If this is 11 OTU, then unless you can get hold of the ORB (Operations Record Book)for this unit, and hope that it records crews names, then it'll be nigh on impossible to identify these other airmen. From your other post, it would seem they went from 11 OTU, on to a HCU, (Heavy Conversion Unit), here, they would have picked up a Flight Engineer and an extra gunner. Whilst at HCU, the war has come to an end, before he is posted to 195sqdn. I have the ORB for 195sqdn, and they stopped recording crew lists on 23rd May 45, so i cannot help you on what he actually did with them. The diary section does record a lot of training type flights, but no names.
For the 17th July, it records......The squadron was reduced from 3 to 2 flights with effect from today, comprising of one flight of H2S aircraft, and one flight of non H2S aircraft. The strength of the flights was fixed at 16 crews per flight, and the resultant surplus aircrew personnel, are now redundant, awaiting posting. It seems your father must have been one of the latter, as this was the day he was posted out.
If you can let me have your email address via my whiteboard in my profile, i'll send you the June/July diary pages.
I have a note in my files that has Flt/Sgt William Raymond Clearwater was with 75 (NZ) squadron from 17 July to 30 September 1945. He crewed with W/Off J. D. Miller as part of Tiger Force. By this time the details in the ORB's are minimal, so far I haven't found any postings in or out for F/S Clearwater or W/O Miller. I don't know if I can find any more info, but I'll keep looking.
Thanks for taking time to look up the details that you sent.
Wonderful news that my Dad was chosen to take part in Tiger Force; even though they weren't needed. (Beaten to Japan by the Yanks and their A-bombs.)
The W/O J.D.Miller connection I shall explore further. As is usual in this type of family research work, the more questions you ask, the more there is to ask about.
Thanks for the link to Flt Sgt Eric Alan Dickson's cenotaph details.
Turns out he ahd lived a few streets away for my home here in Marton, NZ. Such a small world - isn't it? Shall visit his widow and family very soon to confirm stories and share photographs.
I may have even taught one of his grand-children (also named Alan) at Marton Primary School when I was Deputy Principal at that school.
Hi I am reasonably sure that 'experts' amongst the forum-users who are/were ex-RNZAF or ex-RAF will be able to tell from the crew member's garb/uniform which poistion they were in the bomber. Obviously my Dad with his woollen boots etc was exposed to the elements during flights and definitely was rear gunner. but what about the chap beside him in similar gear (perhaps mid-gunner??). Can you ascertain from their gear who was navigator, wireless operator, pilot, air bomber ??
Des I had 4 uncles in the RAF and 2 were aircrew. 1 navigator (eldest uncle) IX squadron and 1 pilot (youngest uncle) 101 Squadron. They both had full suits, boots, woolly socks, silk inner gloves, heated over gloves (worked sometimes). Ken, the pilot had very bad arthritic hands for the rest of his life.
