rodm
Flying Officer
Posts: 67
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Post by rodm on Feb 26, 2014 18:53:06 GMT 12
Hi,
the first of the NZBCA photos shows WGCDR Sidney "Tubby" Baker DSO & bar, DFC & bar (5th from left), CO 635 SQN, and (from memory, so don't hold me to it!) I believe the photo was taken on the occasion of completion of his 100th operational sortie on 13 March 1945.
One of the aircrew in the picture is RNZAF, the Nav or A/B I think, but I no longer remember the details...
Cheers
Rod
PS - at the time the photo was taken, if it indeed was on the day of his return from his 100th op or shortly thereafter, then WGCR Baker held the DSO, DFC and bar. The bar to his DSO was gazetted on 1 May 1945...
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Post by errolmartyn on Feb 26, 2014 20:31:53 GMT 12
As captain of 635 Sqn Lancaster I PB914/W on a daylight raid against Wuppertal, Baker, DSO and bar, DFC and bar, flew his 100th op on 13 March 1945.
His crew were:
Flt Lt E C Mawson, DFC
Flt Lt S F Jackson, DFC
Sqn Ldr G R Hawes, DFC and bar
Flt Lt H C(?) Bennett (possibly Flt Lt H G Bennett, DFC, DFM)
Fg Off A G W Winch, DFC
Plt Off J M Catford, DFC
Flt Lt L E Flatt, DFC
Two of whom were New Zealanders.
From Colin Hanson’s By Such Deeds - Honours and Awards in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, 1923-1999:
MAWSON, Flight Lieutenant Ernest Charles, DFC, (pff).
NZ425975 & 133074; Born Christchurch, 7 Apr 1915; NZ Army (5th Cant Regt) 7 to 27 May 1942, 3/38/619; RNZAF 30 May 1942 to 8 Jan 1946, Res. to 7 Apr 1970; Navigator.
Citation Distinguished Flying Cross (16 Feb 1945): [635(PFF)Sqn RAF (Lancaster)] This officer has completed numerous operations against the enemy, in the course of which he has invariably displayed the utmost fortitude, courage and devotion to duty. Flt Lt Mawson flew 61 sorties with 635 Sqn.
JACKSON, Flight Lieutenant Selwyn Frank, DFC, (pff).
NZ426046 & 132667; Born Christchurch, 26 Oct 1919; RNZAF 30 May 1942 to 13 Nov 1945, Res. to 7 Feb 1957; Navigator/Bomb Aimer.
Citation Distinguished Flying Cross (16 Feb 1945): [635(PFF)Sqn RAF (Lancaster)] This officer has completed numerous operations against the enemy, in the course of which he has invariably displayed the utmost fortitude, courage and devotion to duty. Flt Lt Jackson completed 61 sorties with 635(PFF)Sqn.
Errol
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 26, 2014 22:00:18 GMT 12
An entire crew with DFC's, wow! How often did that happen??
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Post by pjw4118 on Feb 27, 2014 8:18:55 GMT 12
Thanks Gentlemen , great work.
The photo of this crew and their gongs will go into an upcoming NZBCA newsletter
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Post by Andy Wright on Feb 27, 2014 8:45:27 GMT 12
Far out, that's a hell of a crew!
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rodm
Flying Officer
Posts: 67
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Post by rodm on Feb 27, 2014 16:09:13 GMT 12
Thanks Gentlemen , great work. The photo of this crew and their gongs will go into an upcoming NZBCA newsletter Hi, I remember from a few years ago that author Max Lambert knows the identities of the two NZers in the photo...it may be worth checking, "Night After Night" to see if a captioned version of this photo is included. Cheers Rod |
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Post by errolmartyn on Feb 27, 2014 17:00:28 GMT 12
[Hi, I remember from a few years ago that author Max Lambert knows the identities of the two NZers in the photo...it may be worth checking, "Night After Night" to see if a captioned version of this photo is included. Cheers Rod Rod, You are correct. The photo appears opposite page 337 of the first edition. The caption reads: Celebration. Few crews posed with glasses in hand in front of aircraft but this was a special occasion. They are drinking to Wing Commander Sid (Tubby) Baker (fifth from left), the CO of 635 Squadron, who had just completed his 100th operation, a notable feat. South Islanders Ernie Mawson (navigator) and Frank Jackson (H 2S operator) are second and third from the left. The pathfinder crew had operated as Master Bomber on a daylight raid on Wuppertal, Germany, on 14 [sic] March 1945. Errol |
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Post by chinapilot on Feb 27, 2014 17:30:05 GMT 12
Great photo - well deserved beer! (& 'fag')
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Post by Andy Wright on Feb 27, 2014 17:55:46 GMT 12
Sid Baker's obituary: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1561040/Wing-Commander-Tubby-Baker.htmlWing Commander "Tubby" Baker, who has died aged 88, was among Bomber Command's most experienced Pathfinder master bombers and one of the RAF's most highly decorated pilots. It was Bomber Command policy to "screen" aircrew after they had completed two tours of operations and post them to non-operational jobs. But as soon as Baker reached the end of his second tour in September 1944, he immediately volunteered to start a third. His bombing career began in March 1943, when he joined No 7 Squadron, equipped with the four-engine Stirling bomber, at RAF Oakington near Cambridge. On March 27 he attacked Berlin and, as he began his target run, his aircraft was "coned" by searchlights and hit several times by anti-aircraft fire; one of his engines was destroyed and another seriously damaged. In attempting to evade the searchlights and flak, he lost a great deal of height; the damaged bomber was unable to climb, and he was forced take a longer route home than planned. Baker's aircraft had suffered other damage as well and was difficult to control. After five exhausting hours he arrived back at Oakington, having been airborne for eight hours. The flak had damaged a wheel and his undercarriage collapsed on landing, causing the aircraft to slew across the airfield; the Stirling was a write-off. Over the next few months Baker attacked all the major targets, including Bremen, Munich, Magdeburg and Kiel. He flew on all four of the raids in what became known as the Battle of Hamburg and, returning from one of them, his gunners shot down an enemy night fighter. A few days later he was awarded a DFC. On August 17 1943 Baker attacked the secret weapons testing establishment at Peenemünde. Rather than make a steady bombing run, his tactic was to approach the target in a curve, and weave before levelling out for the last 15 seconds to release his bombs. His bomb-aimer commented: "That's how I survived so many trips with pilots like Baker." Losses amongst the Stirling force were so high that Baker was appointed a flight commander only a few months after his arrival. He returned to Berlin and attacked targets in the Ruhr, and on raids to Turin and Milan he was airborne for more than 10 hours. After almost 40 operations he was rested and awarded a DSO. Sidney Baker was born in Bristol on November 19 1918. After attending St George's School, Bristol, he spent three years as a clerk with the LMS railway. He joined the RAF in March 1940 and trained as a pilot. He was identified as an above-average pilot and immediately after gaining his wings became a pilot instructor for a year. During his training to fly bombers in December 1942 his Wellington flew into high ground in the Pennines and burnt out. All his crew survived, but he later described it as "that ghastly night in the Peak District". In March 1943 he joined No 7 Squadron. After his first tour Baker was an instructor at a bomber training unit before returning in May 1944 to No 7, which had been re-equipped with the Lancaster and was then part of the Pathfinder Force. Bomber Command had begun concentrated operations in support of the D-Day landings, and Baker attacked many targets in northern France, including the V-1 launching sites in the Pas de Calais. He was appointed a master bomber in July, a role given to only the best bomber captains. Arriving over the target first, the master bomber had to circle overhead for 30 or 40 minutes to direct the Pathfinder crews dropping flares and markers; at the same time he was controlling the main bomber force by giving instructions on the precise aiming points and any necessary corrections as the raid developed. Many master bombers were lost in the process. In September 1944 Baker was promoted to wing commander and took command of another Pathfinder Lancaster squadron, No 635. During the German offensive in the Ardennes in December some bomber airfields were covered in fog on Boxing Day, but it became imperative to attack a large build-up of enemy armour at St Vith. Baker was appointed as master bomber, and, with the aid of FIDO (a fog dispersing aid), a force of 294 aircraft took off for a daylight raid. The bombing was described as "accurate", but Baker and his crews had to return to land at the fog-bound airfields. He was awarded a Bar to his DFC. On March 13 1945 Baker attacked Wuppertal in daylight, and on landing was informed that he had been grounded, having completed his 100th operation at a time when the average life expectancy of a bomber pilot was some 10 sorties. Baker's achievement was particularly impressive since he completed all his bombing operations during the height of the strategic bombing war when enemy defences were at their most effective. He was awarded a Bar to his DSO for "pressing home his attacks despite any opposition … when his cool courage [and] unfailing devotion to duty inspired the utmost confidence ". Baker remained in the RAF and later commanded a Lancaster squadron before spending three years with the RAAF. Later he commanded, from 1957, No 138 Squadron, equipped with the RAF's first V-bomber, the Valiant.. After appointments in Germany and at Headquarters Training Command, Baker retired from the RAF in 1966. He worked as personnel manager at a Bristol-based building firm until 1985. Baker was a countryman whose greatest love was racing; he rarely missed a visit to the Cheltenham Festival. Tubby Baker died on July 28. During his time in command of No 635 he met a WAAF officer, Freda May, and they married in January 1947. She survives him with a son; another son predeceased him. |
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rodm
Flying Officer
Posts: 67
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Post by rodm on Feb 27, 2014 18:23:12 GMT 12
Hi Errol, thanks for providing the captioning info. I do have the book, but my library is stored away down in the deep south while I now live in Auckland  Cheers Rod |
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Post by pjw4118 on Feb 28, 2014 9:51:31 GMT 12
Thats great , I will add these details to the archive file. Our membership files for 1995 show EC Mawson , Kaiapoi ; Nav 635 , so this presumably is the origin of the photo
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Post by baronbeeza on Mar 4, 2014 0:19:03 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 4, 2014 0:29:56 GMT 12
The chap kneeling on the right, right behind him is their last CO, Jim Sheddan, standing slightly side on. Great bloke he was. Next to Jim, left in the photo, I think that is G/C Des Scott isn't it?
I think the chap second from left kneeling, with the moustache, may have been Dusty Miller from Wanaka? Not certain.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 4, 2014 0:39:17 GMT 12
Here's the names of the veterans who were at that reunion:  Ian "Tubby" Ross was from Cambridge. If my hunch was right Dusty must be Bill Millar on the list. |
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Post by baz62 on Mar 4, 2014 11:41:46 GMT 12
Think you are correct for all of them Dave. (With the photo baron posted of the 486 reunion)
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Post by pjw4118 on Mar 12, 2014 13:20:39 GMT 12
I see Tubby Russ included in the list. Here's a couple of photos from the late Jim Sheddans Album. Tubby posing in Jims Tempest  and not quite dressed for the hunt.  The Squadron poses with Jim seated centre  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 9, 2014 11:25:51 GMT 12
This is probably a useful resource in trying to identify some of the CFS and FIS instructors in those earlier photos, form the National Library website (a Leo White photo)  The faces are: Top Row, L to R: F/O Bob Penniket, P/O Tom Webster, P/O "Winnie" Winstone (I assume Don Winstone?), P/O Bruce Thompson Second Row, L to R: P/O Jack Coath (Sp?), F/O Harold Wiles, P/O "?" Telford, P/O 'Pipe' Piper, P/O 'Sivvy' Sievers (I assume Allan Sievers?). Third Row, L to R: F/O 'Bob' Stewart, F/Lt Ted Harvie, S/Ldr Ron Kirkup, F/O "Davey" Davenport, F/Lt "Ted" Firth. Fourth Row, L to R: P/O John Penny, F/O Monty Harvie, F/O "Waddie" Waddington, F/Lt "Johnny" Walker, P/O Bill Delves. Bottom Row, L to R: P/O "Saint" St George (I assume Doug St George?), P/O Frank Bethwaite, P/O 'Maxie' Stevens, and P/O 'Grim' Grimstone (?) |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 22, 2016 1:15:23 GMT 12
Bringing this great old thread back up, I have come across a number of Auckland Weekly News photos of pilot courses at Wigram via the Sir George Grey Special Collection at Auckland Library. It would be nice to put some names to the faces. The dates are the publication dates in the AWN magazine:  22 November 1939  24 Jan 1940  20 March 1940  15 May 1940  7 August 1940  2 October 1940  6 November 1940 |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 22, 2016 1:22:11 GMT 12
And from the same AWN source, these were taken at RNZAF Station Woodbourne  9 October 1940  23 October 1940  19 February 1941 |
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Post by fwx on Mar 28, 2016 10:38:44 GMT 12
Thanks Dave, these are a really valuable find.
First photo, Wigram course, 22 November 1939, standing rear fifth from right is Graham Noel Parker, who flew a tour with 75 (NZ) Squadron on Wellingtons, 16 March to 29 September 1941. In the seventh photo, Wigram course 6 November, seated fron left looks like Raymond John Newton? Cheers, Chris
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