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Post by fwx on Dec 27, 2019 10:55:10 GMT 12
P/O Osric Hartnell White RNZAF (NZ415807) was awarded an Immediate CGM - Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Flying).
The two crew members who stayed with him were each awarded Distinguished Flying Medals (DFMs) - Flight Engineer Sgt Cyril Alan Worledge, RAF (573978) and Mid Upper Gunner F/Sgt T. J. Collins RAF (1583321).
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Post by fwx on Dec 26, 2019 16:25:03 GMT 12
Thanks Dave!
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Post by fwx on Dec 26, 2019 15:40:43 GMT 12
Yes Dave, we have a bit more info, having made contact with Colin's son and daughter, and from letters written by a friend of his, Dean Simonsen. Colin (nickname “Tod”) went from 99 Squadron to 20 OTU (not 22) where he was involved in a training crash and injured his back: www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/crash_sites/scotland/avro-anson-r9583-carn-nan-tri-tighearnan/He then went to 75(NZ) Squadron, possibly as Signals (Wireless) Section Leader, then returned to 99 Squadron (again as Signals Section Leader), Newmarket around 1 February 1941. He was involved in SOE work into France around this time, flying as a Wireless Operator. He returned to NZ in early 1942 (I think, probably 2 G.R. Squadron, RNZAF Nelson) and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 23rd March 1942 and later promoted to Flight Lieutenant. Died in 1998 at the age of 85.
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Post by fwx on Dec 10, 2019 6:58:37 GMT 12
Thanks Errol,
Having 75 & 57 squadrons at the same base caused quite a bit of confusion I suspect!
There are mistakes in the Feltwell Flying Control Logs due to 75/57 mix-ups.
Cheers, Chris
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Post by fwx on Dec 9, 2019 19:24:31 GMT 12
I am writing a book about my father Flying Officer H. E. (Eric) Hunter who was stationed at RAF Methwold/Feltwell 1941 with Bomber Command until he crashed in Northern Ireland in March 1942. Does anyone have any information about 75 Squadron? I notice that you are visiting Feltwell for your Wings over Britain series, where the Airfield Historian Philip Barnes will be of much help to you as he was to me. My father was on a training operation to Aldergrove in Northern Ireland when he crashed into the Mountains of Mourne. He is buried at Belfast along with six other NZRAF men and was thew subject of a short BBC Television and 2 BBC radio stories when I visited his grave and the crash site in 2015. Parts of the Wellington he was flying are still visible on Mt Thomas near Newcastle. Any anecdotes or information is most welcome. Hi erica; I can't see any reference to a Flying Officer H.E. Hunter in the 75(NZ) Squadron records, nor to that crash. Was he the Pilot, and was he RNZAF? Is it possible that he served with 57 Squadron, which was also based at Feltwell around that time? Cheers, Chris
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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
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Post by fwx on Oct 12, 2019 20:18:15 GMT 12
Two more photos that I've come across of "Mac" Baigent while he was at 75 Squadron flying Mosquitos: F/L Tom “Mac” Morgan and S/L C.H. “Mac” Baigent, at the Royal New Zealand Aero Club pageant in Dunedin, 21 February 1948. The two Macs led a four-ship RNZAF Mosquito display team that day in Mosquito NZ2321. - Whites Aviation photo, Alexander Turnbull Library, WA-12148-F. Royal New Zealand Aero Club RAC Pageant, Mangere, 20 March 1949. Three of the nine RNZAF Mosquito crews that displayed that day, L-R: Flying Officers Scott and Macnamara, S/L C.H. "Mac" Baigent, Flight Lieutenant "Mac" Morgan and Flying Officers Horton and Hanson. - Whites Aviation photo, Alexander Turnbull Library, WA-19747-G.
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Post by fwx on Sept 11, 2019 20:47:22 GMT 12
Another immaculate photo from the W/C "Mac" Baigent collection, this one of NZ3551 behind a group at either Whenuapai (where he was based in 1953) or Ohakea. Seems more likely 41 Sqdn personnel at Whenuapai, even though this appears to be NZ3551 after she had been converted to VIP standard for the Royal Tour later that year and attached to 42 Squadron. - "Mac" Baigent collection, kind permission of his daughter Jan. Anyone have a better idea of what and where this was taken? Thanks. The original scan is twice the size of this and individual faces can easily be identified. As Base Commandant, Whenuapai, "Mac" would have been at this Colours ceremony, and had received an invitation to meet the Queen and Duke at a reception at Government House, Auckland on the 24th of December but sadly died just six weeks before it took place.
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Post by fwx on Aug 28, 2019 8:22:02 GMT 12
Hi Alex, Here is the famous photo of the damage to Peter Buck's Stirling bomber after the incident for which he was awarded his DFC. 75 (NZ) Squadron RAF Flight Commander S/L Dick Broadbent (left) and visiting NZ fighter ace W/C Bill “Hawkeye” Wells inspecting the damage to the rear turret of P/O Peter Buck’s Stirling BF517 AA-O, in which Sgt Brian Rogers was mortally wounded on the night of 26/27th April 1943.
Credit - NZ Bomber Command Association archives, Dick Broadbent collection.I may be able to help with more detail of his time at 75(NZ) Squadron - email me at chris@foodworks.co.nz. Cheers, Chris
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Post by fwx on Aug 26, 2019 20:18:32 GMT 12
I've not seen one, but there could be one out there somewhere ... my understanding is that it depicted Donald Duck bowling or throwing a bomb - the "Howzat" referring to an appeal for 'out' in cricket.
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Post by fwx on Aug 26, 2019 19:40:15 GMT 12
Caught a glimpse of the turrets the other day, looking mint ..!
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Post by fwx on Aug 19, 2019 9:31:26 GMT 12
Sadly that is all I have found so far in the way of Mosquito pics, although plenty of other beautiful aeroplane photos. Thanks again to Jan for giving permission to share Mac's treasures on here. Interestingly, his and Mary's wedding reception featured an impressive florally-decorated Mosquito suspended from the roof of the marquee, right above the wedding cake! It was even mentioned in the newspaper write-up at the time: Here it is: Cheers, Chris
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Post by fwx on Aug 18, 2019 17:00:19 GMT 12
One more from Mac Baigent's albums: - From the Mac Baigent collection, by kind permission of his daughter Jan. Baigent centre, Ron Simich 3rd from right. Ohakea, around 1947-48? Sorry DavidD, my wording wasn't clear - I was referrring to the three officers in the top group photo who had previously served with 75(NZ) Sqdn in England. Cheers, Chris.
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Post by fwx on Aug 17, 2019 15:54:42 GMT 12
Coincidentally, came across this yesterday:
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Post by fwx on Aug 14, 2019 15:56:30 GMT 12
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Post by fwx on Aug 14, 2019 9:00:13 GMT 12
Full-resolution shows the South East Asia Command logo:
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Post by fwx on Aug 14, 2019 8:52:00 GMT 12
Hi nooby, thanks for that, yes I think you are right, you can just make out the serial number behind the white band below the tail, and reversing does make it read better!
Fixed now, cheers, Chris
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Post by fwx on Aug 13, 2019 17:57:17 GMT 12
Gloster Meteor NZ6001 on display at Ohakea, 7 April 1946. Pilot, S/L Bob McKay: Bob McKay left, Mac Baigent right This appears to be the car park that day, as people were leaving: At least one of these photos is posted elsewhere on WONZ but I thought I should post these as a set. I was interested to find out that Mac Baigent was good friends with W/C Dick Webb, and I see from this thread that they were both based at Ohakea at the same time, probably where the friendship formed. From the “Mac” Baigent collection, by kind permission of his daughter Jan.
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Post by fwx on Aug 13, 2019 14:27:31 GMT 12
A nice pic of ZK-AMB from the collection of "Mac" Baigent, by kind permission of his daughter Jan. Cheers, Chris
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Post by fwx on Aug 13, 2019 14:21:45 GMT 12
Lord Louis Mountbatten, Viceroy of India and Supreme Allied Commander in South-East Asia, and his wife Edwina, Countess Mountbatten of Burma, visited New Zealand briefly in 1946. The couple touched down at Ohakea air base on April 1 with a large military entourage, were met by Minister of Defence Frederick Jones and officials, then left almost immediately for Wellington and Auckland. Though Louis went back to Sydney a week later, his wife stayed on in New Zealand for a few days and visited Palmerston North on April 11. Avro York MW102 was Mountbatten's personal VIP aircraft, modified as a "flying office". It was painted a light duck egg green colour to keep the aeroplane cool! Photo from the "Mac" Baigent collection, by generous permission of his daughter Jan.
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