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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 12, 2012 18:07:15 GMT 12
Yesterday I was very pleased to be able to attend a special gathering of the New Zealand Bomber Command Association at MOTAT which was attended by two No. 617 (Dambuster) Squadron pilots. They were Britain's Tony Iveson, himself also a veteran of the Battlle of Britain as well as Bomber Command's elite squadron) and New Zealand's own Arthur Joplin. Both men had served together and were on the raid that sank the Tirpitz. What an amazing treat it was for me and I'm sure many others there to meet Tony and Arthur in person and to hear a very interesting talk by Tony about the squadron, the Grand Slam bomb and the upcoming unveiling of the Bomber Command Memorial in Hyde Park, London. Thanks to Peter Wheeler for his hospitality and to the veterans of the NZBCA. Here are a couple of photos I took.  Tony Iveson addressing the NZBCA members  Some of the veterans and members (there were several more standing right of shot next to me.  Tony and Arthur, the two Dambuster Squadron pilots, and the NZBCA's replica Grand Slam bomb. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 12, 2012 23:13:01 GMT 12
During his speech, Tony Iveson mentioned that there were twelve New Zealanders who served in No. 617 "Dambusters" Squadron between its formation in 1943 and the war in Europe's end in May 1945. He said four were killed in action (KIA).
I know of:
Sqn Ldr John Leslie "Les" Munro DSO, DFC - Pilot
Flt Lt Leonard Chambers DFC - Wireless Op
Flt Lt Bernard Gumbley DFM - Pilot - KIA on the Tirpitz raid
F/O Bruce James Hosie - Wireless Op, KIA
F/O Arthur E. Joplin - Pilot
P/O Ronald Florence - Air Bomber, KIA
So, who were the six kiwis?
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Post by ZacYates on Jan 12, 2012 23:17:50 GMT 12
Thanks for the photos and brief report Dave, sounds like quite the gathering! Is there any chance you recorded Tony Iverson's talk for a future podcast show?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 12, 2012 23:24:40 GMT 12
Yes I did record it actually. I have listened back to a fair bit and it's nice and clear despite background noise in the busy museum (school holidays). I hope to put it up on the podcast soon hopefully.
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Post by errolmartyn on Jan 13, 2012 7:55:43 GMT 12
During his speech, Tony Iveson mentioned that there were twelve New Zealanders who served in No. 617 "Dambusters" Squadron between its formation in 1943 and the war in Europe's end in May 1945. He said four were killed in action (KIA). I know of: Sqn Ldr John Leslie "Les" Munro DSO, DFC - Pilot Flt Lt Leonard Chambers DFC - Wireless Op Flt Lt Bernard Gumbley DFM - Pilot - KIA on the Tirpitz raid F/O Bruce James Hosie - Wireless Op, KIA F/O Arthur E. Joplin - Pilot P/O Ronald Florence - Air Bomber, KIA So, who were the six kiwis? Only the three listed as such were killed. There was no fourth NZer killed that I am aware of. Errol |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 13, 2012 8:09:51 GMT 12
Thanks Errol.
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Post by flyjoe180 on Jan 13, 2012 10:00:41 GMT 12
You were lucky to meet these veterans all in the one place. Cheers for the pictures and report, most interesting  |
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Post by pjw4118 on Jan 13, 2012 11:03:23 GMT 12
A quick check of our current NZBCA lists shows Lofty Hebbard (B/A) and Frank Cardwell (nav).
I will have a look at our master list later.
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Post by ErrolC on Jan 13, 2012 11:24:33 GMT 12
Thanks for sharing Dave. Next objective is to talk my girlfriend into listening to some of the WONZ show when we drive back from Masterton on Sunday next!
I must admit to thinking bad thoughts about one of the MOTAT staff last week. I heard the tail end of him talking about a bomb to a vistor, and he mentioned U-Boat pens a a target. I thought 'no way, the one under the Lanc is a cookie, straight blast, no good against them!'. But he might have been referring to the Grand Slam (not on display yet).
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 13, 2012 11:26:20 GMT 12
What? These guys are ex-617 Squadron and still alive Peter?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 13, 2012 11:34:52 GMT 12
Tony's speech also mentioned there being three New Zealanders on the dams raid, I thouight there was only Les Munro and Len Chambers?
I did a websearch and most of the hits are about the non-existent NZ film version. But I did find a page on the history of the Southland Aero Club (I think it was) and it listed past veteran members, one being an L.N. Davidson - ex-RAF and Dambusters Squadron. Was he a kiwi in the RAF or did he move here poswar I wonder?
I have met Bill Hilder, an ex-English RAF Armourer who served in the squadron from just after the Dams raid through for some time. I doubt he'd be counted on the list of 12 of course. I wonder how many others from the squadron have moved here postwar?
Errol, listening to the show on the road back from Masterton cannot be any more boring than not listening to the show, I guess. Have fun down there.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 13, 2012 11:36:14 GMT 12
By the way I am not trying to pick holes in Tony's speech, far be it from that, I am simply curious as I have never really looked at the figures of kiwis in the squadron beyond the famous few.
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Post by errolmartyn on Jan 13, 2012 12:15:28 GMT 12
"I did a websearch and most of the hits are about the non-existent NZ film version. But I did find a page on the history of the Southland Aero Club (I think it was) and it listed past veteran members, one being an L.N. Davidson - ex-RAF and Dambusters Squadron. Was he a kiwi in the RAF or did he move here poswar I wonder?"
This would seem to relate to pilot NZ422264 Fg Off Leslie Nicholls Davidson, who was born at Dunedin on 14 Sep 21. He was shot down on 23 May 44 and made PoW. He was on his 6th op at the time flying with 101 Sqn, so unlikely to have been with 617 Sqn. 101 Sqn was the only squadron within Bomber Command to be equipped with ABC (Airborne Cigar) and an extra German-speaking crew member to assist with jamming and confusing Luftwaffe night-fighter communications. The specialised nature of 101 Sqn's duties may have led to the confusion with 617 Sqn.
Davidson died at Roxburgh on 7 Jul 91.
Errol
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Post by baronbeeza on Jan 13, 2012 12:27:31 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 13, 2012 12:37:37 GMT 12
Thanks Errol and Kevin.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 13, 2012 12:48:39 GMT 12
Kearns sounds like quite a guy, served with No. 75 (NZ) Squadron, No. 156 (Pathfinder) Squadron and No. 617 (Dambusters( Squadron, and postwar with the NZ Territorial Air Force and RAF on Canberras.
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Post by baronbeeza on Jan 13, 2012 13:06:47 GMT 12
Yes, he certainly seems to have had a charmed run. I saw the Gazette entry where he had joined up with the RAF post-war. There is also one for S/L Kearns RAF 501043 retiring on 29 March 1963. www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/42957/supplements/2954/page.pdfDid you find more on his RAF service Dave ? www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80009092New Zealand NCO served as pilot with 75 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1942; officer served with 156 and 617 Sqdns, RAF in GB, 1942-1944
Content description
REEL 1 Background in New Zealand, 1920-1939: family; education; attempts to enlist in army; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 9/1939. Aspects of transfer from Royal New Zealand Air Force to RAF, 1941: background to transfer; crossing Atlantic from Canada to GB, 10/1941; status and pay arrangements for New Zealand personnel attached to RAF. Aspects of operations as pilot with 75 Sqdn, 3 Group, RAF in GB, 1942: background to posting to squadron; origins of squadron; character of Vickers Wellington Mk III; squadron morale; raid on Hamburg, 7/1942; facilities at RAF Feltwell; superstition of aircrews. REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of operations as pilot with 156 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1942-1943: role of Pathfinders; question of compatibility of aircrew; operational heights; personalities in unit; raid on Pilsen, 4/1943; story illustrating need for right personality in air crew; contrast between French and German targets; routes taken by bombers into Germany; techniques for marking targets. REEL 3 Continues: relative dangers of different flying roles; role of wireless operator in spotting potential threats; role of air gunners in reacting to threat of night fighters; incident when night fighter almost ambushed his aircraft due to inexperience of rear air gunner; comparison between Avro Lancaster and Vickers Wellington. Recollections of operations as pilot with 617 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1943-1944: background to joining squadron, 9/1943; practising asymmetric flying; memories of Guy Gibson; atmosphere in squadron; prior recollection of incident with 75 Sqdn over Germany, 1942. REEL 4 Continues: taking photograph of aiming point of Duisburg, 26/7/1942; story of effects of jet stream and heavy anti-aircraft fire during raid on Essen with 156 Sqdn, 16/9/1942; amusing story of commanding officer on operation prior to joining 617 Sqdn; problems of marking targets; raid on marshalling yards in Paris, 4/1944; raid on Samur Tunnel, 8/6/1944; Operation Taxable during D-Day, 6/6/1944. REEL 5 Continues: effect on aircraft dropping 22,000lb bombs; comradeship amongst aircrew; navigational techniques; attitude to role of aircrew within Bomber Command. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 13, 2012 13:30:00 GMT 12
He is in By Such Deeds.
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Post by pjw4118 on Jan 13, 2012 14:28:30 GMT 12
Dave, Frank Cardwell lives in CHCH, while Lofty Hebbards widow his son and family are in Wanaka .
Also at MOTAT on Wednesday was Bruce Hosies neice Mary and Gumbleys nephew John so it was a very special gathering. All are members or Associates of NZBCA.
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Post by ErrolC on Jan 13, 2012 14:38:14 GMT 12
That's a facinating lookiing audio collection, I wonder if the 'production date' of 1986 was when the interview was done? I've listened to several episodes of www.1914.org/podcasts/ with audio also from the IWM archive. |
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