New to the forum - need help please

[75nzsquadron.com]

Hi Guys
I have just joined this forum and am looking for some information.....(moderators - if you think i would be better placed else where in the forum, please move appropriately)

My Father (Robert Douglas 'Jock' Sommerville (1562617/ 161049) passed away at the end of last August. During the war, he flew 2 tours with 75(NZ) Squadron. Of course, like many others he spoke very little about the war. Its only with his death that I have decided to try to find out more. Over the last few months research has progressed fairly well, via ORB's, his War record and the discovery of some forgotten wartime photographs, however, it feels like its beginning to grind to a halt a bit......

I'm trying to find out any information I can on the 2 crews that Dad flew with in 1943 and 1945.

Here's what I have.
On the 19/7/43 Dad arrived from 1651 C.U. with the majority of what would become (after initial crew changes) his first tour crew....

NZ417084 F/S Pilot Mayfield, Allan, Johnson
Apparently was very good friends with Dad. I believe that I have found his burial details, he died relatively young in 1986 in New Zealand. In talking to Jack Jarmy (see below) it is believed that he went to P.F.F and possibly ended up a Sqdn Ldr, though I have been able to find anything confirming this.

NZ416427 Sgt. A/G Hulena, John Sebastian
Via an ancestry website I found a distant relative. John apparently reached the level of Sqdn Ldr later in the war and this is apparently recorded in the New Zealand Gazette.

1356658 Sgt. A/G Bullen, R
Nothing Known.

134695 P/O Nav Jarmy, Jack Francis
I am pleased to report Jack is still alive and well - I was put in contact him just before Christmas by Kevin King, the Chair of the UK 75 Squadron Association. Jack ended up in 218 Squadron and also rose to the rank of a Sqdn Ldr. We intend to meet later in the year - it sounds like Allan, Jack and Dad were thick as thieves....

NZ416421 F/S WO/AG Lake, W
Nothing known
1032870 Sgt. A/G Darbyshire, T
Nothing known
1624186 Sgt. F/Eng Warburton, A
Nothing known

On the 25th January 1945 Bob found himself back at 75. He joined a crew 9 flights into their 1st Tour and ended up flying 21 ops with them, so they could finish together.

Vernon John Zinzan, Pilot NZ425314
By utter chance I was put in contact with Vernon's son via an ancestry website. HE knew nothing of his fathers wartime career, but sent me a photo of the crew(minus the rear gunner and bomb aimer (the B/A broke his leg on their first raid after a heavy landing - Ken Mesure - mentioned briefly in 'Luck and a Lancaster')
Vernon passed away in 2007.

J. Coote, Navigator
I know nothing other than who he is in the photograph as he was the only crew member who was a Warrant Officer.

M. Parr. Wireless Operator
One of the remaining 3 in the photo - but I don't know which - nothing else.

A. Ackroyd. Flight Engineer
One of the remaining 3 in the photo - but I don't know which - nothing else.

H. Hutchinson. Mid Upper Gunner
One of the remaining 3 in the photo - but I don't know which - nothing else.

H. Steele Rear Gunner
The most frequent rear gunner in the crew of several. I know nothing about him.


So, if any of these names rings a bell, I would love to hear from you

all the best

Simon

[Luther Moore]

Welcome to the forum Simon. Have you tried this site?http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/Cenotaph/AdvancedSearch.aspx

If that doesn't help Errol will fill in the gaps.

[75nzsquadron.com]

Hi Luther
Yep I have tried the cenotaph database - I confirmed the details for Vernon Zinzan, but didn't get back anything for the other New Zealanders.....

[errolmartyn]

Simon,

"NZ417084 F/S Pilot Mayfield, Allan, Johnson
Apparently was very good friends with Dad. I believe that I have found his burial details, he died relatively young in 1986 in New Zealand. In talking to Jack Jarmy (see below) it is believed that he went to P.F.F and possibly ended up a Sqdn Ldr, though I have been able to find anything confirming this."

MAYFIELD, Flight Lieutenant Allan Johnson, DFC.
NZ417084 & 131505; Born Christchurch, 4 May 1920; RNZAF 21 Dec 1941 to 7 Jan 1946, Res. to 7 Feb 1957; Pilot.
Citation Distinguished Flying Cross (7 Dec 1945): [128 Sqn RAF (Mosquito) - LNSF] Pilot Officer Mayfield, as Pilot, 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 Mayfield completed his first tour with 75(NZ)Sqn and joined 128 Sqn in Mar 1945. Died Gisborne, 3 Feb 1988.

Note: There is no entry to be found in the NZ Gazette to indicate promotion to squadron leader.

"NZ416427 Sgt. A/G Hulena, John Sebastian via an ancestry website I found a distant relative. John apparently reached the level of Sqdn Ldr later in the war and this is apparently recorded in the New Zealand Gazette."
HULENA – highest rank recorded in the NZ Gazette is that of flying officer.

"NZ416421 F/S WO/AG Lake, W"
NZ416121 William John LAKE (note service number)

Errol

[Tony]

Hi Simon.

Is this your dad's notice?

www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/archive/2011/09/02/Deaths/9229369.Robert_Sommerville/

[75nzsquadron.com]

WOW! Errol
Thanks ever so much for coming back with something so quickly.....

HAHA! - I called it a 4 in the crew movements list of the ORB - it was a 4/1 overstrike - I went for 4.....

[75nzsquadron.com]

Hi Macfire
Yes, that's my Dads obituary. Ironically, the chap in the bed opposite him in the hospital flew in Lancasters as well.

[Tony]

Hi Simon.
I take it your dad was the AB?
And a Flt Sgt on his 1st Tour and a Fg Off on his 2nd Tour?

I found these two London Gazette entries for him. Hope this helps:www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/36285/supplements/5441/page.pdf

www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/37281/supplements/4750/page.pdf

[75nzsquadron.com]

Sorry, Yes, I have been a bit vague about Dad's info. I have his logbook and his Records from the MoD. I've got his gazetted notices from the London Gazette - he ended up after he left Mepal for the second time at Bishops Court in Ireland responsible for Air Traffic Control - by this point he had been promoted to Flight Lieutenant. We also have the congratulations letter from King George and I need to just get some time and phone our National Archive to see if they have his citation letter for his D.F.C. , as we have just received the archive code for it from Kew.

[errolmartyn]

Feb 4, 2012 22:54:16 GMT 12 75nzsquadron.com said:

Sorry, Yes, I have been a bit vague about Dad's info. I have his logbook and his Records from the MoD. I've got his gazetted notices from the London Gazette - he ended up after he left Mepal for the second time at Bishops Court in Ireland responsible for Air Traffic Control - by this point he had been promoted to Flight Lieutenant. We also have the congratulations letter from King George and I need to just get some time and phone our National Archive to see if they have his citation letter for his D.F.C. , as we have just received the archive code for it from Kew.

Simon,

For reasons of space, more often than not during the war, citations were not published for winners of the DFC (over 20,000 were awarded).

What may survive at Kew is a copy of the recommendation (often more detailed than the citation itself) for your father's award. Unfortunately these documents are not indexed by name, so it requires a personal visit or the employment of a researcher to go through the files to check.

You might, however, first try posting a request on the RAF Commands forum at
www.rafcommands.com/forum/index.php
and ask if by chance someone there has come across the recommendation for your father.

Errol

[75nzsquadron.com]

Thanks for that advice Errol - apologies for the delay in response, but work is a harsh mistress. I phoned the NA last Friday and rather perplexingly was told by the lady I spoke to that the reference number that the MoD had provided regarding recommendation/ citation material made no sense to her whatsoever and the best she could suggest was that I look in AIR 2. Having been utterly overwhelmed by the sheer size of this section (online) I forlornly typed the reference number I had been given into the search - low and behold - it identified a specific section of the Air 2 archive - AIR 2/8748.

I have a possible trip down to London in the next few weeks for work, so will try to visit Kew and have a look.

Ultimately, there might be a lesson in this regarding taking expert advice at face value....

Simon

[errolmartyn]

Simon,

I would strongly recommend you post your query on the rafcommands site. There are a lot of knowledgeable folk there, some of who have copies of much of this type of material. Could save you a trip to the NA and many hours of unproductive searching.

Errol

[oggie2620]

Simon Please also contact Glen Turner the secretary of 75 Sqn Assn. The website is www.75squadron-raf-rnzaf.com as we are having a reunion in Palmerston North soon and it would be great for you to meet some of the WW2 vets. I will be there (woohoo only two weeks to go)...

[oggie2620]

By the way there are copies of past newsletters from both UK and NZ on there and lots of memorabilia that you can buy if you are interested...

[75nzsquadron.com]

Thanks for that information Dee, I live in the UK - we actually met last November after my fathers ashes had been laid in the garden of remembrance in Mepal.

I keep having a look at the 75 website, bit there doesn't seem to be much going on with it.

[oggie2620]

No there isnt a the moment. If you are in the UK bgizmo then you need to contact the UK Chairman Kevin King whose details are on the site as we have a reunion coming up in June with a special service at Mepal on the 30 June..Glen would still love to hear from you though as he will be at that reunion (yes hes coming across from NZ) and would love to see what you have about your father!
Dee

[kristin]

Hi Simon, I am Allan Mayfield's daughter, I do have his log books and some photos but won't have access to these until December. The burial details above are indeed for dad. He did serve on the 75th Squadron and then on 128 Squadron which flew mosquitos over Germany as part of the Light Night Striking Force of the Pathfinder Force. Like your father he did not like to talk about the war. I now he was a Flight Lieutenant but think he was only called Squadron Leader in jest. You are welcome to email me if the moderators of this site will give it to you.

[75nzsquadron.com]

Hi Kristin
Many many thanks for contacting me. Ironically, I spent last weekend with Jack Jarmy - Allan and Bob's Navigator. Jack is in astonishingly good health for a man of 90 (he made me go on 2 mile walk with him after lunch on the Saturday!!!). I spent a couple of hours with him and a digital recorder, letting him share his memories of the war and he shared a few stories about Dad and Allan. Since February (when I first posted this thread) I have started building a website. Initially it was going to be just about Dad and his 2 crews, but since then, it has grown to be about as many of the boys who flew with 75(NZ) that I can get information on.

I'd love to see anything you have of Allan's. I have a picture of Allan, Bob and Jack from 1651 Conversion Unit (just before they arrived at Mepal in Cambridgeshire where 75(NZ) were based) and also a rather faded, but nevertheless wonderful picture of the Stirling Bomber JN-'Johnny' that the boys flew 13 operations in - It would be my pleasure to share these with you.

If you want, mail me on;
infoAT75nzsquadronDOTcom (replacing the uppercase for the appropriate characters)

take care and hope to here from you

Simon

[75nzsquadron.com]

If a moderator sees this post, I haven't heard from Kristin yet, so would it be possible to forward her mail address to me?

cheers

Simon