I am researching my parents involvement in WW2 in England and Europe.
Neither of my parents spoke of their involvement in WW2 while they were living, and both passed away peacefully one day apart in Cambridge (NZ) on 09 and 10 June 2002.
I have a photo of my Dad standing beside his office in a Wellington bomber (probably at No11 OTU in England during November1944 to April1945),
and know that he was Tail-end Charlie in Lancasters as well.
Having been shipped from New Zealand to Canada in 1944, he trained as an Air Gunner, then was sent to England and was posted to RAF Bases during 1945 (facts gleaned from Mums weekly letters to Dad during 1945). I have not been able to locate his Flying Logbook to find where, when, and if he flew missions over Europe. I have obtained a copy of his Service record from NZDF and know that :
from 26April1945 to 23June1945 he was posted to 75 Base, No.5 Group probably at Swinderby or Wigsley; and
from 23June1945 to 17July1945 he was posted to 195 Squadron, No 3 Group at Spilsby; and
from 17July1945 to 25September1945 he was posted to 75(NZ) Squadron, No.3 Group at Wratting Common;
followed by a final posting from 25September1945 to 05November1945 to 75(NZ) Squadron at Wigsley.
I would like to know what he was involved in during these months, and suspect that he may have had a part in Operation Manna and Operation Exodus, as his Service record mentions that he flew in Wellington Mark IXs (the converted Mark IA used for carrying POWs back to England). Any details re fellow crew members and in which aircraft he operated would be gratefully received.
My Mum and Dad married on 16 June 1945 in the Parish Church, Aylesbury.
Mum listed her occupation as Caterer on their Marriage Certificate, and the letters she wrote to Dad (during 1945) were on 'Air Transport Auxiliary Headquarters, White Waltham Airfield, Nr Maidenhead' letterhead pages, so she may have been a WAAF at ATA HQ.
On 06 March 1946 Dad received a Certificate of Discharge after 3 years and 29 days of Service , and returned to New Zealand 08 April 1946, followed by my Mum on 30 May 1946.
Any information, regarding my parent's war service in England during April1945 to November1945 would be much appreciated.
I have noticed a dearth of replies to this post, so I venture to suggest that you contact http://www.75squadron-raf-rnzaf.com/About_us.php . Denise Bonham is a great girl and very handy for 75 Sqn information. I am sure she will help.
Hi Des I'm afraid I don't have a lot to contribute. Unfortunately the records in the 75(NZ) documentation become very scant indeed by this point. I have found the following in the Nominal role for the Squadron; CLEARWATER F/Sgt William Raymond RNZAF (NZ432022) AG 17 Jul to 30 Sep 1945. Tiger Force. c/w J D Miller. MILLER W/O James Drumond RNZAF. (NZ4212431) Pilot 19 Jul to 27 Sep 1945. Tiger Force. CANDISH F/Sgt Allan Alfred RNZAF (NZ436914) Navigator. 19 Jul to 28 Sep 1945. c/w J D Miller, DICKSON F/Sgt Eric Alan RNZAF (NZ4211757) WOAG 19 Jul to 28 Sep 1945. Tiger Force. c/w J D Miller as W/Op. McCARTHY F/Sgt James Warren RNZAF, (NZ436589) AB 19 Jul to 28 Sep 1945. Tiger Force. c/w J D Miller. WATSON F/Sgt William, RNZAF. (NZ431112) Pilot/FE 16 Jul to 30? Sep 1945. Tiger Force. c/w J D Miller.
The only 2 references around the arrival of William are;
18th July 1945 - POSTINGS 30 Pilots/ Flight Engineers arrived for flying duties with the Squadron. All are New Zealanders. 21st July 1945 POSTINGS 15 New Zealnad Officers and 69 New Zealand N.C.Os arrived for flying duties. 42 New Zealand Officers, 17 RAF Officers, 30 N.Z. N/C.Os and 116 RAF N.C.Os remain at Mepal for subsequent disposal.
sorry, all I have
Simon
PS I am currently researching the aircrews of 75(NZ) Squadron RAF with a view to producing a website on the boys that flew with 75. If you do get a story together about your father I would love to see it. you can contact me on
infoAT75nzsquadronDOTcom - obviously replacing the upper case words for symbols.
Brilliant work. Thank you so much. I shall definitely be getting back to you when I have sorted out this crew.
All the best with your 75(NZ) website - it should prove to be very worthwhile and in high demand.
I have also followed up on my Dad's brother (Sgt Desmond Clearwater NZ412314) who was shot down in Holland 03 March 1943. There's lot on the web already (at www.aircrewremembrancesociety.com/raf1943/blincoe ) and I have been able to use Google Earth to actually stand on the roadside and look over the field beside the Rhine in Holland where his plane crashed; and am in the process of obtaining actual footage of the shooting down of his Stirling bomber (R9250, AA-W) from gun-camera of the Messerschmitt Bf-110 F-4 night-fighter piloted by Hptm. Reinhold Knacke. who also perished in this encounter.
Hi Des glad I could be of some use to you! I look forward to seeing anything you are able to gather on your father - As you probably realise if you have already being researching on Desmond, its a slow frustrating activity. I have been researching my father and his 2 crews ( Dad flew 2 tours with 75(NZ) between 1943 and 1945) and I am now at the 'very small part of the puzzle' point in my research, post initial deluge based on having nothing. The original idea I had was to do a site just on Dad and his 2 crews, but I have met so many people during my journey that I decided to expand the site to cover any information I could find or be given relating to the aircrews of the squadron. Its proven to be a hell of a bigger job than I first thought it would be, but heh - it keeps me busy!.
As a component of of the final site I have started writing a blog that will provide a record of the research I have done over the last 14 months - to this end, its still to be finished and is filling in a non linear fashion relative to the present day - I suppose its final function will to tell my story, maybe inform others as to how or what they should do and when its up to daye provide a 'latest news' feature to the final bigger website. Its;
