ANZACs Over Normandy

[adamlunney]

I am working on a few projects (to become books) at the moment - one of which is the contribution of the RAAF and RNZAF (either as individuals, crews or squadrons) to the Normandy campaign (April - August 44 for my purposes). If anyone cares to share any records or sources they have please msg me. I have one book already completed which will be published later this year. 

www.echobooks.com.au/biography/ready-to-strike/ 

I am after all types of information: Books to be read (I have some already but every bit of help is worth something) locations of ORBs, logbooks, etc.

I have not visited any NZ archives before - any advice for dealing with them?

A lot of people don't know we (Aussies and Kiwis) were involved - I'm seeking to change that.

Adam

thunderchief092 at ozemail dot com dot au

[fwx]

Hi Adam,

Interesting project - here is a unique story, not sure if it's the kind of thing you're after, but makes interesting reading!

75nzsquadron.wordpress.com/2016/10/28/sl-nick-williamson-crew-landing-a-lancaster-in-normandy/

Cheers, Chris

[isc]

Surely that's a chapter in the book. isc

[tbf25o4]

The first German aircraft to be shot down over the Normandy landings was by New Zealander Johnnie Houlton flying a No.485(NZ) squadron spitfire

[flyjoe180]

Jun 19, 2018 14:16:04 GMT 12 tbf25o4 said:

The first German aircraft to be shot down over the Normandy landings was by New Zealander Johnnie Houlton flying a No.485(NZ) squadron spitfire

And you can see his explanation of the day's events in diagram form written by Houlton at the Paraparaumu Aviation Museum (if it still exists). I have a photo of the diagram but unable to post it here at present. Have posted it previously, probably in preserving NZ aviation section.

[Dave Homewood]

Good to see you Joe, how's things?

[hbpencil]

Jun 19, 2018 14:16:04 GMT 12 tbf25o4 said:

The first German aircraft to be shot down over the Normandy landings was by New Zealander Johnnie Houlton flying a No.485(NZ) squadron spitfire

That reminds me that another Kiwi shot down the first German aircraft over the invasion area in the small hours before the invasion proper began: "it is of interest to record that Flying Officer Lelong of No. 605 Mosquito Squadron was the first pilot to destroy an enemy aircraft in support of the Normandy landings. Flying an ‘Intruder’ patrol over the German airfield at Evreux on the eve of D Day, he sighted and attacked a Messerschmitt 410 which went down and blew up on the ground."

From this page: nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2-2RAF-c10.html

[flymac]

80 Squadron pilot R L Spurdle flew glider escort on D Day to Normandy.
His book Blue Arena details ongoing fighter operations in the Normandy area.

[adamlunney]

Jun 18, 2018 11:47:04 GMT 12 fwx said:

Hi Adam,

Interesting project - here is a unique story, not sure if it's the kind of thing you're after, but makes interesting reading!

75nzsquadron.wordpress.com/2016/10/28/sl-nick-williamson-crew-landing-a-lancaster-in-normandy/

Cheers, Chris

Hi Chris - thanks for the tip - this is one of the types of story I want to tell - the personal stories, not just how many a/c did this and that.
It's been bookmarked for later!

Regards, Adam

[adamlunney]

Jul 11, 2018 12:52:57 GMT 12 hbpencil said:

Jun 19, 2018 14:16:04 GMT 12 tbf25o4 said:

The first German aircraft to be shot down over the Normandy landings was by New Zealander Johnnie Houlton flying a No.485(NZ) squadron spitfire

That reminds me that another Kiwi shot down the first German aircraft over the invasion area in the small hours before the invasion proper began: "it is of interest to record that Flying Officer Lelong of No. 605 Mosquito Squadron was the first pilot to destroy an enemy aircraft in support of the Normandy landings. Flying an ‘Intruder’ patrol over the German airfield at Evreux on the eve of D Day, he sighted and attacked a Messerschmitt 410 which went down and blew up on the ground."

From this page: nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2-2RAF-c10.html

I can't get the link to work - if it's from one of the official histories then I'll pick it up when I go through them and make notes - thanks.

Regards, Adam

[adamlunney]

Jul 17, 2018 13:50:35 GMT 12 flymac said:

80 Squadron pilot R L Spurdle flew glider escort on D Day to Normandy.
His book Blue Arena details ongoing fighter operations in the Normandy area.

Excellent - thanks!

Regards, Adam

[Dave Homewood]

Hey Adam, veteran Philip Stewart QSM, mid, who spoke a few weeks back at our Wings Over New Zealand Forum Meet at Wigram spoke about flying on D-Day and he claims he was the first pilot to land on the beach. I know there are other claims to this but hey, there were five beaches after all and they probably all got airstrips. Have a listen here:
www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZShow/2018/07/philip-stewart/

[adamlunney]

Aug 3, 2018 19:24:05 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

Hey Adam, veteran Philip Stewart QSM, mid, who spoke a few weeks back at our Wings Over New Zealand Forum Meet at Wigram spoke about flying on D-Day and he claims he was the first pilot to land on the beach. I know there are other claims to this but hey, there were five beaches after all and they probably all got airstrips. Have a listen here:
www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZShow/2018/07/philip-stewart/

Thankyou Dave - a great recording, with good humour too.

[Dave Homewood]

Yes he's an amazing chap,especially since he is 100, we were so fortunate to have him as a speaker.

[htbrst]

Jun 3, 2018 13:29:04 GMT 12 adamlunney said:

Adam

thunderchief092 at ozemail dot com dot au

Hi Adam - is this the right email address - my father emailed but it appears to have bounced - may be his typing though

[adamlunney]

Aug 4, 2018 11:05:24 GMT 12 htbrst said:

Jun 3, 2018 13:29:04 GMT 12 adamlunney said:

Adam

thunderchief092 at ozemail dot com dot au

Hi Adam - is this the right email address - my father emailed but it appears to have bounced - may be his typing though

Sorry I muddled up my two addresses!

[e-mail] and [e-mail]

[angelsonefive]

Here some names that may be of interest :

ANDERSON, Robert Edmund. ' Andy '. A402377, enlisted RAAF Sydney 9/4/40. Flt Lt with 41 Sqn RAF, 18/3/44 to 18/12/44, Spitfire Mk XIIs, and based at RAF Stations in SE England at the time of Operation Overlord.


CLOUSTON, John Greville, Sqn Ldr RNZAF NZ40218. OC 165 Sqn, RAF. Shot down when attacking an enemy aircraft over the Channel on 6/6/44. Baled out of his Spitfire and taken prisoner.
Died of wounds 21/6/44 when the German vehicle he and other POWs were being transported in, from Tours to a POW camp, was strafed by Allied fighters.

REFSHAUGE, John George Hamilton, A409447, joined RAAF 15/8/41. To 41 Sqn RAF on 14/4/44. Flying Officer. Shot down and wounded, bullets in left hand and left leg, and baled out of Spitfire Mk XII MB794, 9/6/44. It was believed that the AA fire came from an armed US cargo ship. Rescued near Cherbourg and taken to a US Army hospital in England.

ROBERTSON, Colin Stuart, ' Robbie ' A421627, RAAF, enlisted 28/2/42. Flt Sgt. With 41 Sqn RAF 8/6/44 to 22/8/44. Destroyed one V-1 6 mi. west of Pevernsey, Sussex, 26/6/44, and another V-1 on 27/7/44 in mid-Channel.

THIELE, Keith Frederick ' Jimmy '. NZ 404966, enlisted RNZAF 1/12/40. Flt Lt. With 41 Sqn RAF from 24/2/44 to 18/8/44. Destroyed one V-1 over the Channel off Cliff End, Sussex 14/7/44.

PM me if you would like to have further information about any of these pilots.

[errolmartyn]

Alison Parr's 239-page The Big Show - New Zealanders, D-Day and the War in Europe published by Auckland University Press in 2006 records the recollections of 13 New Zealanders, including airmen Philip Stewart (already mentioned earlier in this thread), Don Sisley, George Wirepa, Trevor Mullinder, Russell Clarke, Edward Hitchcock, John Morris and Les Munro.

Errol

[Dave Homewood]

Jul 11, 2018 12:52:57 GMT 12 hbpencil said:

Jun 19, 2018 14:16:04 GMT 12 tbf25o4 said:

The first German aircraft to be shot down over the Normandy landings was by New Zealander Johnnie Houlton flying a No.485(NZ) squadron spitfire

That reminds me that another Kiwi shot down the first German aircraft over the invasion area in the small hours before the invasion proper began: "it is of interest to record that Flying Officer Lelong of No. 605 Mosquito Squadron was the first pilot to destroy an enemy aircraft in support of the Normandy landings. Flying an ‘Intruder’ patrol over the German airfield at Evreux on the eve of D Day, he sighted and attacked a Messerschmitt 410 which went down and blew up on the ground."

From this page: nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2-2RAF-c10.html

As an aside here's another of Lelong's feats:

N.Z. AIRMAN'S COUP

HAVOC AMONG DORNIERS

Rec. 9.30 a.m. LONDON, December 6.

Flying Officer R. E. Lelong, of Auckland, a Mosquito pilot of the Fighter Command, in a single-handed attack against a squadron of 13 German Dornier flying-boats moored in a Baltic bay in October shot five of them to pieces and severely damaged two others while the German crews watched helplessly from the shore. . Flying Officer Lelong spotted the Dorniers while he was patrolling, and went in very low and made in all seven or eight attacks, flyjng sometimes through, thick smoke as the Dorniers exploded on the water. After attacking another flying-boat in the air on the way home, Flying Officer Lelong's plane was hit by flak. He flew the remaining 400 miles to England on one engine.

EVENING POST,  7 DECEMBER 1944

[lizob]

Hi Adam. May be a bit late here for you. I’ve just found this forum. My father was involved in Normandy landings both planning for D Day and on June 6th. He was Squadron Leader Douglas Haig Palmer RNZAF 41545. He was attached to a RAF squadron that used mobile Oboe Units to assist bombing accuracy. He followed military into Belgium and more. I have info ( and questions ) if you are still working on this