Terry Kearns.

[fwx]

Hi Claire, I would also be very interested to see anything that the Kearns family has from Terry's long and illustrious career!

I am particularly interested in his time with 75 (NZ) Squadron on Wellingtons, and then his time on Pathfinders. I knew his Bomb Aimer from that period, Jack Moller, and have done a bit of research on the crew. Jack, Terry and Len all went through 75 around the same time, and were all great mates with the Jack Wright and Frankie Curr crews, including Coaster Ken Crankshaw, the boys who later formed the famous Thomas Fredrick Duck crew at 156 Pathfinders Squadron.

Other Coasters at 75 from that period (see photo near the start of this thread) included Norman Mitchell (from Ross), Squadron Leader Frank Denton, and Nate Hodson.

The Terry Kearns crew at 75 (NZ) Sqdn: 75nzsquadron.wordpress.com/r-s-d-kearns-crew-25-06-42/

Jack Moller: 75nzsquadron.wordpress.com/2013/11/02/andrew-john-jack-moller-dfm-bomb-aimer-kearns-crew/

Jack's logbook from his 75 (NZ) Sqdn tour: 75nzsquadron.wordpress.com/2013/11/02/andrew-john-jack-moller-rnzaf-nz411770-air-bomber-1942/

[pjw4118]

One of the copies of the 1943 West Coasters is named



L to R
Len Chambers, K Crankshaw, G Mitchell, P Hodgson?, Frank Denton
So no Terry Kearns

[fwx]

Thanks Peter, yes, "G. Mitchell" must be Norman Mitchell, and "P Hodgson" is Nathaniel HODSON.

The date this was taken must be between 19 April and 29 June 1942: - Len arrived 1 March 42, Crankshaw arr. 14.4.42, Mitchell KIA 29 June 42, S/L Frank Denton arr. 19.4.42, and left 75 on 20 July 1942, and Hodson left 12 July 42 and KIA 27 Jul 42.

The Kearns crew arrived on 17 June 42, so that probably means the photo was taken before that, before Terry arrived.



L-R: Chambers, Crankshaw, Mitchell, Hodson, Denton.

Sgt Norman Mitchell RNZAF, NZ404084, came from Ross, on the West Coast. He was a Front Gunner/Air Bomber with the Bertram crew, KIA 29 June 42 on the way to Bremen, shortly after take-off, buried at Feltwell (St. Nicholas) Churchyard.

P/O Nathaniel E. Hodson RNZAF, NZ403603, Observer, 22 Sep 1941 to 12 Jul 1942, flew in the same crew as Len and Ken Crankshaw on 25 June 42 to
Bremen. Identified in photos taken at 4B&GS Fingal in Canada. KIA with 57 Sqdn (also Feltwell), 27 July 1942, flying with W/C Peters-Smith DFC, on an op' to Bremen. Becklingen War Cemetery.

[reeftonbear]

My Mum got a gas fire installed in their house in Reefton. But she decided she didn't like it so sold it. I wonder was that the one you bought? Ha ha ha.

Yes, the car in Lil's garage looked like that.

I believe most memorabilia is held in the large institutions.

I spoke to Shelley Wynn today. She is a daughter of Lew Kearns, Terry's cousin. She said she'll find info, photos, etc on Terry.

[baronbeeza]

If she lived in Plaskett St the other readers here would think we Coasters all know each other.
The lady did mention she knew Lil though which is why I mentioned the gas fire in the first place.

[reeftonbear]

Yes, Mum lived in Plaskett St! What a hoot! Incestuous Coasters, ha ha ha.

Lil was a neat lady. Funny, intelligent, kind & so interesting to chat with. I liked her very much.

[mitch57]

Feb 21, 2017 9:42:06 GMT 12 fwx said:

Thanks Peter, yes, "G. Mitchell" must be Norman Mitchell, and "P Hodgson" is Nathaniel HODSON.

The date this was taken must be between 19 April and 29 June 1942: - Len arrived 1 March 42, Crankshaw arr. 14.4.42, Mitchell KIA 29 June 42, S/L Frank Denton arr. 19.4.42, and left 75 on 20 July 1942, and Hodson left 12 July 42 and KIA 27 Jul 42.

The Kearns crew arrived on 17 June 42, so that probably means the photo was taken before that, before Terry arrived.

Sgt Norman Mitchell RNZAF, NZ404084, came from Ross, on the West Coast. He was a Front Gunner/Air Bomber with the Bertram crew, KIA 29 June 42 on the way to Bremen, shortly after take-off, buried at Feltwell (St. Nicholas) Churchyard.

P/O Nathaniel E. Hodson RNZAF, NZ403603, Observer, 22 Sep 1941 to 12 Jul 1942, flew in the same crew as Len and Ken Crankshaw on 25 June 42 to
Bremen. Identified in photos taken at 4B&GS Fingal in Canada. KIA with 57 Sqdn (also Feltwell), 27 July 1942, flying with W/C Peters-Smith DFC, on an op' to Bremen. Becklingen War Cemetery.

[mitch57]

Feb 22, 2017 18:15:09 GMT 12 mitch57 said:

Feb 21, 2017 9:42:06 GMT 12 fwx said:

Thanks Peter, yes, "G. Mitchell" must be Norman Mitchell, and "P Hodgson" is Nathaniel HODSON.

The date this was taken must be between 19 April and 29 June 1942: - Len arrived 1 March 42, Crankshaw arr. 14.4.42, Mitchell KIA 29 June 42, S/L Frank Denton arr. 19.4.42, and left 75 on 20 July 1942, and Hodson left 12 July 42 and KIA 27 Jul 42.

The Kearns crew arrived on 17 June 42, so that probably means the photo was taken before that, before Terry arrived.

Sgt Norman Mitchell RNZAF, NZ404084, came from Ross, on the West Coast. He was a Front Gunner/Air Bomber with the Bertram crew, KIA 29 June 42 on the way to Bremen, shortly after take-off, buried at Feltwell (St. Nicholas) Churchyard.

P/O Nathaniel E. Hodson RNZAF, NZ403603, Observer, 22 Sep 1941 to 12 Jul 1942, flew in the same crew as Len and Ken Crankshaw on 25 June 42 to
Bremen. Identified in photos taken at 4B&GS Fingal in Canada. KIA with 57 Sqdn (also Feltwell), 27 July 1942, flying with W/C Peters-Smith DFC, on an op' to Bremen. Becklingen War Cemetery.

[fwx]

Hi mitch57 - I hope your call sign means that you are related to Norman Mitchell?? Also hope you have another go at posting here - click on either "Quick Reply", or "Reply" below, then you can enter a message, and click the "Post Reply" button at the bottom to publish it.

[mitch57]

Hi. My full name is Peter Norman Mitchell. Norman was my dads brother. We come from one of the Pioneering Families of The Ross area, with the family farm being at Mikonui. My Great Grandfather was Samuel Mitchell VC.
I have been researching Norman for the last couple of years and have found some interesting info but would welcome more. My intention is to put a book together on his short life mainly for family. I am the youngest in our current "oldest" generation with my elder cousins not knowing anything to be able to give me any information

[baronbeeza]

Welcome to the forum Peter and I can see there may well be a fruitful exchange of info going on. Some of the guys here will come up with a lot of detail for you and some possible links and leads also. Glad you are here.

If you knew the McCleery from the Ross hotel he is a relative of Len Chambers also. Son of a cousin, like myself.

[mitch57]

What I'd like to do is make contact with any living relative of Sgt Richard John Grenfell (RNZAF NZ404026), Wireless Operator who was the other New Zealander killed on flight Z1616. I know there was a cousin made contact in England some years ago. Also, there are rumours of an engine from the plane as well as some other items that survived but I've been unable to confirm this. Perhaps it was an "illegal" dig that recovered the items. I can't imagine there would be much left with a full load of Bombs on board.
I also have Normans "Black Book" with young ladies phone numbers. One page refers to seeing someone about "Marys Passage" I'm currently attempting to find out who Mary was

[fwx]

Hi Peter,

Here is a bit of basic info on Norman Mitchell's time at Feltwell:


Arr. RAF Feltwell, 1 May 1942.

2, 4 May 1942, Front Gunner with P J Wilson crew: 75nzsquadron.wordpress.com/p-j-wilson-crew-26-03-42-%E2%80%A0/

25, 29 June 1942, Front Gunner with R Bertram crew: 75nzsquadron.wordpress.com/r-bertram-crew-29-05-42-%E2%80%A0/

Note the Coast connections - Len Chambers had flown as Front Gunner with PJ Wilson just prior to Norman joining his crew, and Ken Crankshaw had flown Front Gunner with the Bertram crew before Norman joined!

The long gap between op's suggests either sickness or injury.

29/06/1942 – Attack Against Targets at Bremen
Sixteen a/c were detailed to carry out the above attack. Well.III Z1616 (Sgt. Bertram) crashed after take-off and caught fire. All crew killed.

Wellington Mk.III Z.1616 AA-D


Wellington “D” completed a normal take-off at 23.20 hrs but soon after, fire was seen to break out on the aircraft. It then crashed in flames near Red House Farm, Methwold, a
few miles north of Feltwell.

At 23.35 the Feltwell Flying Control Log recorded "Station Commander reported a brillant light in the N/W". Informed a/c had crashed near Southery Road. G/C (Station Commander, Group Captain J.A. "Speedy" Powell) sanctioned dispatch of ambulance and crash tender". All five crew were killed.

75nzsquadron.wordpress.com/tag/po-robert-bertram-raf-1112264128536/

Sgt. Norman Mitchell, RNZAF NZ404084 – Front Gunner.
Killed Monday 29th June 1942 age 25. Crashed shortly after take-off for a raid on Bremen.
Son of Samuel Myer Mitchell, and of Esther Mitchell (Nee Pryor). of Ross, Westland, New Zealand.
Buried Feltwell (St. Nicholas) Churchyard, Norfolk, England..
Grave location – Row C. Grave 8.



Sgt. Richard John Grenfell, RNZAF NZ404026 – Wireless Operator.
Killed Monday 29th June 1942 age 22. Crashed shortly after take-off for a raid on Bremen.
Son of William Henry Grenfell and of Nora Grenfell (Nee Sheehy), of Eltham, Taranaki, New Zealand.
Buried Feltwell (St. Nicholas) Churchyard, Norfolk, England..
Grave location – Row C. Grave 5.

[mitch57]

Thanks for this. I have most of this info but there"s a little new info there. It's been quite exciting doing this research from what started with a boring night a couple of years ago. I have even received a letter from a gentleman in England that as a teenager watched the plane take off and ultimately crash. He has given me the flight path and also a little history of the owners of Red House Farm, but to date I have been unable to locate the site on a map.
My Brother is the current "Keeper" of the families war medals, and has Normans Diaries, Pennants etc. I'll be travelling to the coast in the near future to photograph and decipher the diaries. Most of them are written in pencil so it is unlikely the will survive much longer

[fwx]

Hi Mitch, It's a very rewarding exercise, re-discovering and re-presenting a family member's history.

I would also recommend sharing your findings more widely, as other searchers can benefit. The website that I've included links to above, is doing a great job of collecting stories and building up a searchable database of 75 (NZ) Squadron RAF 40 - 45 information. Each crew has its own page with full operational history, a natural place to add photos and more personal information, as a record and as a tribute.

[mitch57]

One of the things I notice is that normally Wellington Bombers had a crew of 6 yet Z1616 only lists 5. Any idea why?

[Dave Homewood]

The standard crew was Captain (pilot), Navigator, Wireless Operator, Front Gunner and Rear Gunner.

The sixth crew member, who was the Second Pilot, a co-pilot, was only standard on the crew very early in the war. With a shortage of skilled pilots the RAF soon eliminated that as a standard crew role on Wellingtons, as a single pilot could fly the aircraft.

So the only time from 1941 onwards that there was a Second Pilot onboard he was usually a brand new pilot and was learning the ropes with a more experienced crew, before he would then take his own new crew into action. All newly trained bomber pilots did at least one trip with a much more experienced crew to get an idea of a raid. They referred to this new pilot as a Second Dickie,and that first operation with an experienced crew was called a Second Dickie trip for him. He'd then rejoin his newly trained crew that he'd previously traned with at the OTU, and carry on by himself.

[errolmartyn]

Feb 27, 2017 7:56:48 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

So the only time from 1941 onwards that there was a Second Pilot onboard . . .

Dave,

That should read from about mid-1942, following a policy change about aircrew roles introduced earlier that year.

Errol

[mitch57]

Interesting. A good explanation to someone like me who has absolutely no idea.

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks Errol. And thanks Mitch.