|
Post by fwx on Feb 28, 2017 16:17:47 GMT 12
The Air Force Museum of NZ has a larger, sharper copy of this photo in its collection: Their copy comes from the collection of another 75 groundie Jack Way (Corporal J L R Way, RAF (1433597), F2A with ‘A’ Flight), and the caption says "M for Mother, Newmarket". Looks to be Stirling Mk.III, BK807, AA-M, which according to Chorley and "For Your Tomorrow" was shot down mining Kiel Bay 28/29.4.43; all Hamer crew killed. However, BK807 doesn't show up in the squadron ORB's, so presumably some clerical stuff-up, and a strong possibility that she was a one-op' a/c. The "807" part of the serial number is quite clear in the photo, and the code "M" agrees with the . I've tried matching NZ crew member photos from the AWMM online cenotaph, but only with partial success, so this could be the Hamer crew, but I can't be positive.
|
|
|
Post by fwx on Apr 11, 2017 12:54:32 GMT 12
Hi again Ronnie, Glynis has sent through a real treasure trove of photos which are taking me some time to get through, but just a quick update - she has a better-quality copy of this photo with a full caption: Very exciting as these are some of the names on those menus! I have put them together with their aircraft, as per the menus, all "C" Flight: Back, L-R: Peter (PC) Rainbow (JN-P, Bad Penny IV), Cyril Stone (JN-V "Vera" and JN-X "Get Sum Inn"), Colin Penfold (JN-Y "Yorker"), Gerry Tiller (JN-O "Dogsbody Again"), Victor Smith (JN-V "Vera"?). Sitting: Tom McGibbon (JN-W "Paper Doll" or "Willie"), Bob Pirie (JN-Z "Zebra"). Front: Ron (Roland) Stroud (JN-F "Fox"). I mentioned that Glynis has another one of those Menus, with a different set of autographs - well, proving that the groundies and officers mixed socially, her copy has some of the same ground crew as above, but also the signatures of two "C" Flight pilots (Ron Flamank of JN-Z "Zebra", and Doug StC Clement of JN-V "Vera") , plus the "C" Flight Commander Jack "Paddy" Bailey from JN-M "The Captain's Fancy"!
|
|
|
Post by fwx on Aug 10, 2017 13:54:28 GMT 12
A photo for Ronnie, who I hope is still visiting WONZ! I believe they are C Flight ground crew, probably March 1945, at the same time that the full-Squadron and Flight photos were taken. Is that Mac standing far left? I think I can also see Colin Penfold, 4th from right in the same row. The photo comes from Glynis, daughter of FME LAC Dennis Jones, but she says that Dennis is not in it. Cheers, Chris
|
|
|
Post by kilodfoxtrot on Aug 6, 2018 8:35:27 GMT 12
Dont really know if im replying correctly in this thread but i believe my grandfather george hugh falloon is in one of the photographs posted
|
|
|
Post by kilodfoxtrot on Aug 6, 2018 8:43:20 GMT 12
Hi Again, Now I have figured the photo posting and as I have managed to get some better copies of Tom McMibbon's photographs.. I'd like to share them on these few pages. "Paper Doll" This was one of the a/c that he worked on. "J" for Johnnie. was on the back of this crew photograph. Tom far right. Back of Photo Im pretty sure he is in the back row center, his head is next to the "H" on thr plane
|
|
|
Post by smujsmith on Oct 6, 2018 2:38:31 GMT 12
The Air Force Museum of NZ has a larger, sharper copy of this photo in its collection: Their copy comes from the collection of another 75 groundie Jack Way (Corporal J L R Way, RAF (1433597), F2A with ‘A’ Flight), and the caption says "M for Mother, Newmarket". Looks to be Stirling Mk.III, BK807, AA-M, which according to Chorley and "For Your Tomorrow" was shot down mining Kiel Bay 28/29.4.43; all Hamer crew killed. However, BK807 doesn't show up in the squadron ORB's, so presumably some clerical stuff-up, and a strong possibility that she was a one-op' a/c. The "807" part of the serial number is quite clear in the photo, and the code "M" agrees with the . I've tried matching NZ crew member photos from the AWMM online cenotaph, but only with partial success, so this could be the Hamer crew, but I can't be positive.
|
|
|
Post by smujsmith on Oct 6, 2018 2:48:31 GMT 12
Hi all,
Just come across this photograph on your forum. Interestingly we have the same photo, in original format at home as the chap (2nd Left) is my father in law, AC Harold Goadby, of Market Bosworth, Leicestershire. I believe taken at Mepal, or that’s the story he used to tell me. He was one of the groundcrew who served through most of the war with 75 (NZ) Squadron including I believe on Lancaster’s. He did tell me that the occasion for the photograph was his and his fitters return from an air test, which the crew kindly invited them to enjoy. I’m afraid I have no information regarding the aircrew, but hope that this fills in a little gap. As an aside, it seems he never spoke to either of his sons about his war experiences, but having served for 30 years in the Royal Air Force myself, found me a willing listener. Sadly he passed away some years ago now. He must have worked with “Mac” often
|
|
|
Post by fwx on Oct 8, 2018 14:12:41 GMT 12
Thanks smujsmith, great to have another name confirmed! Especially ground crew, records are very sparse. Yes it's Mepal, and again, nice to have the circumstances (return from an air test) explained, thanks. Sadly, if the assumptions above are correct, the aircrew (Hamer crew) were all killed soon after this was taken. It must have been very tough on the ground crews when "their" crew didn't come home ...
|
|
|
Post by smujsmith on Jan 18, 2019 10:16:09 GMT 12
Hi all,
And sorry to be a pain again. My wife’s father, Harold Goadby mentioned and pictured above is still a bit of a mystery for us. We now have a copy of his service record that is a very poor photocopy but we can decipher some of it. It seems he was posted to 75 (NZ) Squadron, not the station, whilst they were at Oakington on 17/11/42. He remained with the Squadron until April 43 when he was posted to 623 Squadron. There’s no mention where 75 served between those dates but obviously the info that I provided before, believing that the photograph was taken at Mepal is likely incorrect. Can anyone help with where 75 were during those few months. His records show him with 75 at Oakington. He was an LAC Flight Mexhanic Airframes and I know very proud to have served with 75. Any info that anyone could supply would be gratefully received as I try to put together a record for his two sons and daughter. Thanks in advance.
Smudge Smith
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 18, 2019 14:18:49 GMT 12
No. 75 Squadron was based at Newmarket (the racecourse) with Stirlings from November 1942 through till June 1943. They were never based at RAF Oakington.
|
|
|
Post by baz62 on Jan 18, 2019 17:32:27 GMT 12
Did the horses mind?
|
|
|
Post by smujsmith on Jan 19, 2019 3:40:25 GMT 12
Thanks Dave Homewood,
That being the case, and my father in law being in the photograph above I suggest from his service records that it must have been taken at Newmarket and not Mepal. I wonder if the reference to Oakington in his documents indicates a detachment there to 7 Squadron, who were operating Stirling’s at the time. Thanks again for your help.
Smudge
|
|
waynem
Pilot Officer
Posts: 46
|
Post by waynem on Jan 19, 2019 17:21:24 GMT 12
Hi all, just to add to the information is the following from the squadron ORB. 15 October 42. Movement of Air Crew And Ground Personel of "B" Flight To R.A.F. Station, Oakington. The above movement was carried out in two main parties, all personnel travelling by road under the direstion of F/L Parish and W/O Cooper. The purpose of the movement being to enable aircrew of "B" Flight to convert to Stirling aircraft at Conversion Unit, R.A.F. Station Oakington, commanded by S/L Crompton. So there was a connection to Oakington.
Cheers, Wayne.
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 19, 2019 18:38:09 GMT 12
Excellent, thanks Wayne.
|
|
|
Post by fwx on Jan 19, 2019 19:45:01 GMT 12
Both A and B Flights of 75 (NZ) Sqdn did stints at Oakington for conversion onto Stirlings while the squadron was based at Mildenhall.
B Flight travelled across on the 15 October 1942 as Wayne says, A Flight on the 29th.
The squadron relocated to Newmarket on 1 November 1942 while both Flights were training at Oakington.
Quite possible that Harold was posted in while they were there as the squadron's new Stirlings were being delivered to Oakington. When B Flight finished conversion on the 8th November, they went to their new home at Newmarket. A Flight completed their conversion on the 6th of December.
So the photo with Harold, Tom and the Hamer crew would have been taken at Newmarket, late April 1943.
The squadron moved to Mepal on the 27th June 1943.
|
|
|
Post by fwx on Apr 28, 2019 16:57:31 GMT 12
A message for both Ronnie and Smudge - you may find something of interest amongst the info we have collected on C Flight ground crew here: www.jn-dogboys.com/the-ground-crew/Cheers, Chris
|
|
|
Post by fwx on Dec 5, 2019 11:39:04 GMT 12
"Paper Doll" This was one of the a/c that he worked on. Another message for Ronnie, the HK563 "Paper Doll" photo is the Eddie Robertson crew, who flew her regularly in Sept - Dec 1944. F/O Edmund Frederick "Eddie" or "Robbie" Robertson, RNZAF NZ421767 – Pilot (centre, front). F/S Anthony Charles John "Tony" Herrold, RNZAF NZ422399 – Navigator (right front). F/O Stuart Hector "Hec" Richmond, RNZAF NZ425433 – Air Bomber (right, rear). P/O Frank Rendall Tibby, RNZAF NZ425469 – Wireless Operator (left front). Sgt. G. Thompson, RAFVR – Flight Engineer (2nd from right, rear). Sgt. Ronald Alfred Maryan, RAFVR – Mid Upper Gunner. Sgt. P. Smith, RAFVR – Rear Gunner. The bomb markings show 69 op's completed, which would date the photo around 16 January 1945. The Robertson's crew final op' is thought to be the a/c's 63rd (08/12/1944 – Attack Against Duisburg), so this photo was taken well after they were tour-expired. The ORBs show that several of the crew left Mepal on the 17th of January 1945, so this was a last opportunity to have their photo taken together, with "their" kite, Paper Doll. Cheers, Chris
|
|