V

VAUGHAN, Douglas William

F/S Douglas William Vaughan, RNZAF NZ429046 – Navigator.
Killed age 28 on the 23rd of April 1944.
Son of William Vaughan and of Florence Evelyn Vaughan (Nee Ayres), of Geraldine, Canterbury, New Zealand; Husband of Muriel Belle Vaughan, of New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand.
Buried Aabenraa Cemetery, Denmark.
Grave location – Allied Mil. Plot.
Row 4. 2.

23/04/1944 – Mining in Kiel Bay
Five Stirlings were detailed for mine laying in Kiel Bay. Three of the aircraft successfully dropped twelve mines. One aircraft returned early and another failed to return (Captain NZ421728 F/S. Lammas, M.)

Stirling Mk.III EF137 AA-E

F/S Mauson Lammas, NZ421728 – Pilot.
F/S Douglas William Vaughn, RNZAF NZ429046 – Navigator.
F/S Robert Bailey, RNZAF NZ429072 – Air Bomber.
Sgt. William Frederick Harrison, RAFVR 1396448 – Wireless Operator .
Sgt. Edwin Henry Thomas, RAFVR 1811856 – Flight Engineer.
Sgt. Patrick Frederick Butler, RAFVR 1384944 – Mid Upper Gunner.
Sgt. Ivor Larson, RCAF R.192316 – Rear Gunner.

Stirling Mk.III EF137 AA-E was shot down by a night-fighter at 23:15hrs over Denmark, crashing in flames near Vemmenaes, East South East of Lundby on Tasinge Island. The aircraft broke up on impact and came to rest in shallow waters, where the bodies of all seven crew were recovered and later buried in Åbenrå cemetery.

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VERCOE, Terrance James

F/S Terrance James Vercoe, RNZAF NZ415566 – Rear Gunner.
Lost without trace age 27 on the 31st of July 1943.
Son of James Mostyn Innes Vercoe and Muriel Patricia Vercoe, of Paengaroa, Auckland, New Zealand.
Commemorated Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, England..
Grave location – Panel 199.

30/07/1943 – Attack Against Targets at Remscheld
Thirteen aircraft were detailed to attack the above targets with incendiary bombs of 30lb. And 4lb..One aircraft returned early as rear turret was unserviceable and two failed to return. The remainder successfully dropped their bombs in the target area, large concentrated fires and some explosions were seen. Moderate heavy and light A.A fire co-operating with searchlight belts were encountered, and one aircraft was slightly damaged in the mid- upper turret. Some enemy aircraft were seen, the aircraft captained by F/S. O. WHITE sighted an unidentified aircraft which attacked three times. Each time the mid upper and rear gunners fired a burst, and strikes were seen on the enemy aircraft which then fell away and claimed to be damaged. The weather was good with clear visibility except for haze caused by fires. Navigation was very good. On return, one aircraft landed at HARDWICK, due to shortage of petrol. The missing aircraft were Stirling Mk.III BF458 captained by Sgt. A.J. THOMAS and Stirling Mk.III EE915 captained by F/Sgt. J. DARNEY.

Stirling Mk.III EH905 AA-R
ORB says EE905 – I think this is an error

F/S Jack Neville Darney, RNZAF NZ42376 – Pilot.
F/S Robert James Stone, RNZAF NZ415383 – Navigator.
Sgt. Ronald Charles George Evans, RAFVR 1390444 – Air Bomber.
Sgt. George Chamberlain Davies, RAFVR 1027862 – Wireless Operator.
P/O Leonard Charles Dive-Robinson, RAFVR 143800 – Flight Engineer.
P/O Peter Sylvester Anthony St. Ledger, RAAF AUS.425375 – Mid Upper Gunner.
Sgt. Terrance James Vercoe, RNZAF NZ415566 – Rear Gunner.

Stirling Mk.III EH905 AA-R was lost without trace. All seven crew are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.

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VERNAZONI, Richard Barry

F/O Richard Barry Vernazoni, RNZAF NZ416185 – Pilot.
Lost without trace age 20 on the 30th of May 1943.
Son of Roger S. and Freda Vernazoni, of Sydenham, Canterbury, New Zealand.
Commemorated Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, England..
Grave location – Panel 198.

29/05/1943 – Attack Against Targets at Wuppertal
Twenty aircraft were detailed to carry out the above operation with bombs of 2000lb, 1000lb, and incendiaries of 30lb and 4lb. One aircraft failed to take-off owing to the rear turret being unserviceable, and two returned early. Four aircraft failed to return. The remaining thirteen aircraft successfully dropped their bombs in the target area. Very large fires were seen and also some big explosions. Some heavy A.A. Fire was encountered, but it was ineffective. No searchlights were seen. A few enemy aircraft were seen and one short combat took place, but no damage was sustained by our aircraft. The weather was good in the target area, but visibility was impaired by smoke from the fires. Navigation was very good. The missing aircraft were Stirlings Mk.III BK776 Captained by P/O. R.F.Bennett, Mk.I EF398, captained by F/O. R.B. Vernazoni, MK.III EH881 captained by Sgt. J.H. Carey and Mk.III Bf561 captained by Sgt. S.R. Thornley.

Stirling Mk.I EF398 AA-A

F/O Richard Berry Vernazoni , RNZAF NZ416185 – Pilot.
Sgt. Owen Alfred Innes, RNZAF NZ421935 – Navigator.
P/O Harold Tong, RNZAF NZ416648 – Air Bomber.
F/O Charles Hudson Riddle, RNZAF NZ41190 – Wireless Operator.
Sgt. Walter Bramwell, RAFVR 1051374 – Flight Engineer.
Sgt. Alexander Roger Cardoo, RAFVR 1522196 – Mid Upper Gunner.
Sgt. James John Chandler, RAFVR 1699810 – Rear Gunner.

Stirling Mk.I EF398 AA-A was shot down at 01:49hrs by a night-fighter (Oblt Manfred Meurer, I. /NJG1) The aircraft crashed between Vlodrop and Roermond (Limburg), while overflying the Netherlands en route to the target There were no survivors. Five crew have no known graves. The two gunners are buried in Jonkerbos War Cemetery after being found in a temporary military cemetery at Venlo.

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VICCARS, Eric Clifford

Sgt. Eric Clifford Viccars, RAFVR 649196 – Mid Upper Gunner.
Killed age 22 on the 14th of July 1943.
Buried Southend on Sea (Sutton Road) Cemetery, Essex, England.
Plot R. Grave 12049.

Sgt. Eric Viccars was killed when he became trapped in his gun turret after the aircraft he was in crashed whilst attempting to perform an emergency landing. After crashing, the aircraft instantly burst into flames. Sgt. Viccars dies despite the heroic efforts of HIs Pilot to save him from the burning wreckage.

Charles Eddy’s attempts to save his Mid Upper Gunner, Eric Viccars earned the following citation:
“One night in July 1943 this officer was the pilot and captain of an aircraft which crashed when attempting an emergency landing and burst into flames immediately. He received concussion and injuries to his scalp and spine. Despite his injuries, Flying Officer Eddy remained in the aircraft and assisted the bomb aimer from the overturned second pilot;s seat. After getting clear of the aircraft, Flying Officer Eddy, on learning that one member of the crew was absent, reentered the blazing wreckage and assisted a medical officer in a vain attempt to extricate the mid-upper gunner who was trapped in his turret. It was not until the heat, flames and smoke had made a continuance of rescue work impossible that Flying Officer Eddy was persuaded to abandon his efforts. His face was scorched whilst he was attempting to rescue the gunner and he collapsed immediately after leaving the aircraft. Flying Officer Eddy showed gallantry in dangerous circumstances and his unselfishness was instrumental in saving the bomb aimers life.”

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VICKERS, Charles Henry

F/S Charles Henry Vickers, RAFVR 1115126 – Front Gunner.
Killed age 22 on the 29th of August 1942.
Son of John Henry and Mary Louisa Vickers, of Newton Heath, Manchester, England.
Buried Adegem Canadian War Cemetery, Belgium..
Grave location – XII. E. 10.
‘And for His dwelling
And His throne
He chooseth
The pure in heart’

28/08/1942 – Attack Against Targets at Nuremburg
Ten aircraft were detailed to attack the above target. Bomb load of 4000lb. And 1000lb. 500lb. And incendiaries were dropped in the target area. Large fires were seen, A.A. fire was heavy but inaccurate, there were large concentrations of searchlights, enemy aircraft were very accurate. Wellington BJ.837, captained by Sgt. Hockaday reported that the whole town was ablaze and fires were observed 70 miles from the target. Four bomber and one presumed to be fighter were seen falling in flames. The nacelle tanks were pulled in the Amiens region, approximately 60 miles from the coast. Aircraft landed at Tangmere owing to shortage of petrol. On landing one tyre was discovered to be burst. Wellington X.3936 captained by P/O Trott, was attacked by ME.110 fire was returned and the rear gunner, Sgt. Hamerton, reported that the enemy aircraft was hit, no further fire was exchanged. the weather was excellent being clear moonlight over the target, navigation was very good by D/R and T/R. Wellington BJ.673 captained by Sgt. Davis and Wellington X.3389 captained by Sgt. Perks failed to return.

Wellington Mk.III BJ.673 AA-?

Sgt. Sydney Bernard Thomas Davis, RAFVR 1165309 – Pilot.
Sgt. Horace David Baittle, RCAF R.79439 – Observer.
Sgt. Daniel Archibald McKay, RCAF R.73282 – Wireless Operator.
Sgt. Charles Arthur Vickers, RCAF 1115126 – Front Gunner.
Sgt. Lawrence Donald Hiltz, RCAF R.88319 – Rear Gunner.

Wellington Mk.III BJ.673 was brought down at about 23:15hrs, 10 miles West of St Niklaas (13miles South West of Antwerp), Belgium. There were no survivors. The time and position of the crash, proximity from base and known strategies of enemy night-fighters in this area, indicates a strong possibility that the aircraft was shot down while en route to the target. The bodies were first buried in the Moerbeke Cemetery but were later reinterred in the Canadian War Cemetery, Adegem.

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VINCENT, Frank Arthur

F/S Frank Arthur Vincent, RAFVR 1395910 – Air Bomber.
Killed age 21 on the 25th of August 1944.
Son Of Arthur Edward And Muriel Ada Vincent, Of Felixstowe, Suffolk.
Buried Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany..
Grave location – Coll. grave 8. K. 8-10.
‘To our darling Frank
Treasured memories.
Mum, dad, Sister and Queenie’

25/08/1944 – Attack Against Russelsheim
Twenty eight aircraft took off as detailed to attack Russelsheim. Of these twenty five attacked the primary target and reported a good concentrated raid. A.A. opposition was slight, but enemy aircraft were active and one of our aircraft had two inconclusive combats. Another was unable to identify the target and jettisoned its load. A further one was caught in searchlights over the target and during evasive action lost both ailerons. This aircraft was captained by NZ424504 .F/S. O’Callaghan, E. The navigator 958564 .F/S. Hartley, R., kept the aircraft on track on the return journey even though his instruments were unserviceable and his chart lost. Two aircraft failed to return, they were captained by NZ422382 .F/O. J. Fleming and NZ421345 .F/S. Barker, R.

Lancaster Mk.I LM593 AA-N

F/O James Allan Fleming, RNZAF NZ422382 – Pilot.
F/O James Atkinson Dale, RNZAF NZ425562 – Navigator.
F/S Frank Arthur Vincent, RAFVR 1395910 – Air Bomber.
Sgt. Eric Garforth, RAFVR 2206796 – Wireless Operator .
Sgt. Kenneth Eric Croxon, RAFVR 1893473 – Flight Engineer.
Sgt. Edwin Slater, RAFVR 2210570 – Mid Upper Gunner.
Sgt. Alan Raymond Bryce Stewart, 1344346 – Rear Gunner.

Lancaster Mk.I LM593 AA-N was brought down over Germany, crashing near Neunkirchen; 38 miles North West of the target. There were no survivors. All seven crew are now buried in the Rheinberg War Cemetery.