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Post by fwx on Jul 10, 2021 15:27:46 GMT 12
Another great story and another impressive career.
Athol returned to NZ and completed training with the RNZAF as a multi-engine pilot, with rank of W/O, although by the time he finished, the demand for pilots had disappeared.
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Post by fwx on Jul 6, 2021 16:25:12 GMT 12
Hi generally, Thanks for that info. Your Dad probably flew just one op with 75(NZ) Squadron from what I can see with a quick look. He appears on the crew list flying with Bob Fotheringham on 2 May 1941: 75nzsquadron.wordpress.com/r-e-e-fotheringham-crew-16-04-41-%e2%80%a0/Interestingly, Streeter also flew several ops as 2nd Pilot with Fotheringham. Please email me on chris@foodworks.co.nz if you would like more info about that crew and (likely) aircraft. I would also like to obtain his full name for the squadron Nominal Roll that is being assembled on that website, thanks. Cheers, Chris
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Post by fwx on Apr 15, 2021 12:30:33 GMT 12
I came across this article and it's sad story at the same time as seeing the thread about Darton Field. From the Gisborne Herald, 6 July 1943, accompanying a list of airmen missing: "THREE GISBORNE MEN Sergeant Dudley Dobson Coates, whose father, Mr. W. T. Coates, lives at Puha, is the navigator in the Stirling bomber piloted by Sergeant T. W. Darton. Prior to joining the RNZAF last year, Sergeant Coates was on the staff of the Gisborne Times and the Daily Telegraph, Napier. In May, 1942, after training in New Zealand he went to Canada and from there to England. He was a member of an R.A.F. rugby football team which won fame as being unbeatable. Born at Makaraka, Sergeant Thomas William Darton is the only child of Mrs. Darton, Matawhero, and the late Mr. George Darton, well-known in Gisborne as a former borough engineer, after whom Darton Field was named. Educated at Te Hapara School and later at the Gisborne High School, Sergeant Darton before joining the Royal New Zealand Air Force in December, 1941, was in the Native Department in Gisborne. After training in New Zealand and receiving his wings he left New Zealand in August, 1942 and went to England. He was very keen on hockey and tennis, and represented the High School at hockey. Sergeant Frederick John Leigh Joblin is 22 years of age. Before his entry into the Royal New Zealand Air Force he was farming on his father's farm at Morere. He trained for six months in New Zealand and then went to Canada on a navigator-bomb aiming course, and later to England. He was educated at the Morere School and the Gisborne High School, was fond of cricket and shooting, and was a very keen farmer. His wife. Mrs. F. J. L. Joblin lives at Wainui Beach." * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * All three men flew with 75 (NZ) Squadron, at a time when losses were heavy. Darton and Coates were killed together on 25 May 1943, on only their second operation as a crew. Stirling BK602 AA-R was shot down by a night-fighter off the Belgian/French coast on its way to attack Dusseldorf, with no survivors. Thomas William Darton (with photo) here: www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C22981Dudley Dobson Coates (with photo) here: www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C22244Incredibly, Joblin had been killed the night before, also on his second operation. Stirling BK783 AA-Q was shot down by a night-fighter over the Netherlands on the return flight home from attacking Dortmund, only one crew member surviving. Frederick John Leigh Joblin here: www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C27353Ake Ake Kia Kaha.
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Post by fwx on Apr 15, 2021 9:59:56 GMT 12
Hello Mrs Bruce,
I tried emailing you but the address doesn't appear to be working.
If you see this, could you please email me, Chris - my email address: chris@foodworks.co.nz
We have more information about the members of Leonard's crew and the events that night.
Thank you.
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Post by fwx on Apr 11, 2021 21:31:49 GMT 12
Leonard Philip Redcliffe Hockey
Married Rachel Petrina Birch July 1939, Worthing, Sussex.
POW number 410
Died 12 Apr 1989
Buried Rockwood Cemetry, Rockwood, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada
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Post by fwx on Mar 15, 2021 11:09:16 GMT 12
Yes, very sad news about Doug Williamson, we had become good friends, and such a nice, gentle man with a great twinkle in his eye.
Just a small correction, his birth date was 8 August 1925, so he was still (only!) 95.
We think there is now only one surviving 75(NZ) Squadron RAF veteran in New Zealand, Jack Wakefield.
Ake Ake Kia Kaha!
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Post by fwx on Oct 13, 2020 8:38:57 GMT 12
Two legends in the making: MUS9410110a Group. Pilots course 3a, No. 1 Service Flying Training School, RNZAF Station Wigram. Original negative number WgF1003. L-R: Back; JG Grant, BDJ Kennedy, P Souter, JH Register, MJ Rowland, BRH Sharpe, GK Williams. Middle; JF Barron, AE Lyttle, KCM Miller, JB Starky, LT Weston, JE Wall, JA Ward, PL Stokes. Front; PP O'Brien, AKE MacEwan, WWW Burgess, WG McCullough, RF Watson, RW Taylor. James Fraser Barron, RNZAF NZ401749 (later pathfinder, Wing Commander, DSO & Bar, DFC, DFM) James Allen Ward, RNZAF NZ401793 (later Sgt-pilot and VC)
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Post by fwx on Sept 22, 2020 11:22:53 GMT 12
Some beautiful early Mark 1 Spitfire photos have been published from the photo albums of New Zealand Squadron and 75(NZ) Squadron foundation pilot Trevor Freeman. I was aware that he had later flown Kittyhawks in the Pacific, but until I saw these I hadn’t realised that before the war, Trevor had originally trained and flown as a fighter pilot, serving with 74 Squadron. The original Supermarine Spitfire Type 300 prototype K5054 in RAF camo and markings, from above, performing aerobatics over a docks area. - Ref: ALB8737528017, Air Force Museum of NZ, Trevor Freeman collection. Civilian inspection of an unknown Spitfire squadron - Ref: ALB8737528010, Air Force Museum of NZ, Trevor Freeman collection. Three Spitfires taking off from grass field - Ref: ALB8737528013, Air Force Museum of NZ, Trevor Freeman collection. Mk1 Spitfire JH-E in flight - "Taken at Hornchurch, July 1939. Sgt Jack Flinders 'in tight' on Sgt Johnny Bushell". Sgt Jack Flinders was Sgt John Layton "Polly" Flinders, 74 Sqdn RAF, Hornchurch. Later to become an "Ace" (5 destroyed, 1 probable) and S/L. Survived the war, died 1998. - Ref: ALB8737528021, Air Force Museum of NZ, Trevor Freeman collection. Line of early Mark 1a Spitfires at a maintenance unit, mid-1939. K9912 FZ-O of 65 Squadron, RAF Hornchurch in front with "Serviceable" sign attached, "FZ" code partially visible. Re-coded YT-O with pilot P/O Kenneth Hart this a/c was damaged by Bf109 and crash-landed on beach at Dunkerque 26 May 1940. This photo appeared in "Flight" magazine, July 27 1939 issue. - Ref: ALB8737528002, Air Force Museum of NZ, Trevor Freeman collection. Trevor Freeman joined the RAF in 1936 and served with 74 Squadron in the RAF before the war, flying Gloster Gauntlets and then Spitfires. He transferred to the RNZAF in July 1939 and joined the NZ Squadron to help fly the Wellingtons back to NZ. After his tour with 75(NZ) Squadron he went to 3 Group HQ and then served his 2nd tour as CO of 115 Squadron. Returned to NZ as Director of Operations, Air HQ, then posted to the Pacific in command of the New Zealand Fighter Wing, Solomon Islands. Kia 17 December 1943 over Rabaul. Portrait of Wing Commander Trevor Owen Freeman, DSO, DFC and Bar, NZ1026, Commander, New Zealand Fighter Wing. - Ref: MUS030064, Air Force Museum of NZ, Trevor Freeman collection.
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Post by fwx on Jun 30, 2020 21:12:27 GMT 12
Thanks David, and Dave, That's good information to have.
The old NZBCA and 75 Sqdn Assn newsletters have been a source of several fascinating items.
One is an entry mentioning a photo album that belonged to E.P. "Ted" Williams, one of the Wireless Operators listed above, a founding member of the New Zealand Squadron and 75 (NZ) Squadron who went on to fly with Aubrey Breckon on his famous Narvik reconnaissance and eventually become 75's Signals Leader.
His widow was offering copies of his photos to the 75 Sqdn Assn and someone travelled down to Wellington to copy the album for the Assn's archives, at that time held in Wanganui.
Ted's photos probably included some from those very early days.
I wonder whatever happened to those archives??
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Post by fwx on Jun 24, 2020 20:32:05 GMT 12
Thanks Errol and JDK, an excellent presentation and very thought-provoking.
I am currently talking to the son of a Maori Lancaster pilot and only have more admiration for those guys, the more I learn.
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Post by fwx on Jun 24, 2020 17:53:03 GMT 12
In the October 2000 issue of the NZ Bomber Command Assn newsletter, this photo and note was published: It appears to be the ship's captain (front) with the six Wireless specialists who sailed to England on the Rangitane in January 1939 to train in preparation for the New Zealand Squadron's first Wellington ferry flights, as reported in the newspapers of the time: “Six wireless operators of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, who are proceeding to the United Kingdom to join the Vickers Wellington bombers which are to be flown from England to New Zealand. Top row, from left, Messrs. C. B. G. Knight, R. A. J. Anderson, J. A. Landridge*. Bottom row, Messrs. D. C. McGlashan, E. P. Williams, and J.T. White.” * Jack Harry Langridge. - Evening Post, 11 January 1939. Firstly, I would love to find the original or a better copy of the top photo - has anyone come across it? Secondly, the uniform they are wearing - none of them were officers (by the time they reached Marham in July they held ranks of either AC1 or LAC) but all appear to be wearing officers caps?? Was this some kind of dress uniform or No. 1s that they were allowed to wear overseas? Thanks for your help, cheers, Chris P.S. Regarding Mauri McGreal's queries, L-R: White, McGlashan, (Captain of the Rangitane?), Knight, Williams, Langridge, Anderson; and all but Langridge survived the war.
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Post by fwx on Jun 20, 2020 14:08:17 GMT 12
Wow, the racism is almost stomach-churningly blatant - hard to believe they would print that, even then.
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Post by fwx on Jun 3, 2020 19:46:56 GMT 12
It seems the AWMM Online Cenotaph has Frederick Harry Denton DFC confused with Francis Henderson Denton DFC.
I've submitted a correction to the photo they have used.
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Post by fwx on May 3, 2020 12:43:34 GMT 12
Very well done!
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Post by fwx on Apr 22, 2020 10:56:33 GMT 12
I am trying to obtain copies of the production records, delivery records and/or movement cards for those first twelve NZ Wellingtons, assuming that construction had already started on at least some of the second batch when the order was cancelled.
Hopefully after the lock-down we might be able to find out more about them and shed some light on the radar installation.
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Post by fwx on Apr 21, 2020 18:14:01 GMT 12
The power of Google.
Have just come across a book online, "Rocks, Radio and Radar: The Extraordinary Scientific, Social and Military Life of Elizabeth Alexander".
It covers Marsden's stay in the UK in 1939, and his evaluation of the different types of radar under development there, having to make a decision in a rapidly changing field on what he would recommend and if possible, bring back to New Zealand.
The longer he stayed the more he learned, but at the same time, war was increasingly likely and he needed to get something up and running back home, ie., manufacturing our own radar, in time to be useful.
ASV (Air-Surface Vessel) was of particular interest, relating to one of the main threats that NZ faced, attack by sea, and already in use by the RAF.
He knew that the Wellingtons were due to fly back to NZ and that they would eventually be equipped with ASV, so decided it would be sensible to install a unit in one and fly back to NZ in it, to observe it in action!
The equipment was quite large however and best built into the aircraft.
The war happened in the meantime and the Wellingtons were now to stay in England with the RAF, so we can assume that the installation either didn't happen, or didn't happen in time to be delivered to the NZ Squadron.
By then Marsden had learned how to assemble and line up an ASV Mark 1 set so he arranged to purchase one and sent some of the equipment home by sea with the Australian delegate (also in the UK to learn about radar), D.F. Martyn. Marsden was to follow about a month later.
Amazingly, after stopping off in Wellington for discussions and meetings, with Marsden not yet back in the country, Martyn sailed back to Sydney, taking some of Marsden's equipment and top secret reports with him!
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Post by fwx on Apr 21, 2020 17:12:34 GMT 12
"At the time, it will be remembered, 30 Wellingtons were on order in Britain for the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and crews had gone Home to ferry them out. Arrangements had been made to fit one with radar, to enable contact to be kept among the aircraft. That would have been the first radar set to be used overseas. Britain asked, however to be permitted to retain the aircraft, and New Zealand agreed."
This very, very interesting, although it poses more questions:
1. Which aircraft received or was intended to receive the radar?
My guess is not any of the first six produced (NZ 300 - 305), most of which were dual-control and intended for the training of crews in the UK. The first Flight (due to leave for NZ in October 1939) was to deliver the next six aircraft, ie., NZs 306 - 311, so you would assume it was to be installed into one of those.
Marsden didn't arrive in the UK until April 1939, by which time the first a/c NZ 300 had already been built.
However, the radar unit could have been retro-fitted and there is a mystery over what happened to that very first Wellington, which was completed but never delivered to the New Zealand Squadron at Marham. Could she have been sent off for radar installation and/or trials, interrupted by the outbreak of war?
2. What type of radar was it? If the radar was "to enable contact to be kept among the aircraft", would that suggest AI (Airborne Interception) rather than ASV (Air to Surface Vessel)? Ground-scanning radar (like H2S) wasn't developed until later.
3. If Britain was to retain the aircraft, it suggests that the radar was only for trial on the long distance flight, not for the long-term use of the RNZAF. Would that have meant flying it back to Britain after the ferry flights? Why would they ask to keep the aircraft and not just send the unit back?
Fascinating, thanks!
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Post by fwx on Apr 8, 2020 15:37:25 GMT 12
Can you imagine the inestimable cool-ness of being a boy growing up with a grand-dad who is a Spitfire pilot AND owns an ice cream factory???! Well, John J. Caulton's grandson (also John) had that wonderful experience. John J. "Johnny" Caulton flew around 200 op's in Spitfires with 132 Squadron. On 24 April 1944 he was shot down over Holland by a famous night fighter pilot, Major Hans-Joachim Jabs, who drove from his nearby airfield to meet him at the crash site. Years later, the two pilots would become good friends. Johnny became a POW and spent the rest of the war at the infamous Stalag Luft 3. After the war, he brought his English WAAF bride Marie back to New Zealand and eventually they purchased Rush Munro's Ice Cream Gardens in Hastings, operating this Hawke's Bay icon for 38 years. Sadly John Sr. passed away in 2015. Three weeks ago John Jr. combined his research with interviews he made with his grandfather, photos that he kept, stories passed down and a whole lot of love and respect, to create a fitting, permanent tribute to a great New Zealander: john-caulton-spitfire-pilot.com/Highly recommended!
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Post by fwx on Feb 20, 2020 7:39:14 GMT 12
Fantastic resource, I likewise learned a lot just from my first browse.
My main interest was 75(NZ) Sqdn and there are photos I've never seen before, from collections that I didn't know existed.
Well done Matthew and the team.
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Post by fwx on Jan 24, 2020 22:21:00 GMT 12
Prior to this, Fabian had a lucky escape when his crew was undergoing Stirling conversion at Oakington.
On the night of 28th of November, Stirling BF399 AA-O stalled as Sgt Raymond Herbert John Broady RNZAF tried to avoid a head-on collision with another Stirling in the circuit, and crashed close to the airfield, killing five of the six occupants and seriously injuring the rear gunner, who would lose his fight for life on the 30th. OTU personnel had taken the place of two of the regular crew, navigator Sgt John Fabian RNZAF and wireless operator Sgt. Edward Henry Gray RNZAF.
Fabian was re-crewed with the Bettles crew, with whom he won his first DFC.
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