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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 2, 2012 18:36:05 GMT 12
Here is a request that Max Lambert has asked me to post:
Is there anyone out there please reading this message who flew on Sunderlands, Catalinas, Liberators or Wellingtons on anti-sub patrols from UK bases in the last year of the war?
Or anyone whose father, uncle, brother etc did and left a written record?
If so I'd like to hear from them.
I'm researching for a book on the Normandy-war's end period as a followup to my Night After Night (2005) and Day After Day (2011).
Anyone who can help please contact me at maxlambert@paradise.net.nz or
tel 04-973-9436. I live in Wellington.
Thanks - Max Lambert
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Post by oggie2620 on Mar 4, 2012 12:14:51 GMT 12
Has Max put anything on rafcommands or ww2talk? Pity the Coastal Command Facebook page is just that.. Am going to have to persuade one of my Coastal forum friends to start a group. I dont know enough about Coastal to do it myself...
Dee
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 4, 2012 16:52:02 GMT 12
He is looking for New Zealanders, those forums will likely not find many I don't think.
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Post by Andy Wright on Mar 4, 2012 17:28:16 GMT 12
A tricky thing to dig up as time passes and made even harder by the smaller numbers involved no doubt. This is a pretty obvious listing that ML is no doubt all over. Anyone know if any of these chaps are still with us? Mick Ensor has passed on? www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2-2RAF-c15.html |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 4, 2012 17:40:58 GMT 12
Another problem with finding Coastal Command veterans in NZ, as i have found myself, apart from those who served with No. 489 (NZ) Squadron, the many kiwis who served on Coastal Command were spread over many different squadrons and units and after the war there was no blanket Coastal Command Association in NZ (like there have been Fighter Pilots, Bomber Command, Fleet Air Arm and other associaitons.) And so they have had no get togethers, no assocaition, no managzine or anything like that. it seems most also lost touch with their UK squadrons. So they really are hard to track down now.
I am sure that Mick Ensor is well dead now.
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Post by alanw on Mar 4, 2012 18:11:04 GMT 12
In Volume 1 of, The Sunderland - Flying Boat Queen there is a foreword by a Les Baveystock, who flew Sunderlands in Coastal Command, and mentions flying two months before D-Day protecting Invasion shipping.
The book post has him in Auckland, however a check of the phone
directory shows no such name, But there is a Baveystock
in Tauranga -not sure if related?
Also I think from memory there are some folk at MOTAT involved in
Coastal Command -worth a check?
Hope that helps some?
Regards
Alan
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 4, 2012 18:38:05 GMT 12
Max has already spoken with Ian Riddell and he says Les Baveystock is now dead.
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lambert
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 2
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Post by lambert on Mar 21, 2012 16:26:44 GMT 12
Dee -
A tardy response to your message abt Coastal Command. Many thanks.
No I haven't tried either of those sites but will certainly have a think about them. Appreciate your suggestion - Max
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lambert
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 2
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Post by lambert on Mar 21, 2012 16:37:25 GMT 12
Similar tardy thanks to Alan and Andy on CC names.
Riddell is still alive and I've met him as Dave notes. Unfortunately his memory is gone.
Still working on a couple of the other names. But chances any of the others are alive are slimmest. Many thanks for your interest. Max
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Post by Andy Wright on Mar 26, 2012 16:55:10 GMT 12
Good on you, Max, and thanks for your past and future work. Important and enjoyable.
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Post by grannygussie on Mar 28, 2012 17:19:10 GMT 12
Have you tried Forces Reunited, Brit based? Don't forget some colonials married and settled in Britain or made close friends, with Brits, who kept in touch, may have flown in same squadrons. In these late days, you have to think beyond the obvious to find info on colonial individuals. I think it costs 5 pounds? to join, but then you can appeal unlimited, I THINK. You may only find children of Brits who flew with NZ lads - but who knows if they sat in on beer fuelled reminiscences - or inherited photos of all the crew...
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Post by grannygussie on Mar 28, 2012 17:38:52 GMT 12
Also, (sorry, just occurred), with particular individuals, if stationed in small/remote populations, for a reasonable time, I've found it worthwhile, to write and ask the local paper to print an appeal if anyone still remembers the individual. Be sure to mention specific times, especially if you can give them a major occurrence, to think around, like, he was there when the local water tower blew up. If you can say he was very tall, or had a very deep voice, it may jog the memory of a girl who danced with him, semi regularly, also if you can give a specific church he attended, if religious. Can also work in larger populations. I got best info on an individual, with newspaper appeal, in SALFORD. Mention wife/girlfriend, if there was one, at the time. You really have to squirrel for info, now.
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Post by grannygussie on Mar 28, 2012 17:56:04 GMT 12
SORRY! I hate to tell a granma how to suck eggs - but when appealing for info on NZ men, appeal for info on everyone he flew with. A child may not know your chap's name, at all, but have lots of info on the ops their relative did, some or all shared experience by your lad. They may have the photo's of their dad with the bombaimer or pilot or groundcrew and not know who they are. so would only respond to the name of their relative. Must remember, many relatives know little or nothing, except, "My grandpa was there and we have a box of stuff but we haven't really looked at it...
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Post by ringatu4 on May 9, 2012 15:40:33 GMT 12
Know a chap who may be a useful resource, unless he's covered already... Don Curtis in Rotorua. He I think flew for CC and wrote up a BC history after WWII. Can be contacted via RSA or AFA Rotorua or me. RB
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Post by avenger on May 16, 2012 15:55:42 GMT 12
Have you tried Mauri McGreal in Auckland, may be some hints in his " A Noble Chance"? He was in the Freetown area (West Africa) late in the war but more importantly he has a good memory so may be able to assist.
I have e-mailed him so shall await the reply.
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 16, 2012 16:30:49 GMT 12
He was not on Coastal Command in Europe where Max is looking for people. I had already suggested Mauri McGreal.
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