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Post by fwx on Aug 26, 2015 20:41:56 GMT 12
Thanks Wayne, sorry Peter I've only just checked in again. The Bruce Hosie caption on the reverse of the BF443 photo refers to "P/O Jack Bailey, Pilot of Waikato", which I think I mistakenly took to mean that BF443 was named "Waikato". I think I have repeated that error somewhere, whereas I now think the caption was actually referring to his home region, even though Jack farmed in Ohingaiti, in the Manawatu.
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Post by pjw4118 on Aug 28, 2015 17:33:38 GMT 12
Thanks Team , I have been able to send a detailed reply back to the family.
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Post by oggie2620 on Oct 21, 2015 23:47:01 GMT 12
Hi all
I made first contact with a 75 (NZ) Sqn veteran called Peter Neech on the day the Spire Memorial in Lincoln was unveiled. Are any of the following still with us (I should have asked his son Gerald if he was still in contact with any of them?
W W (Bill) Armstrong of Christchurch
Eric G Hewitt of Whanganui
D G (Hoot) Gibson of Ranginiri
Eric Patrick (Rip) Lee of Auckland
B D (Chas) Carey of Rotorua
The other two are Peter and another English colleague Ron Westlake.
I have a picture of the 5 Kiwis at 12 PRC, Brighton. There are a lot of other Kiwis on the pic dated 26 May 1943. Two named on copy are Ivar Larson (RG) and Bob Bailey (BA) and I know which are the above but there are many more who it would be great to put names to...
Dee
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Post by pjw4118 on Oct 31, 2015 13:22:17 GMT 12
Hello Dee, quite a find , can you post or email a copy ?
I have checked NZBCA records back to 1985 but none appear as members.
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Post by ErrolC on Feb 9, 2016 21:17:32 GMT 12
Air Historical Branch photo of a No.75 Lanc at Mepal
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Post by pjw4118 on May 1, 2017 10:26:04 GMT 12
Lincolns arriving at SpilsbyThe three Lincolns from 75 Sq AA-U RF 383  AA-N RF 388  AA-A RF 389 The most photographed example    Photos from the Baigent collection courtesay of Mark Richardson
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 1, 2017 10:56:40 GMT 12
Oh that is fantastic!! Thanks for posting these Peter!!
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Post by davidd on May 1, 2017 14:07:53 GMT 12
Yes, wonderful stuff, good that somebody thought the very brief service rendered by these aircraft to the squadron was still worthy of recording photographically, for posterity.
David D
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msemily
Leading Aircraftman
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Post by msemily on Aug 23, 2018 14:39:31 GMT 12
The captain in this crew was Pilot Officer (later Sqn Ldr.) John Mathers Bailey, DFC*, RNZAF, (NZ412183). He died on the 2nd of November 1967 in Lower Hutt. Other aircrew members here are: Flying Officer (later Sqn Ldr) Charles Fray Ormerod, DFC, mid RNZAF. (NZ413340) Observer/Navigator Sgt T.E. Lillystone RAF, (941925) Flight Engineer Sgt F.J. Ottaway RAF. (1284470, WOp-AG) Front Gunner Sgt W.F. Thompson RAF. (962902, AG) as Rear Gunner. Three of the men are ground crew; Sgt Roe RAF (1083131) Fitter 2A Cpl J. Gibson RAF (1372700) Fitter 2E ‘B’ Flt LAC R. Murdoch RAF. (984666) FMA ‘B’ Flt S/Ldr Charles Ormerod stayed in the RNZAF postwar, flew a short time on secondment to BOAC and then served with No. 41 Squadron on Dakotas, and became RNZAF Station Whenuapai's Navigation officer 1947-1949. He left the RNZAF 18th of August 1949. He died on the 8th of December 2003, aged 83. LAC Lobley remains a mystery but he must have been ground crew I guess. |
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msemily
Leading Aircraftman
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Post by msemily on Aug 23, 2018 14:45:16 GMT 12
Hi Everyone,
I'm new at this so please feel free to guide me in the right direction. My husbands father is F/O Charles ("Charlie) Lumsden. Unfortunately, due to the war and possibly war injuries that led to an early death, my husband never got to know his father. We are now on a quest to find out as much information as possible about the man. His flight book exists but it seems it was loaned out to a relative and no one knows where it is currently. I found a most helpful blog about tne No. 75 (NZ) Squadron, but I want to dig deeper. Does anyone have any information on F/O Charles Lumsden. He was a pilot, and flew the Potsdam run 14 March 1945. That's all I've got to go on. Any info would be greatly appreciated
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Post by errolmartyn on Aug 23, 2018 16:19:56 GMT 12
Hi Everyone, I'm new at this so please feel free to guide me in the right direction. My husbands father is F/O Charles ("Charlie) Lumsden. Unfortunately, due to the war and possibly war injuries that led to an early death, my husband never got to know his father. We are now on a quest to find out as much information as possible about the man. His flight book exists but it seems it was loaned out to a relative and no one knows where it is currently. I found a most helpful blog about tne No. 75 (NZ) Squadron, but I want to dig deeper. Does anyone have any information on F/O Charles Lumsden. He was a pilot, and flew the Potsdam run 14 March 1945. That's all I've got to go on. Any info would be greatly appreciated NZ416124 Charles Harold Lumsden enlisted at RNZAF Levin as an Airman Pilot under training on 9 Nov 41. He graduated as a pilot in New Zealand, and on 22 Jun 42 embarked on the Dominion Monarch for Britain and attachment to the RAF. He returned to New Zealand on the Andes in Oct 45; on page 28 of the Weekly News of 31 Oct 45 there is a good photo of him with four other air force offficers following disembarkation from the Andes. The Air Force Museum of New Zealand holds a copy of the paper and would be able to supply you with a scan of the photo upon request. The best way to start off your research is to obtain a free copy of his RNZAF service record from Personnel Records, New Zealand Defence Force - see here for details: www.nzdf.mil.nz/personnel-records/nzdf-archives/Errol |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 23, 2018 22:01:51 GMT 12
Also contact the No. 75 Squadron Association. Details are:
Glen Turner at glen@75squadron-raf-rnzaf.com
He can undoubtedly provide more details.
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Post by pjw4118 on Aug 25, 2018 16:25:03 GMT 12
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Post by apteryx on May 25, 2019 12:05:11 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 25, 2019 12:17:36 GMT 12
Jack Wakefield flew with that crew on the Wellington with the soda siphon, and he is still alive in Wanganui.
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Post by apteryx on Jun 23, 2019 11:50:39 GMT 12
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Post by fwx on Jul 2, 2019 17:26:00 GMT 12
The Wilcox family are already in touch with Jack Wakefield, thanks Dave. Yes, Oliver Matheson is proving difficult to track down.
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Post by riarikali on Aug 1, 2019 5:21:53 GMT 12
"Slim" Ormerod returned to 75 (NZ) Sqdn for a second stint later in the War, serving as Navigation Leader when the Sqd was based at Mepal. There are a few stories about him that I have heard - must have been a bit of a character! Oh - do tell! Fabulous photo and record of these fliers. |
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Post by fwx on Aug 1, 2019 12:52:42 GMT 12
In his brilliant book "Bombs On Target" (p.71), Ron Mayhill describes a night out in Sutton, 14 July 1944. A large group of the boys had gone out drinking at The Ship, The White Horse and then at Chequers, before slowly and drunkenly weaving their way home on their bicycles. When they got back to base and were having a cup of tea, they realised that "Slim" Ormerod, squadron Navigation Leader, was missing. A "Search & Rescue" mission was mounted but they couldn't find him anywhere down the country lanes they had ridden. Next morning however he was at briefing, apparently sober but with blackberry scratches on his face.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 20, 2021 15:24:58 GMT 12
Here's an obituary of Air Commodore Olsen:
OBITUARY
AIR COMMODORE E. G. OLSON
(PA.) NEW PLYMOUTH. May 15.
The death occurred at New Plymouth to-day of Air Commodore E. C. Olson, D.S.O., son of Mrs P. G. Olson. New Plymouth, at the age of 39. Air Commodore Olson, who returned to New Zealand a short time ago on account of ill-health, was one of the best known of New Zealand’s airmen and had been in aviation since 1925. During part of his war service he commanded the famous No. 75 (New Zealand) Bomber Squadron, based in England.
An old pupil of the New Plymouth Boys’ High School, he became interested in aviation at an early age. He left New Zealand in 1925 and went to England at his own expense for the purpose of joining the Royal Air Force. In 1927 he was promoted to the rank of flying officer in the Royal Air Force.
Returning to New Zealand in November, 1929, he was enrolled in the Air Force Territorial Reserve. He was appointed flying instructor at Wigram from August 1, 1930, and was appointed to what was then the New Zealand Permanent Air Force. Later he became an instructor with the Otago Aero Club and joined the R.N.Z.A.F. in 1935.
In Command at Wigram
With the rank of squadron leader, he assumed command at Wigram in 1938, and later that year, at Hobsonville. In 1939 he joined the Air Board as air member for personnel.He left for England again in 1941.
Before his appointment to the Permanent Air Force in New Zealand, he served five years with the Royal Air Force and five years in the New Zealand Territorial Air Force. He was also honorary aide-de-camp to the Governor-General.
He was in command of the No. 75 Squadron when the Ruhr was being heavily bombed. Promoted to group captain in June, 1942, Air Commodore Olson took part in that month in the 1000-bomber raids on Cologne and in other heavy raids, particularly against Lubeck. He received the D.S.O. in April. 1943, when he held the rank of group captain in England.
Air Commodore Olson’s last appointment in England was that of commander of the London headquarters of the R.N.Z.A.F. He relinquished that appointment and was repatriated to New Zealand on account of ill-health early this year. He is survived by his wife and one young daughter.
Outstanding Ability
A tribute to Air Commodore Olson was paid this evening by the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones). Air Commodore Olson was an officer of outstanding ability, said the Minister. Early in the war, and while a member of the Air Board, his great desire was to proceed overseas and take part in active operations. That opportunity was given him, and all knew the good work he did then, and later when he took over command of the 75th Bomber Squadron. He was decorated for his services He subsequently did excellent work as officer commanding the London headquarters of the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
“Air Commodore Olson is one of those to whom great credit is due in fostering aviation in the days before the war and subsequently, added the Minister. "He was the man who was held in the highest esteem by the young men he had trained, and by the officers and men with whom he was associated, not only in the Dominion but overseas. The Air Force and the country generally are a heavy loser by his passing. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to his widow, family, and relatives.”
PRESS, 16 MAY 1945
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