roy Corfield, RAFVR – Rear Gunner.

Take Off 11:29 – Landed 16:03
Flight Time 04:34
Lancaster Mk.I HK597 JN-P ‘Bad Penny IV’ (29)

F/O Francis Colin Wood, RNZAF NZ414715 – Pilot.
F/S R. Johnson, RAFVR – Navigator.
P/O Leslie Ronald Hurcombe, RAFVR 153900 – Air Bomber.
F/S Arthur Albert Charles Taylor, RAFVR 1583883, 186770 – Wireless Operator.
Sgt. A. Gibbs, RAFVR – Flight Engineer.
Sgt. A. Wolley, RAFVR – Mid Upper Gunner.
Sgt. G. Mahoney, RAFVR – Rear Gunner.

Take Off 11:31 – Landed 16:04
Flight Time 04:33
Lancaster Mk.I HK563 JN-W ‘The Paper Doll’ (51)

F/O Leonard Boyer, RAFVR 1602332/ 184498 – Pilot.
F/S M. Mendes, RAFVR – Navigator.
F/S Allan Jospeph Couper, RAAF AUS.430013 – Air Bomber.
F/S Roderick Wilfred Blue, RNZAF NZ426307 – Wireless Operator.
Sgt. J. Burkell, RAFVR – Flight Engineer.
Sgt. R. Adlard, RAFVR – Mid Upper Gunner.
Sgt. H. Davies, RAFVR – Rear Gunner.

Take Off 11:33 – Landed 16:00
Flight Time 04:27
Lancaster Mk.I HK600 JN-T ” (20)

P/O Patrick Leo McCartin, RAAF AUS.419328 – Pilot.
Sgt. John Miles, RAFVR 845847/ 187426 – Navigator.
P/O Leonard Arthur Martin, RAFVR 153528 – Air Bomber.
F/S Phillip Francis Smith, RAAF AUS. 427206 – Wireless Operator.
Sgt. William John Warlow, RAFVR 1653307 – Flight Engineer.
Sgt. Dennis George Albert Bryer, RAFVR 1874880 – Mid Upper Gunner.
Sgt. John Gray, RAFVR – Rear Gunner.

Take Off 11:34 – Landed 15:59
Flight Time 04:25
Lancaster Mk.III ND917 JN-O ” (70)

F/O John Harold Scott, RNZAF NZ428797 – Pilot.
Died Saturday 4th November 1944, age 29, during a raid on Solingen. Buried Rheinberg War Cemetery Germany.

F/S Alister Henry Scott, RNZAF NZ428259 – Navigator.
Died Saturday 4th November 1944, age 27, during a raid on Solingen. Buried Rheinberg War Cemetery Germany.

F/S Kenneth Peder Christian Andersen, RNZAF NZ429128 – Air Bomber.
Died Saturday 4th November 1944, age 28, during a raid on Solingen, Germany. Buried Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany.

F/S Edward John Francis Howard, RNZAF NZ424469 – Wireless Operator.
Died Saturday 4th November 1944, age 24, during a raid on Solingen. Buried Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany.

Sgt. Howard Mansel Thomas, RAFVR 1895708 – Flight Engineer.
Died Saturday 4th November 1944, age 26, during a raid on Solingen. Buried Rheinberg War Cemetery Germany.

Sgt. John Thomas Beardmore, RAFVR 1818755 – Mid Upper Gunner.
Died Saturday 4th November 1944, age 19, during a raid on Solingen, Germany, Buried Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany.

Sgt. Joseph Thomas Bayes, RAFVR 1595589, 185783 – Rear Gunner.
Died Saturday 4 November 1944, age 35, during a raid on Solingen, Germany. Buried Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany.

Take Off 11:31 – Landed Missing
Flight Time Missing
Lancaster Mk.III ND911 JN-V  (65)

F/O Robert Gordon Cuming, RNZAF NZ428083 – Pilot.
F/S John Gilbert ‘Jack’ Scott, RNZAF NZ4213321 – Navigator.
F/S Sydney George Sewell, RNZAF NZ423916 – Air Bomber.
F/S John Durant ‘Jack’ Christie, RNZAF NZ426309 – Wireless Operator.
Sgt. J.C. Lambert, RAFVR – Flight Engineer.
Sgt. William ‘Bill’ Scott, RAFVR – Mid Upper Gunner.
Sgt. D. McElligott, RAFVR – Rear Gunner.

Take Off 11:35 – Landed 16:20
Flight Time 04:45
Lancaster Mk.I HK601 JN-D  (38)

F/L Victor John Andrew, RNZAF NZ421343 – Pilot.
P/O Eric James Osborne, RNZAF NZ422795 – Navigator.
F/S Edward James Sinclair, RNZAF NZ428261 – Air Bomber.
F/S D. Roberts, RAAF AUS.426010 – Wireless Operator.
Sgt. J. Huckle, RAFVR – Flight Engineer.
Sgt. E. Hadigate, RAFVR – Mid Upper Gunner.
Sgt. William Henry Grout, RCAF R.109213 – Rear Gunner.

Take Off 11:30 – Landed 16:05
Flight Time 04:35

Andrew David MacKenzie – Pilot 1944 – LM104 JN-K, ‘Jock’s Box’

It’s always fantastic when someone new contacts me – bit I have to confess, its even more special when its a member of 75(NZ) Squadron RAF. A few months ago now, I was contacted by Andrew MacKenzie, who flew out of Mepal between 11th April and 29th August 1944. Over the last few months we have exchanged emails regarding Andrew’s time with the Squadron and I must thank him for his patience, regarding what in hindsight was a mountain of questions.

As well as simply thanking Andrew for getting in contact, he has also supplied some very useful information regarding the names of his crew and also, as seems to be the trend at the moment, the identification of another ‘named’ Lancaster that flew with 75(NZ) Squadron RAF. LM104 JN-K, in which the MacKenzie crew flew half of their tour (15 Ops) was known, because of Andrew’s country of origin as ‘Jock’s Box’.

The crew’s 26th Op to Amaye Sur Seulles on the 30th July 1944 was a close one, bombing from only 500ft, an anti aircraft shell went right through ‘Jock’s Box’, narrowly missing Mac McKellow, the Mid Upper Gunner, before exploding above the aircraft.

After the Amaye damage, LM104 did not fly operationally again till the 18th August (one assumes a rather lengthy repair job). Her 28th Op was to Bremen on the 18th August with S/L Neilson Williamson (and some days after Andrew and his crew’s last Op with the Squadron)

On the 3rd September (30 Ops) LM104 was taken to Eindhoven to attack the Aerodrome there by Leo McCartin and his crew – records indicate they were holed 18 times by flak.

A little over a month later – on the 6th October 1944, LM104, on her 34th Op took F/O Keith Southward and crew to Dortmund. LM104 was flying at 22,000ft, probably en route to the target, when it was brought down by an enemy night-fighter South West of Mönchengladbach, 50 miles South West of Dortmund, crashing near Willich.

The Skipper was able to control the aircraft long enough to enable his crew to bale out successfully, but was unable to do so himself and he bravely died in the crash. He was buried at Willich but later re-interred at the Rheinberg War Cemetery. All of Southward’s crew were captured as prisoners of war………..

Sadly, Andrew has no pictures of his time at Mepal with the Squadron, but it would be wonderful if by posting this information, someone out there might just have something……….

Administration
11.4.44
1564491 Sgt. McKenzie A and crew arrived on posting from No.31 Base.

18/04/1944 Attack Against Rouen
Lancaster Mk.III ND796 AA-J (1)

Sgt. Andrew David MacKenzie – Pilot
Sgt. William ‘Bill’ Stoneham – Navigator
F/S Thomas Gregory Bunce – Air Bomber
F/S J. ‘Ginge’ Wright – Wireless Operator
Sgt. George ‘Geordie’ Robertson – Flight Engineer
Sgt. William ‘Bill’ Barker – Mid Upper Gunner
F/S Thomas Edward Rowe – Rear Gunner

Take Off 23:05 – Landed 03:05
Flight Time 04:00

01/05/1944 Attack Against Chambly
Lancaster Mk.III ND801 JN-X (1)

F/S Andrew David MacKenzie – Pilot
F/S William ‘Bill’ Stoneham – Navigator
F/S Thomas Gregory Bunce – Air Bomber
F/S J. ‘Ginge’ Wright – Wireless Operator
Sgt. George ‘Geordie’ Robertson – Flight Engineer
Sgt. Gilbert ‘Mac’ McKellow – Mid Upper Gunner
Sgt. William ‘Bill’ Barker – Rear Gunner

Take Off 22:55 – Landed 02:30
Flight Time 03:35

07/05/1944 Attack Against Chateau Bolgon Aerodrome
Lancaster Mk.III ND911 JN-V (5)

F/S Andrew David MacKenzie – Pilot
F/S William ‘Bill’ Stoneham – Navigator
F/S Thomas Gregory Bunce – Air Bomber
F/S J. ‘Ginge’ Wright – Wireless Operator
Sgt. George ‘Geordie’ Robertson – Flight Engineer
Sgt. Gilbert ‘Mac’ McKellow – Mid Upper Gunner
Sgt. William ‘Bill’ Barker – Rear Gunner

Take Off 00:35 – Landed 06:00
Flight Time 05:25

09/05/1944 Attack Against Cap Gris Nez
Lancaster Mk.III ND917 JN-O (6)

Sgt. Andrew David MacKenzie – Pilot
F/S William ‘Bill’ Stoneham – Navigator
F/S Thomas Gregory Bunce – Air Bomber
F/S J. ‘Ginge’ Wright – Wireless Operator
Sgt. George ‘Geordie’ Robertson – Flight Engineer
Sgt. Gilbert ‘Mac’ McKellow – Mid Upper Gunner
Sgt. William ‘Bill’ Barker – Rear Gunner

Take Off 03:05 – Landed 05:10
Flight Time 02:05

11/05/1944 Attack Against Louvain
Lancaster Mk.I ND904 JN- P (1)

F/S Andrew David MacKenzie – Pilot
Sgt. William ‘Bill’ Stoneham – Navigator
F/S Thomas Gregory Bunce – Air Bomber
F/S J. ‘Ginge’ Wright – Wireless Operator
Sgt. George ‘Geordie’ Robertson – Flight Engineer
Sgt. Gilbert ‘Mac’ McKellow – Mid Upper Gunner
Sgt. William ‘Bill’ Barker – Rear Gunner

Take Off 22:50 – Landed 01:35
Flight Time 02:45

19/05/1944 Attack Against Le Mans
Lancaster Mk.I R5692 (8)

F/S Andrew David MacKenzie – Pilot
Sgt. William ‘Bill’ Stoneham – Navigator
F/S Thomas Gregory Bunce – Air Bomber
F/S J. ‘Ginge’ Wright – Wireless Operator
Sgt. George ‘Geordie’ Robertson – Flight Engineer
Sgt. Gilbert ‘Mac’ McKellow – Mid Upper Gunner
Sgt. William ‘Bill’ Barker – Rear Gunner

Take Off 22:30 – Landed 03:05
Flight Time 04:35

21/05/1944 Attack Against Duisberg
Lancaster Mk.I ND904 JN-P (2)

F/S Andrew David MacKenzie – Pilot
Sgt. William ‘Bill’ Stoneham – Navigator
F/S Thomas Gregory Bunce – Air Bomber
F/S J. ‘Ginge’ Wright – Wireless Operator
Sgt. George ‘Geordie’ Robertson – Flight Engineer
Sgt. Gilbert ‘Mac’ McKellow – Mid Upper Gunner
Sgt. William ‘Bill’ Barker – Rear Gunner

Take Off 23:00 – Landed 03:00
Flight Time 04:00

28/05/1944 Attack Against Angers
Lancaster Mk.I LM104 JN-K ‘Jock’s Box’ (1)

Sgt. Andrew David MacKenzie – Pilot
F/S William ‘Bill’ Stoneham – Navigator
F/S Thomas Gregory Bunce – Air Bomber
F/S J. ‘Ginge’ Wright – Wireless Operator
Sgt. George ‘Geordie’ Robertson – Flight Engineer
Sgt. F. Crome – Mid Upper Gunner
Sgt. William ‘Bill’ Barker – Rear Gunner

Take Off 18:55 – Landed 01:55
Flight Time 07:00

31/05/1944 Attack Against Trappes
Lancaster Mk.I LM104 JN-K ‘Jock’s Box’ (2)

F/S Andrew David MacKenzie – Pilot
F/S William ‘Bill’ Stoneham – Navigator
F/S Thomas Gregory Bunce – Air Bomber
F/S J. ‘Ginge’ Wright – Wireless Operator
Sgt. George ‘Geordie’ Robertson – Flight Engineer
Sgt. F. Crome – Mid Upper Gunner
Sgt William ‘Bill’ Barker – Rear Gunner

Take Off 00:10 – Landed 04:55
Flight Time 04:45

02/06/1944 Attack Against Wissant
Lancaster Mk.I LM104 JN-K ‘Jock’s Box’ (3)

F/S Andrew David MacKenzie – Pilot
F/S William ‘Bill’ Stoneham – Navigator
F/S Thomas Gregory Bunce – Air Bomber
F/S J. ‘Ginge’ Wright – Wireless Operator
Sgt. George ‘Geordie’ Robertson – Flight Engineer
Sgt. Gilbert ‘Mac’ McKellow – Mid Upper Gunner
Sgt. William ‘Bill’ Barker – Rear Gunner

Take Off 01:15 – Landed 03:15
Flight Time 02:00

05/06/1944 Attack Against Ouistreham
Lancaster Mk.I LM104 JN-K ‘Jock’s Box’ (4)

F/S Andrew David MacKenzie – Pilot
F/S William ‘Bill’ Stoneham – Navigator
F/S Thomas Gregory Bunce – Air Bomber
F/S J. ‘Ginge’ Wright – Wireless Operator
Sgt. George ‘Geordie’ Robertson – Flight Engineer
Sgt. Gilbert ‘Mac’ McKellow – Mid Upper Gunner
Sgt. William ‘Bill’ Barker – Rear Gunner

Take Off 03:30 – Landed 07:15
Flight Time 03:45

06/06/1944 Attack Against Lisieux
Lancaster Mk.I LM104 JN-K ‘Jock’s Box’ (5)

F/S Andrew David MacKenzie – Pilot
F/S William ‘Bill’ Stoneham – Navigator
F/S Thomas Gregory Bunce – Air Bomber
F/S J. ‘Ginge’ Wright – Wireless Operator
Sgt. George ‘Geordie’ Robertson – Flight Engineer
Sgt. Gilbert ‘Mac’ McKellow – Mid Upper Gunner
Sgt. William ‘Bill’ Barker – Rear Gunner

Take Off 23:50 – Landed 03:15
Flight Time 03:25

08/06/1944 Attack Against Fougeres
Lancaster Mk.I LM104 JN-K ‘Jock’s Box’ (6)

F/S Andrew David MacKenzie – Pilot
F/S William ‘Bill’ Stoneham – Navigator
F/S Thomas Gregory Bunce – Air Bomber
F/S J. ‘Ginge’ Wright – Wireless Operator
Sgt. George ‘Geordie’ Robertson – Flight Engineer
Sgt. Gilbert ‘Mac’ McKellow – Mid Upper Gunner
Sgt William ‘Bill’ Barker – Rear Gunner

Take Off 22:05 – Landed 02:25
Flight Time 04:20

17/06/1944 Attack Against Montdidier
Lancaster Mk.I LM104 JN-K ‘Jock’s Box’ (8)

F/S Andrew David MacKenzie – Pilot
F/S William ‘Bill’ Stoneham – Navigator
F/S Thomas Gregory Bunce – Air Bomber
F/S J. ‘Ginge’ Wright – Wireless Operator
Sgt. George ‘Geordie’ Robertson – Flight Engineer
Sgt. Gilbert ‘Mac’ McKellow – Mid Upper Gunner
Sgt. William ‘Bill’ Barker – Rear Gunner

Take Off 01:30 – Landed 04:40
Flight Time 03:10

21/06/1944 Attack Against Domleger
Lancaster Mk.I LM104 JN-K ‘Jock’s Box’ (9)

F/S Andrew David MacKenzie – Pilot
F/S William ‘Bill’ Stoneham – Navigator
F/S Thomas Gregory Bunce – Air Bomber
F/S J. ‘Ginge’ Wright – Wireless Operator
Sgt. George ‘Geordie’ Robertson – Flight Engineer
Sgt. Gilbert ‘Mac’ McKellow – Mid Upper Gunner
Sgt. William ‘Bill’ Barker – Rear Gunner

Take Off 18:10 – Landed 21:00
Flight Time 02:50

23/06/1944 Attack Against L’Hey
Lancaster Mk.I LM104 JN-K ‘Jock’s Box’ (10)

F/S Andrew David MacKenzie – Pilot
F/S William ‘Bill’ Stoneham – Navigator
F/S Thomas Gregory Bunce – Air Bomber
F/S J. ‘Ginge’ Wright – Wireless Operator
Sgt. George ‘Geordie’ Robertson – Flight Engineer
Sgt. Gilbert ‘Mac’ McKellow – Mid Upper Gunner
Sgt. William ‘Bill’ Barker – Rear Gunner

Take Off 00:00 – Landed 00:00
Flight Time 00:00

24/06/1944 Attack Against Rimeux
Lancaster Mk.I LM104 JN-K ‘Jock’s Box’ (11)

F/S Andrew David MacKenzie – Pilot
F/S William ‘Bill’ Stoneham – Navigator
F/S Thomas Gregory Bunce – Air Bomber
F/S J. ‘Ginge’ Wright – Wireless Operator
Sgt. George ‘Geordie’ Robertson – Flight Engineer
Sgt. Gilbert ‘Mac’ McKellow – Mid Upper Gunner
Sgt. William ‘Bill’ Barker – Rear Gunner

Take Off 23:30 – Landed 02:05
Flight Time 02:35

30/06/1944 Attack Against Villers Bocage
Lancaster Mk.I LM104 JN-K ‘Jock’s Box’ (12)

F/S Andrew David MacKenzie – Pilot
F/S William ‘Bill’ Stoneham – Navigator
F/S Thomas Gregory Bunce – Air Bomber
W/O J. ‘Ginge’ Wright – Wireless Operator
Sgt. George ‘Geordie’ Robertson – Flight Engineer
Sgt. Gilbert ‘Mac’ McKellow – Mid Upper Gunner
Sgt. William ‘Bill’ Barker – Rear Gunner

Take Off 18:15 – Landed 21:15
Flight Time 03:00

07/07/1944 Attack Against Vaires
Lancaster Mk.III NE181 JN-M ‘The Captains Fancy’ (18)

F/S Andrew David MacKenzie – Pilot
F/S William ‘Bill’ Stoneham – Navigator
F/S Thomas Gregory Bunce – Air Bomber
W/O J. ‘Ginge’ Wright – Wireless Operator
Sgt. George ‘Geordie’ Robertson – Flight Engineer
Sgt. Gilbert ‘Mac’ McKellow – Mid Upper Gunner
Sgt. William ‘Bill’ Barker – Rear Gunner

Take Off 22:59 – Landed 03:29
Flight Time 04:30

10/07/1944 Attack Against Nucourt
Lancaster Mk.I HK558 AA-D (12)

F/S Andrew David MacKenzie – Pilot
F/S William ‘Bill’ Stoneham – Navigator
F/S Thomas Gregory Bunce – Air Bomber
W/O J. ‘Ginge’ Wright – Wireless Operator
Sgt. George ‘Geordie’ Robertson – Flight Engineer
Sgt. Gilbert ‘Mac’ McKellow – Mid Upper Gunner
Sgt. William ‘Bill’ Barker – Rear Gunner

Take Off 04:25 – Landed 07:33
Flight Time 03:08

12/07/1944 Attack Against Vaires
Lancaster Mk.III ND917 JN-O (22)

F/S Andrew David MacKenzie – Pilot
F/S William ‘Bill’ Stoneham – Navigator
F/S Thomas Gregory Bunce – Air Bomber
W/O J. ‘Ginge’ Wright – Wireless Operator
Sgt. George ‘Geordie’ Robertson – Flight Engineer
Sgt. Gilbert ‘Mac’ McKellow – Mid Upper Gunner
Sgt. William ‘Bill’ Barker – Rear Gunner

Take Off 18:13 – Landed 21:45
Flight Time 03:32

15/07/1944 Attack Against Bois Des Jardine
Lancaster Mk.III ND917 JN-O (23)

F/S Andrew David MacKenzie – Pilot

P/O Terence Cecil May – 2^nd Pilot
F/S William ‘Bill’ Stoneham – Navigator
F/S Thomas Gregory Bunce – Air Bomber
W/O J. ‘Ginge’ Wright – Wireless Operator
Sgt. George ‘Geordie’ Robertson – Flight Engineer
Sgt. Gilbert ‘Mac’ McKellow – Mid Upper Gunner
Sgt. William ‘Bill’ Barker – Rear Gunner

Take Off 23:35 – Landed 02:20
Flight Time 02:45

23/07/1944 Attack Against Kiel
Lancaster Mk.I LM104 JN-K ‘Jock’s Box’ (22)

F/S Andrew David MacKenzie – Pilot
F/S William ‘Bill’ Stoneham – Navigator
F/S Thomas Gregory Bunce – Air Bomber
W/O J. ‘Ginge’ Wright – Wireless Operator
Sgt. George ‘Geordie’ Robertson – Flight Engineer
Sgt. Gilbert ‘Mac’ McKellow – Mid Upper Gunner
Sgt. William ‘Bill’ Barker – Rear Gunner

Take Off 22:43 – Landed 03:46
Flight Time 05:03

24/07/1944 Attack Against Stuttgart
Lancaster Mk.I LM104 JN-K ‘Jock’s Box’ (23)

F/S Andrew David MacKenzie – Pilot
F/S William ‘Bill’ Stoneham – Navigator
F/S Thomas Gregory Bunce – Air Bomber
W/O J. ‘Ginge’ Wright – Wireless Operator
Sgt. George ‘Geordie’ Robertson – Flight Engineer
Sgt. Gilbert ‘Mac’ McKellow – Mid Upper Gunner
Sgt. William ‘Bill’ Barker – Rear Gunner

Take Off 21:50 – Landed 05:31
Flight Time 07:41

28/07/1944 Attack Against Stuttgart
Lancaster Mk.I LM104 JN-K ‘Jock’s Box’ (24)

F/S Andrew David MacKenzie – Pilot
F/S William ‘Bill’ Stoneham – Navigator
F/S Thomas Gregory Bunce – Air Bomber
Sgt. R. Hasler – Wireless Operator
Sgt. George ‘Geordie’ Robertson – Flight Engineer
Sgt. Gilbert ‘Mac’ McKellow – Mid Upper Gunner
Sgt. William ‘Bill’ Barker – Rear Gunner

Take Off 21:56 – Landed 05:42
Flight Time 07:46

30/07/1944 Attack Against Amaye Sur Seulles
Lancaster Mk.I LM104 JN-K ‘Jock’s Box’ (25)

F/S Andrew David MacKenzie – Pilot
F/S William ‘Bill’ Stoneham – Navigator
F/S Thomas Gregory Bunce – Air Bomber
Sgt. R. Hasler – Wireless Operator
Sgt. George ‘Geordie’ Robertson – Flight Engineer
Sgt. Gilbert ‘Mac’ McKellow – Mid Upper Gunner
Sgt. William ‘Bill’ Barker – Rear Gunner

‘This was a daylight attack on the front line where the troops were stalled so it was to be a more than accurate attack. Unfortunately, the ceiling dropped so, as we had aircraft above us, we had to fly lower and lower, Ultimately we bombed from 500 feet, flying through bomb burst shock and being hit by antiaircraft fire from the ground, one of the shells went through the aircraft, narrowly missing my mid-upper. Fortunately the shell exploded above us but as we left the target area it was apparent that poor old Jock’s Box had been hurt. We also lost two engines so, on the way home I told the crew to prepare to abandon the aircraft. By this time we had a fighter escort, so we decided to head for the emergency airfield at Woodbridge where we eventually landed our poor old friend – and that was the last we saw of her.’

Take Off 06:12 – Landed 09:40
Flight Time 03:28

01/08/1944 Attack Against Le Nieppe
Lancaster Mk.I HK554 JN-F (24)

F/S Andrew David MacKenzie – Pilot
F/S William ‘Bill’ Stoneham – Navigator
F/S Thomas Gregory Bunce – Air Bomber
F/S L. Edgerton – Wireless Operator
Sgt. George ‘Geordie’ Robertson – Flight Engineer
Sgt. Gilbert ‘Mac’ McKellow – Mid Upper Gunner
Sgt. William ‘Bill’ Barker – Rear Gunner

Take Off 19:11 – Landed 21:53
Flight Time 02:42

03/08/1944 Attack Against L’Isle Adam
Lancaster Mk.I HK554 JN-F (25)

P/O Andrew David MacKenzie – Pilot
F/S William ‘Bill’ Stoneham – Navigator
F/S Thomas Gregory Bunce – Air Bomber
W/O Sinclair Archibald Bain – Wireless Operator
Sgt. George ‘Geordie’ Robertson – Flight Engineer
Sgt. Gilbert ‘Mac’ McKellow – Mid Upper Gunner
Sgt. William ‘Bill’ Barker – Rear Gunner

Take Off 11:55 – Landed 15:37
Flight Time 03:42

04/08/1944 Attack Against Bec D’Ambes
Lancaster Mk.III NE181 JN-M ‘The Captains Fancy’ (32)

P/O Andrew David MacKenzie – Pilot
F/S William ‘Bill’ Stoneham – Navigator
F/S Thomas Gregory Bunce – Air Bomber
W/O Sinclair Archibald Bain – Wireless Operator
Sgt. George ‘Geordie’ Robertson – Flight Engineer
Sgt. Gilbert ‘Mac’ McKellow – Mid Upper Gunner
Sgt. William ‘Bill’ Barker – Rear Gunner

Take Off 13:38 – Landed 21:13
Flight Time 07:35

05/08/1944 Attack Against Bassens
Lancaster Mk.III NE181 JN-M ‘The Captains Fancy’ (33)

P/O Andrew David MacKenzie – Pilot
F/S William ‘Bill’ Stoneham – Navigator
F/S Thomas Gregory Bunce – Air Bomber
W/O Sinclair Archibald Bain – Wireless Operator
Sgt. George ‘Geordie’ Robertson – Flight Engineer
Sgt. Gilbert ‘Mac’ McKellow – Mid Upper Gunner
Sgt. William ‘Bill’ Barker – Rear Gunner

Take Off 14:29 – Landed 22:07
Flight Time 07:38

Update to the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll

Many thanks to Meredith and her staff in the Honours Rolls section of the Australian War Memorial for updating the records of the 32 Australian airmen who flew with and lost their lives with 75(NZ) Squadron. I am pleased to say that the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll now correctly records their Squadron as 75(NZ) Squadron RAF.

After initially contacting the AWM with my request that the records be corrected, the staff replied to me and very quickly corrected the information. I am sure that we all send our thanks to the individuals who were involved in this activity. Whilst perhaps to some, a small matter of detail, to many of us, including , I am sure the families of these 32 brave boys, it is a very important one nevertheless.

Visit the Australian War Memorial website here.

Another piece falls into place – Homberg 20th November 1944

Many thank to Hubert for ‘recreating’ this approximate Op route for the Homberg Op, 20th November 1944. What is perhaps more remarkable, given the current activity on the blog, is that Hubert is the son of Hubert Rees, the captain of PB520 AA-G, the third aircraft to be lost from 75(NZ) Squadron on this Op. Hubert and the rest of his crew managed to bale out from the aircraft – all surviving and spending the rest of the war as PoW’s. The Rees crew that night were;

F/O Hubert Rees RAFVR 152402 – Pilot. Stalag Luft I
F/O Raymond Charles Preston RAFVR 1494143/ 153457 – Navigator. Stalag Luft I
F/O Douglas Cooper Westwood RNZAF NZ427483 – Air Bomber. Stalag Luft I
F/L William French Morison Naismith RAFVR 47714 – Wireless Operator. Stalag Luft I
Sgt. J. E. Mulhall RAFVR 2202223 – Flight Engineer. Stalag Luft III
Sgt. R. Alderson RAFVR 2221636 – Mid Upper Gunner. Stalag Luft VI
Sgt. C. Allen RAFVR  1898556 – Rear Gunner. Stalag Luft VII*
*Same prison camp as Sgt. John Gray, Rear Gunner and sole survivor of the McCartin crew ND911 JN-V

Hubert’s plot is based on a copy of an original route map of his Father’s and the original plotted course to/ from Sint Truden in Belgium can be seen in black on the map.

Hubert has slightly revised the plotted route (based on the coordinates I received from Department of Research and Information Services, Royal Air Force Museum, London, last week –  he has moved the actual target from Homberg to the Meerbeck Synthetic Oil Plant of Rheinpreussen, located at the western edge of the village of Meerbeck about three miles northwest of Homberg. Hubert adds to his map the following observations;

‘I would hope that my web-derived lat/long approximations for Diss, Orfordness and Mepal would be viewed as credible but ‘non-critical’.  However, I now realise that my approximation for the Target location might be viewed otherwise.  Historical references to the district of Homberg (the centre of which I earlier used to derive an approximate location) appear to represent a short way of describing the actual target, namely the synthetic oil plant at Meerbeck, some 3 miles NW of Homberg.  I still don’t have a lat/long fix for the plant itself, but my approximation is now centred on the district of Meerbeck.
 
As long as it’s understood that my lat/long approximations for named locations are just that, and not actual fixes used by aircrew at the time, then all will be well with the post, I think.’

Many thanks also to Adrian who proposed a set of converted coordinates that he got to work with Google Maps – much to my frustration I still can’t seem to get the coordinates to show a sensible route over the target – which clearly suggests my second successful attempt at my Cub Scouts Map Reading badge apparently, was an utter fluke…….

Missing. McCartin crew – the chain of loss.

The telegram that no family wanted to receive. The McCartin family did on the 22nd of November 1944.
Donated by Pauline McCartin to the Australian War Memorial
AWM: PR03129 – Papers of Lt Leo McCartin & FO Patrick McCartin

The following collections of letters, is perhaps the most touching set of documents I have so far come across in the creation of this blog. These letters were given to me by Paul Hickey, whose wife is the niece of Leo McCartin. They were one of the first collections I set out in one of many initial designs for the ‘proper’ website that some day will happen. Because of their length I initially decided not to place it here on the blog, but now as more information comes to me, I think it should be shown – to wait for the website to be built might mean a massive delay before these letters can be seen.

It is moving enough to read a crew history that ends with their loss. However, what follows is a series of letters between ‘Official’ sources and the families of ‘Leo’ McCartin’s crew after their tragic loss on the Homberg raid of 20th November 1945. All the crew were lost, apart from the rear gunner Flight Sergeant John Gray, who survived and spent the remainder of the war as POW.

Remember, compounding the awful notification of the loss of their aircraft and the crew’s initial status of ‘missing’, 2 of the families were some 10,000 miles away in Australia when that first fateful telegram arrived.

Read the Chain of Loss here.

Patrick Leo McCartin RAAF AUS 88689/ 419328 logbook

© Paul Hickey

Its with great pleasure and a slight apology that I finally add the log book of Leo McCartin to the site. Early in my research I began talking to Paul and Jim about their relatives who were both lost in ND911 on the 20th November 1944 on a raid to Homberg. I would like to thank Paul and his wife, who is Leo’s niece for this kind donation to the collection.

Leo’s logbook is held in the Australian War Memorial and Paul had to photograph what is physically a very large logbook in perhaps was not the most ideal photographic conditions. Nevertheless, I have now managed to clean them up.

Homberg as a target proved to be in Harry Yate’s words a ‘jinx’ target for the Squadron. Across 4 visits, the Squadron lost a total of 10 aircraft and 54 airmen were lost, a further 15 ended up as PoW’s and one, F/Sgt. William Edward McGee, managed to evade

In ‘Luck and a Lancaster’ Harry Yates reflected on the aftermath of the 20th November trip to Homberg;

“The terrible news, though, was that three others were logged missing. All three were fine and experienced crews, close to the end of their tours. Ron Gordon and his five English crewmates were on number twenty eight. They all died, together with a pool W/Op who had just married and moved to the village. The W/Op whose place he had taken was a New Zealander, F/S Bill Otway. A throat infection had saved his life. Despite pleading with the MO to let him stay, he had been dispatched to Ely Hospital for 2 days. Now he must come to terms with the severance of six friendships and ask himself a thousand times  the unanswerable question, ‘Why them and not me?’

Flying Officer P.L. McCartin and crew also failed to return. McCartin had been a pupil of mine at South Cerney. He and his W/Op were Australian, the rest English. They had arrived on station in mid-August, ten days after us. This trip was their  twenty second. Only the rear gunner extricated himself from the aircraft and he was captured.”

Contact with Colin Gray, son of John, rear gunner

Phil passes me a contact for Colin Gray, the son of John, the sole survivor of the McCartin crew. I’m keen to make contact and flesh out any personal information on John, as well as make contact with another relative.

Colins reply is quick, friendly and supportive – it transpires we were actually both at Mepal last November and that actually the ashes scattered the previous day were those of John.

I am slightly surprised when in his email, he asks whether I have seen the information about the Mccartin crew on AircrewRemeberenceSociety – as the story that was told is nothing like the story he knows to be correct.

This throws me a bit – I know that the information has come from Jim and Paul and I know, having seen the letters and accompanying documentation, that the evidence exists for the story as it stands. I feel in a bit of a dilemma – I am sure Colin believes he knows his story to be correct, but I know that the story from Jim and Phil is as well. It dawns on me that the missing link is the ‘Report of Loss’ letter John had to write on his return to the UK. I um and ah for a few minutes and then send it to him………

It dawns on me that I have possibly just done what I hope the website to do – connected people with information, allowing a clearer or more detailed story to be told or understood – I hope Colin feels the same way……..
Colin mails back and thanks me for the information – it transpires he has never seen it – so I am glad he now has.

The McCartin crew

The crew of ND911 JN-V. Back row L to R; P/O John Miles (Nav), F/O Patrick ‘Leo’ McCartin (Pilot), F/O Leonard Martin (A/B), F/Sgt. Phillip Smith (WOP). Front row L to R; Sgt. John Gray (R/Gnr), Sgt. Dennis Bryer (Mug), Sgt. John Warlow (FE)

Just received the promised material from Paul and Jim about their relatives. Leo and Phil were Pilot and Wireless Operator respectively on Lancaster ND911 when the aircraft and all but one of its crew were lost on a raid to the infamous target of Homberg on the night of the 20th November 1944. The plane exploded in mid-air, killing all the crew probably instantaneously, apart from the rear gunner, John Gray, who came round from momentary unconsciousness, still in the tail of the aircraft. He baled out and survived, to spend the rest of the war as a PoW. This is the first time I have actually dealt with information relating to a loss – I think I find the experience all the more profound because of the incredible and heart wrenching set of letters Paul has passed to me relating to the official notification of Leo’s initial status of ‘missing’ from the Australian Air Force and the handwritten correspondence from Leo’s father trying to find out his sons fate and ultimately his final resting place – I don’t feel embarrassed to say I had tears in my eyes as I read them….