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Post by wanganui on Jul 22, 2012 21:18:22 GMT 12
I have a few in my RNZAF insignia collection which i'll forward to Dave to post for me (still haven't worked out how to post photos!!) as well as a painted irvin flying jacket featuring the silver fern & a nice studio portrait of a NZ air gunner displaying his badge. But firstly a day out in Brighton!!
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Post by wanganui on Jun 27, 2012 7:03:32 GMT 12
Thanks for that Wayne, Stott had written 2 letters to Mrs Winchester expressing condolences & forwarding photos but not identifying his (Stott's) crew position.
If i can help you with any info i can obtain from the over 200 letters to his family let me know!! Regards, Kerry.
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Post by wanganui on Jun 26, 2012 8:48:14 GMT 12
Thats correct Wayne, he was held up in hospital due to a throat operation thus missing the first 6 ops. The crew went on to complete their tour while Winchester was given the option of staying with 75 or transferring to another Sqd to complete his tour. He chose to transfer & the rest is history.
I would like the full crew listing & a full list of ops if you have it as i'm trying to build up his biography. His mother as next of kin unfortunitly never claimed his log book when they were made available making my job just that little more difficult!!
Thanks in advance, i appreciate it. Kerry.
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Post by wanganui on Jun 25, 2012 6:18:49 GMT 12
I'm hoping that someone out there might have the crew listing for an RAF air gunner who flew with 75 Sqd from May 1944 till his transfer to 90 Sqd in August 1944. I only have a few details, the AG in question was 1334869 Flt/Sgt Ronald (Ron) John WINCHESTER, from his letters home he identifies air bomber Doug Archer & navigator Ron Ede whom i beleive are both members of the RCAF.
183758 P/O Ron Winchester was KIA on his 2nd or 3rd op with 90 Sqd on the 13th Sept 1944 while raiding Frankfurt, Germany & is buried with his crew at Durnbach War Cemetery.
A crew listing would be very much appreciated, NZers would certainly made up part of the crew while at 75.
Thanks in advance, Kerry.
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Post by wanganui on Jun 9, 2012 1:40:35 GMT 12
I bought some time ago P/O Lionel Tabor & his brothers memorial cross & medal groups. In all three brothers were lost on active service. One can only imagine the heart break the family felt receiving those dreaded telegrams one after another.
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Post by wanganui on May 10, 2012 7:40:58 GMT 12
I for one would love to see a book on 489 Sqd, it seems a shame to hoard all the info & not make it available to the public. I'm not sure what help you're after, if it's original material all i have is a log book to RAF Fl/Lt James Milne mid who flew Hampdens as an air gunner with W/C Darling & S/L James and a silver pint mug dedicated to the Sqd by S/L Evans. If you're interested in photos of the peices i have let me know. Good luck, Kerry.
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Post by wanganui on May 2, 2012 8:50:08 GMT 12
Forever Strong?? Forever Wrong!!
But as Dave said great photos.
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Post by wanganui on Apr 9, 2012 5:44:25 GMT 12
"Naval vessels lying off-shore stopped shelling as we came in, and opened up again a few minutes later. Our bombs were dead on the target. As we turned away, we could see the landing craft moving in towards the beaches. It was an easy job, for we encountered no opposition." A great many New Zealanders took part in the air attack. They included Flight Lieutenant R. C. Wallace (Auckland), Warrant Officer P. W Werby (Wairoa), Warrant Officer John McPhee (Christchurch), Flying Officer R. M. Knewstubb (Dunedin), and Flight Sergeant R. J. Iremonger (Wellington).
On a wet bank holiday weekend i've found time to read some of the older posts noting a mention to a pilot whose uniform i own, Flt/Lt Robert Cecil Wallace, 118490. The service tunic is RAF badged (wings & buttons) with FIJI national titles. Indeed he is mentioned in the 1946 publication "New Zealand at War" pg 101 as being from Fiji & Epsom NZ. Many years ago i tried to access his service records through NZDF Archives to be told as he wasn't a NZer they didn't hold his records.
Great posting Dave to those airmen who served on the Forgotten Front!!
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Post by wanganui on Dec 7, 2011 9:15:52 GMT 12
HB Dave, it's all about presents & cake!!
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Post by wanganui on Oct 15, 2011 4:59:41 GMT 12
I have a photocopy of the very elusive No 1 as well, i guess not many originals got past Levin gates falling prey to wartime paper drives & 70 years of attriction.
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Post by wanganui on Oct 14, 2011 22:04:54 GMT 12
I've managed to collect every issue except No 1 of this great series. The later ones don't fetch a great deal these days but your issue with it's attachment to your father puts in a different level, what a pity your family aren't interested!! I hope you find a good home for it, it would be a shame for it to be lost. Kerry.
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Post by wanganui on Aug 3, 2011 7:54:18 GMT 12
Hi Dave, if you're still looking for pics of Marra i have 2 original unpublished photos tucked away somewhere. Give me a PM when you have time, Kerry.
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Post by wanganui on Jul 18, 2011 7:33:02 GMT 12
Hi folks, i wonder if any of the forum members had any info on the pilot, NZ416570 W/O J P Wilson AFC who according the brilliant book, By Such Deeds by G/C C Hanson, flew 3 tours, one with 3 Sqd & two with 9 Sqd winning the Air Force Cross for his fine service & devotion to duty.
Has anyone interviewed him or hold his log books or photo albums?? Is he still alive perhaps??
Thanks for your help in advance, Kerry.
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Post by wanganui on Jul 5, 2011 5:46:09 GMT 12
Thanks Kerry, interesting that it was Colin who ferried that aircraft. Do you happen to know the serial number of '9' please? Copied from Colin's log book; April 24 P-40 3209 Guadalcanal - Espirita De Santo 4.00 (hrs) April 26 P-40 3209 Santos - Tontouta 2.40 April 27 P-40 3209 Tontouta - Norfolk 2.45 April 28 P-40 3209 Norfolk - Waipapakauri 2.45 April 28 P-40 3209 Waipapakauri - Whenuapai 1.00 April 28 P-40 3209 Whenuapai - Ardmore .15 (hrs) He has noted alongside "Very bad storm encountered lost Keith Armstrong And Harry Veint. Death presumed no trace" On this trip he flew as Blue Four, A Flight, 19 Sqd. From his private memoirs Colin recalled he loaded the space behind his seat with a huge bunch of bananas bought while he was in Norfolk, he also bought back an American M1 carbine bought from a Yank soldier for $20.00. Hope that's what your looking for, Kerry.
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Post by wanganui on Jul 4, 2011 5:41:58 GMT 12
I wonder if the 'bar' on '9' is even a bar, maybe it's a repair patch? My theory of smoke/scorching may not hold water when you look at the vertical bands on '9' as they are much whiter and you'd think the one beside the roundel would be grey too if there was smoke damage. Re; No 9. The aircraft in the photo was flown back from the Canal by Colin Palmer of 19 Sqd. During a DVD interveiw i recorded with him before he died he reveiled his theory about the loss of the 2 fighters & their pilots. I also have a copy of his private memoirs which he mentions one of his aircraft was hit by ground fire setting fire to his radio though without having going through his memoirs i can't tell if it was this aircraft or another.
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Post by wanganui on May 23, 2011 21:44:35 GMT 12
Well it looks as though i was pipped at the post with regard to furtherest travelled, next time i'll start my journey from the Shetlands, haha!! No, it isn't me at the controls of the MG, i got lumbered with a K-98 and a helmet that kept falling over my eyes, the only thing i could see was my feet. I found that once i was kitted up, I looked more like a Hobbet so i'm hoping that PJ will "discover" me as a star for his next film. Hollywood hear i come!! Kerry.
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Post by wanganui on May 22, 2011 1:31:12 GMT 12
A quick post as i have to get back to work, i flew 12,000 miles from London to attend the airshow (whats the prize for furtherest travelled??!!) arriving on the Wednesday prior to the start. In doing so i was lucky to see the FW 190 streaking through Omaka skies, a stunning sight to see.
Once i have a working computer i'll try to post a few pics i took though i don't think they are as good as some of the others i've seen on this site, simply stunning...
The first of the UK magazine airshow reveiws are trickling out, the first to make it to print being Aircraft which focussed on the Tomahawk, i guess Flypast, Windsock etc will cover it fully.
Shame i didn't have time to meet up with you Dave, i got roped into being a German re-enactor for the weekend so my free time was limited, there's always 2 years time i guess!!
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Post by wanganui on Oct 5, 2010 9:21:56 GMT 12
Which one, OK - 1 used during the B of B or OK - 2 used while serving in Malta?? I have a private un-published photo of OK - 2 but it's slightly out of focus & taken at a distance so i am unable to say whether it is a fabric or metal winged version.
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Post by wanganui on Jul 28, 2010 7:19:50 GMT 12
The lighting was in at least 2 years ago when i was last home, can't wait to visit again when me & she head back for a break later this year!!
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Post by wanganui on Jul 10, 2010 8:19:39 GMT 12
"What do you do as a volunteer Wanganui?" (baz62)
I work for Friends of the IWM as a fund raiser, originally i was seeking a volunteer position in the Collections Dept but nothing was available at the time so opted for this as a step in. I have a pal working in Collections & as usual with large museums, they have more in storage than on display due to space & display theme restrictions. Kerry
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