Manchester Bomber codes with RNZAF crew member

[planecrazy]

Nov 24, 2020 7:51:43 GMT 12 planecrazy said:

Thanks Dave, so if I am reading this correctly the QR-J code would be incorrect,
chances are the machine I am wishing to model should probably wear QX-J or
possibly VN-J, I am grateful for you taking time to assist with this.

A bit more digging and I found the below details from a post on a forum called Squadronforum,
seems someone else has done some digging on Larry's service back in 2012. The poster is not
known to me, next step I guess to make contact with him as it seems he has seen Larry's log book,

(below from Squadronforum)
"15-5-42 local flying pilot Sgt Roy L7425 (VN-A). 16-6-42 local flying Sgt Wiseman L7476 (VN-Z).
18-6-42 sea firing Sgt Beatty L7476 (VN-Z). 21-5-42 local flying Sgt Roy L7476 (VN-Z).
24-5-42 local flying Sgt Roy R5784 (VN-A). 25-5-42 night flying test Sgt Roy L7475 (VN-J).
29-5-42 cross country Sgt Roy L7475 (VN-J). 2-6-42 cross country Sgt Roy L7319 (VN-F).
3-6-42 night flying test Sgt Roy L7319 (VN-F). 3-6-42 ops R5769 (VN-C).
5-6-42 night flying test Sgt Roy L7476 (VN-Z).
5-6-42 ops Sgt Roy R5769 (VN-C). He then had leave from 9-6-42 to 15-6-42.
17-6-42 local flying Sgt Roy R5769 (VN-C).
22-6-42 night flying test Sgt Roy L7289 (VN- ). the last entry is from Sgt Roys log."

Looks like the Sqn code was VN-? like the idea of doing VN-Z seeing Larry's skipper was from
New Zealand.

[pjw4118]

"Combat Codes" lists VN for 50 squadron from Hampdens in September 39 to Manchesters in April 42.
With the National Archives ORB records , there are two series , the summaries , which are useful for checking crew movements and the details ,. This series lists each aircraft and crew on every raid with times and debrief summary .Usually they show both serial and aircraft letter.

[planecrazy]

Thanks PJW, just downloaded the ORB for the time period had the crew but sadly not the serial nor Squadron code?

[pjw4118]

Thats sloppy book keeping , didnt they know that 78 years later you would need those details !

[planecrazy]

Today marks the eightieth anniversary of the loss of Avro Manchester L7289, took my rc model
for a tribute flight to my wife's great uncle on a picture perfect day out in the Tasman Sea.


Larry was 29 years old, had a small farm on Lord Howe Island, he was trained in Canada before
making his way to England where he joined 50 Sqn RAF.


Takeoff at 23:20 hrs for the third 1000 bomber raid, this time the target being Bremen.
The aircraft was coned by searchlights and hit by light (leichte) & heavy (schwere) Flak; crashed into a field at Grambke.
Captured German documents revealed that the aircraft was shot down at 0200 hours on 26 June 1942 and crashed near
Bremen. Initially the crew were buried in Waller Friedhof. After hostilities they were reinterred in Becklingen War Cemetery:

Pilot:NZ/41361 Sgt John Charles Roy RNZAF - Becklingen War Cemetery Coll. grave 26. H. 7A-1OA.
2nd Pilot: Aus/12419 Sgt Jasper Stormond Peters RAAF - Becklingen War Cemetery 26. H. 4.
Navigator: Aus/406318 Sgt Robert Leslie Hugall RAAF - Becklingen War Cemetery Coll. grave 26. H. 7A-10A.
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner: Aus/402622 Sgt 402622 Lawrence Chase Thompson RAAF - Becklingen War Cemetery Coll. grave 26. H. 7A-1OA.
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner: Aus/404903 Sgt Neil Malcolm Hardy RAAF - Becklingen War Cemetery 26. H. 3.
Air Gunner: Aus/403194 Sgt James William Lindsay RAAF - Becklingen War Cemetery Coll. grave 26. H. 7A-10A.
Air Gunner: Aus/403813 Sgt Edgar Griffits Johnson RAAF - Becklingen War Cemetery Coll. grave 26. H. 7A-10A.

Rest In Peace.

[Dave Homewood]

RIP.

[planecrazy]

A local sent me a picture of Larry.



Be great if anyone out there had any pictures of the crew the Skipper was from New Zealand,
Sgt John Charles Roy.

[Antonio]

From:  www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C27438