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Post by fwx on Mar 14, 2024 8:49:53 GMT 12
The ORB lists him as "P/O Williams E.E. Captain A/B", and the Pilot (F/S Dunmall K.J.) is listed below him.
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Post by fwx on Mar 13, 2024 15:57:39 GMT 12
Eric Williams was an Air Bomber (Bomb Aimer)
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Post by fwx on Feb 28, 2024 7:51:30 GMT 12
Amazing, I have just discovered that my grandfather's oldest brother Captain David John Shaw bought the Lyttelton-based 51-ton topsail schooner “Croydon Lass” in August 1897 for the sum of £400, “to be placed in the coasting trade”. So not long after this photo was taken:
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Post by fwx on Jan 17, 2024 9:32:16 GMT 12
The son was F/Sgt Frederick Alexander Bandy, RAF (1318948), Air Bomber with the R F Bennett crew, 26 Dec 1942 to 30 May 1943. Died Sunday 30 May 1943, age 23, during a raid on Wuppertal. Buried Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany. Interestingly (and again sadly), the e-Bay listing confirms that he came through 11 Operational Training Unit as a member of the Raymond Cyril Going crew. (Raymond was an older half-brother of All Black Sid). The Going crew were all lost on their very first operation at 75 (NZ) Squadron, on 3.3.43. The Bomb Aimer in that crew, Sgt Frederick Arthur William Willis RAF 1382215, was a very unlucky fill-in for Fred. Fred had flown two days earlier with the Bennett crew as a replacement for their regular Bomb Aimer, and did so again on 3.3.43, so after the Going crew was lost, stayed on with them: 75nzsquadron.wordpress.com/r-f-bennett-crew-18-1-43-%e2%80%a0/
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Post by fwx on Oct 15, 2023 16:11:38 GMT 12
Apparently LAC Jack Langridge RNZAF, 149 Squadron, also took part in the 4 September raid, as per Gisborne Herald, 19 October 1939:
RAID OVER KIEL
GISBORNE PARTICIPANT WIRELESS OPERATOR MR. J. LANGRIDGE
News has been received that a Gisborne boy, Mr. J. Langridge, who is attached to the Royal Air Force in England as a wireless operator, took part in the raid made by British planes on the Kiel Canal at the opening of the war with Germany.
In a letter to his parents, Mr and Mrs. A. F. Langridge, 156 Clifford Street, Mr Jack Langridge writes in high spirits of the busy time he had experienced since the commencement of the war. “'We are having a lot of flying.” writes Mr. Langridge in telling of the Kiel raid he said that his squadron incurred no casualties. The only damage suffered by the planes were a few holes, the work of the “Archies.”
Also Auckland Star, 15 April 1940:
GISBORNE VICTIM.
LEADING AIRCRAFTSMAN. RADIO OPERATOR IN R.A.F. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.)
GISBORNE, this day. Advice has been received by relatives that Leading Aircraftsman Jack Langridge, of Gisborne, who was in the Royal Air Force, is missing. He had been engaged with the R.A.F. for some years as radio operator and had seen considerable service during the war. He participated in the raid on Kiel on the first day of the war and was also in the Heligoland adventure in December. Following this, while on leave, he was in a motor accident in which a companion was killed, and while he was convalescing the crew of the bomber of which he was a member were all lost.
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Post by fwx on May 27, 2023 16:09:38 GMT 12
The hangars were designed by Charles Turner, Chief Designing Engineer of the Public Works Department, built by McMillan Bros Limited and cost £76,750 each. At the time they were by far the largest structures of this type built in New Zealand and said to be the largest hangars in the Southern Hemisphere, each designed to house nine Wellington bombers.
To enclose the 220 x 190-foot area of clear hangar space, ten huge roof span arches of stressed concrete were created in-place, with footings 300 feet apart. The arches and reinforced concrete roof sections between the arches were poured progressively on top of a 240-ton forming structure that could be moved on rails. Concrete was hoisted from ground-level up to a massive overhead scaffolding structure and wheel-barrowed across to each pour, which was made symmetrically from both sides of the span, meeting in the middle. A pour could take between 24 and 30 hours.
During the pour for the first roof section a heavy thunderstorm washed some of the fresh concrete away. Boxing was improved and a weather watch became a critical part of the process.
The hangars were front opening with ten 25-foot high x 23-foot wide reinforced concrete sliding panel doors that were cast in place. Annexes for workshops, storerooms and offices were incorporated in the sides and rear of each building. “The arched hangars are built for permanency, huge and solid, not intended to be bombproof, but designed to be blast and splinter-proof in walls, door panels (each one weighs 27 tons), and sweeping roof.”
The story is pretty interesting :
“Reinforced Concrete Hangars for Air Force Stations in New Zealand” by Chas. Wm. Turner, M.Eng., B.Sc. (Eng.), New Zealand Institution of Engineers Proceedings, 1948, Vol. XXXIV.
Turner's paper used to be available here (https://www.engineeringnz.org/programmes/heritage/heritage-records/ohakea-hangars-2-and-3/) but the link seems not to be working. I have a copy if anyone is interested, just email me at chris@foodworks.co.nz.
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Post by fwx on May 8, 2023 14:01:44 GMT 12
Beautiful job, well done!
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Post by fwx on Apr 24, 2023 16:51:34 GMT 12
Thanks Dave, interesting to read.
According to Bomb Aimer Ron Mayhill, the Aitken crew flew a few more flying sequences for the cameras after the tour-expired Witting crew had been posted out. Ron says he also took part in the scene where several airmen walk out of the Crew Room and jump aboard a truck to be taken out to dispersals.
The Lancaster “O for Orange” that Nick Williamson landed in Normandy was ND917, JN-O, not ND752 AA-O, which in the film the crew refer to as "Oboe".
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Post by fwx on Apr 24, 2023 16:20:09 GMT 12
Highly recommended!
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Post by fwx on Mar 13, 2023 12:48:59 GMT 12
Note that Flight Lieutenant (later Squadron Leader I think) J T Brown was to end his RAF (and RNZAF) career in rather spectacular fashion in (I think) 1942 or 43; I presume he was sent back to the UK thereafter, although this may not be correct. This was a very sad end to a long and otherwise unblemished career in the RAF. Wing Commander in fact, and awarded an OBE in Jan 1942. So no doubt it was extremely embarrassing for his superiors when later that year, in his role as Engineering Officer at RNZAF Wigram, he was discovered to have been demanding a 20% "commission" on orders placed with a local Christchurch engineering firm. Court-martialled, dismissed from His Majesty's Service and sent back to the UK.
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Post by fwx on Feb 25, 2023 15:36:24 GMT 12
When Cecil McKenzie Hill was killed at Riccarton, he left behind a pregnant widow (Elsie Mary Hill) and a young daughter, Marjorie.
Six weeks later Elsie had a son, also named Cecil McKenzie.
Cecil McKenzie Hill born 22 March 1919 Cecil Jr also became a pilot, receiving his commission as Pilot Officer in the RNZAF in July 1938.
He sailed to England on the ‘Tainui’, departing Wellington on 3 February 1939 to take up a Short Service Commission with the RAF in March 1939. So he was already in England when the war started. Cecil McKenzie Hill, RAFVR 36172 – Pilot Cecil served served with 75(NZ) Squadron as a pilot on Wellingtons, March – June 1941. June 1941 - Reported wounded, a bullet in the left thigh and on the seriously ill list. Mother Mrs E.N. Hill, 35 Mansfield Ave, St Albans, Christchurch.
(Not surprisingly, the newspaper report did not give the cause of his serious wound - one of his pilot colleagues at 75 (NZ) Squadron accidentally shot him in the thigh with his service revolver while out rabbit shooting on the far side of Feltwell aerodrome!) After recuperating from his injury, he returned to 75(NZ) Squadron as “B” Flight Commander with rank of Acting Squadron Leader, 13.3.42 – 4.5.42.
February 1944 – received Mention In Despatches, Acting Squadron Leader Cecil McKenzie Hill, RAF, Christchurch.
His Short Service Commission expired in March 1944 and he was given a temporary commission in the RNZAF with the rank of Squadron Leader:
NZ2170 Cecil McKenzie Hill
Survived the war, returned to Christchurch, later farmed with a cousin near Ashburton, apparently never married. Retired to Yaldhurst.
Cecil McKenzie Hill died 31 December 2000, aged 81.
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Post by fwx on Feb 21, 2023 11:38:36 GMT 12
Hi Matt, Thanks for your message, yes I am interested and will email you. Cheers, Chris
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Post by fwx on May 24, 2022 19:14:58 GMT 12
Hi John, I may be able to help and have sent you a PM - top left under "Profile".
Cheers, Chris
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Post by fwx on May 24, 2022 17:27:23 GMT 12
The four-ship did three passes up the harbour yesterday, the first (line astern as per photos above) pretty much went over our house and made an incredible sound! The second and third were diamond formation I think. Very, very impressive to see four big Hercs like that flying in synch. A solo went over this morning on a similar track.
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Post by fwx on May 10, 2022 9:57:44 GMT 12
Thanks aircraftclocks, this was the Merseburg operation, at that time one of the longest trips into Germany for Bomber Command, to one of the most heavily-defended targets. It was the first op for my uncle's skipper, Johnny Wood (** above), who flew as Second Pilot with the Waugh crew: www.jn-dogboys.com/operations/johnnys-2nd-dickey/
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Post by fwx on Feb 5, 2022 12:37:38 GMT 12
“And speaking of aplomb, our then Director of Air Services, Wing Commander S. Grant-Dalton, displayed plenty one day when, in his dual capacity of Director of Civil Aviation, he was checking pupils of the Canterbury Aero Club for A Licences (at Wigram). Their figure-of-eights at 1000 feet were too high for “G-D” and hurt his neck as he craned upwards. Each succeeding student was told to come lower and closer until one lad, in a misguided effort to please, stalled off his turn and finished in an ignominious heap on a hangar roof. ”He’s failed”, said “G-D”, “Next man.” - "Still Looking Back", recollections of the old-time RNZAF, RNZAF News, No. 39, Aug 1962.
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Post by fwx on Feb 3, 2022 19:51:25 GMT 12
So pleased that the B-17 found a good home.
I was lucky enough to visit her on the movie set and couldn't believe the effort they had gone to to gather up so many authentic bits and pieces from around the world, and to reproduce everything else they needed with such accuracy. The (woman) armourer was one smart cookie.
Then to hear that the set might be scrapped after they had finished filming!!! Would have been sacrilege ...
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Post by fwx on Jan 22, 2022 12:50:38 GMT 12
I agree with David, this Dunlop was not at 75. This is one of several photos in the AFMNZ online Collection attributed to "the No. 75 Squadron album collection", with captions suggesting that they were probably taken elsewhere.
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Post by fwx on Sept 9, 2021 8:49:30 GMT 12
Herbert Douglas Newman
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Post by fwx on Aug 17, 2021 12:26:08 GMT 12
Thank you Mark, my apologies, I've only just come across your link.
In the meantime I've obtained a copy of the section of DSIR history that covers Marsden's radar investigations and procurement, “DSIR [Department of Scientific and Industrial Research] World War 2 Narratives. No 3. Radar. Copy No. 3”, Archives NZ, Reference: AAOQ 28051 W3424 16/
On the 2nd of August 1939, Acting Prime Minister Walter Nash advised Marsden that cabinet had approved expenditure for 34 ASV sets, enough to equip the whole Wellington fleet!
Unfortunately, Marsden had to explain that there were at that time only six ASV sets in use in Britain and with the intense pressure to supply the RAF, he was only able to secure one.
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