I am searching for information about P/O L.D.Sampson who was killed in action on 20th November 1944. He was from 75 Squadron out of Mepal and was English. I am unsure whether he was in the crew of Lancaster PB689 or ND911. Has anyone any information or photos? Thanks Navestock
Hello Navestock, welcome to the forum. The following is taken from 'Bomber Command Losses' Vol.5 - W R. Chorley 20 November 1944 75 Squadron Lancaster I PB689 AA-X Op. Homberg. F/O. R. Gordon + Sgt. C R. Freeman + F/O. J R. Bell + F/S. A J. Weston + P/O. L D. Sampson + Sgt. S G. Hone + Sgt. J L. Forrester + Took off 1249 hrs Mepal. Encountered heavy flak over Baeri, 4 km north east of Moers, and exploded ....................................................... The Homberg raid 20 November 1944 160 Lancasters of No 3 Group to attack the Homberg oil refinery. 3 Lancasters lost. The bombing was scattered at first but then became very concentrated, culminating, according to the Bomber Command report, in 'a vast sheet of yellow flame followed by black smoke rising to a great height'. This was a very satisfactory raid after several previous attempts by Bomber Command to destroy this oil refinery. Hope this is a help Regards Peter
Many thanks for the information CXX. Is it known whether 75 Squadron was made up of New Zealanders and British personnel? The memorial at Mepal bears a NZ badge and motto. I would be so grateful for any photos of the crew of PB689. Navestock
V-Victor ND911 was also lost over Homberg with the loss of six crew on 20 November 1944. One, John Gray, tail gunner, survived and was taken POW. ND911 was piloted by my wife's uncle , Flying Officer PL (Leo) McCartin., RAAF. There was another Aussie on board - the w/op Phillip Smith. The other 5 were Brits. If you search the forum under "McCartin" you'll find a lot of helpful advice that I received: Three books are well worth a read: "Forever Strong - the History of 75(NZ)" by Norman Franks "Luck and a Lancaster" by Harry Yates "Bombs on Target" by Ron Mayhill Good luck with your research
Lancaster crash Hi Navestock I am a member of 75 (NZ) Sqn Assn and I would invite you to contact the secretary of the Assn Mr Kevin King at kevinfking@talktalk.net if you have not already done so. We meet twice a year in the UK and the New Zealand branch have separate meetings too. They welcome families and friends of 75ers so you would be most welcome to join us. They made me really welcome my first time. If you contact Sgt Glen Turner on 75sqn.assnz@windowslive.com there is a definitive history of 75 being written at the moment and he may be able to put you in contact with the writers to see if they have any photos.... When you have some info put together it might be worth getting it put on the aircrew rememberance site. The crew that interests me of 75 (Stirling crash at Newmarket) now have an entry on that.... Best wishes Dee :beer_yum:
Hi Dee, My project is the collection of photos of headstones and memorials of the 11,091 Aussies in the RAAF/RAF. Do you have many details of the operational aspects of the squadron? Cheers Geoff
75 sqn Hi Geoff I dont but Glen obtained the F540s while he was in the UK. I have a copy of the Norman Franks history of 75 Sqn and books about Lancs, Stirlings and Wellingtons that mention loads of the different members of the Sqn and their fates but you have been given most of that in the previous posting. Glen would be probably better for more info... Will have a look for you though Dee lane:
Graves Just a thought. If there any RAAF/Australian RAF in the Bury St Edmunds area or in Norwich area please let me know and I will go take photos for you. Glen & I had an adventure doing that when he was over here last year but of NZ guys. Dee
Hi Dee, Thank you for the offer - That would be very much appreciated. I do have the three in Norwich and nothing at Bury St. Edmunds. I do have a list for Norfolk if you may be near to some of those on your travels. Cheers Geoff Norfolk Photos Those in red have been completed JAMES, BERT Captain 3sq 7/05/1918 21 RAF United Kingdom North of church. BEESTON REGIS (ALL SAINTS) CHURCHYARD UK Norfolk FOX, BASIL LINCOLN (PETER) Pilot Officer 42496 224sq RAF 11/01/1941 26 Royal Air Force UK Plot C. Row 8. Grave 5. BRANCASTER (ST. MARY) CHURCH CEMETERY UK Norfolk ANDREWS, HAROLD JAMES Pilot Officer 410292 17 AFU 18/06/1943 21 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Row 5. Grave 2. DOWNHAM MARKET CEMETERY UK Norfolk DICKSON, ROBERT WALKER Flight Sergeant 401030 21sq RAF 10/12/1942 21 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Row C. Grave 1. FELTWELL (ST. NICHOLAS) CHURCHYARD UK Norfolk YEAMAN, ALFRED NEIL Sergeant 406670 1519 BATF 4/06/1942 22 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Row C. Grave 9. FELTWELL (ST. NICHOLAS) CHURCHYARD UK Norfolk DAVIES, LLEWELLYN ALFRED Flying Officer 401304 97sq RAF 14/07/1942 33 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Plot 1. Row 3. Grave 6. GREAT BIRCHAM (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD UK Norfolk LONERGAN, HILTON ARTHUR Aircraftman 1st Class 22201 500sq 1/12/1941 21 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Plot 1. Row 2. Grave 9. GREAT BIRCHAM (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD UK Norfolk ROWLANDS, JOHN DOUGLAS BIAS Flying Officer 403005 No 1 Anti Aircraft Co-Op RAF 30/01/1942 23 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Plot 1. Row 3. Grave 18. GREAT BIRCHAM (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD UK Norfolk RUDD, JAMES CHADD (DFM) Flight Sergeant 416288 78sq 1/05/1943 20 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Plot 1. Row 3. Grave 3. GREAT BIRCHAM (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD UK Norfolk LEACH, PHILIP ALLEN Pilot Officer 77944 38sq RAF 21/07/1940 38 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve UK Grave 52. MARHAM (HOLY TRINITY) CHURCHYARD UK Norfolk ABBOTT, SYDNEY CHARLES BERTRAM (DFC) Flying Officer 400404 487sq 9/08/1943 22 Royal Australian Air Force Australian War Graves Plot. Grave 41. MARHAM CEMETERY UK Norfolk FRANKCOMB, JOHN CLARENCE Flying Officer 401115 218sq 14/09/1942 28 Royal Australian Air Force Australian War Graves Plot. Grave 26. MARHAM CEMETERY UK Norfolk McCORMICK, GEORGE WILLIAM Flying Officer 408661 105sq 27/02/1943 21 Royal Australian Air Force Australian War Graves Plot. Grave 34. MARHAM CEMETERY UK Norfolk McIVER, KENNETH ARCHIBALD (DFC) Pilot Officer 412636 467sq 3/10/1943 25 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Sec. J.J.J. Grave 2. NORTH WALSHAM NEW CEMETERY UK Norfolk DIGGES, CHARLES RICHARDSON (DFC) Pilot Officer 402155 134sq 18/12/1941 24 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Sec. 54. Grave 677. NORWICH CEMETERY, Norfolk UK Norfolk Completed DerekD - Thank You DOLMAN, HORACE EDWARD Sergeant 403506 56 O T U 9/03/1942 27 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Sec. 54. Grave 676. NORWICH CEMETERY, Norfolk UK Norfolk SHERIDAN, JOHN EDWARD Sergeant 403114 14 O T U 31/05/1942 26 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Sec. 54. Grave 675. NORWICH CEMETERY, Norfolk UK Norfolk BELL, PATON Flight Sergeant 406589 150sq RAF 12/08/1942 20 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Grave 283. SCOTTOW CEMETERY UK Norfolk Completed previously by England Phil COLEMAN, BERNARD JOSEPH Flying Officer 411287 56sq RAF 20/01/1943 27 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Grave 293. SCOTTOW CEMETERY UK Norfolk Completed previously by England Phil CROCKER, HENRY BERT Sergeant 407941 610sq RAF 19/05/1942 22 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Grave 270. SCOTTOW CEMETERY UK Norfolk Completed previously by England Phil FEILDEN, RANDLE Pilot Officer 402650 114sq RAF 22/09/1941 28 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Grave 259. SCOTTOW CEMETERY UK Norfolk Completed previously by England Phil LOGAN, JOHN Sergeant 403165 279sq RAF 13/02/1942 24 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Grave 272. SCOTTOW CEMETERY UK Norfolk Completed previously by England Phil NANGLE, PATRICK CLAUDE Flying Officer 406024 17 O T U 20/10/1941 23 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Grave 1. SWANTON MORLEY (ALL SAINTS) CHURCHYARD UK Norfolk THIELE, HERBERT JOHN Pilot Officer 404892 3 PRC 2/11/1941 22 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Grave 4. SWANTON MORLEY (ALL SAINTS) CHURCHYARD UK Norfolk GRANT, FREDERIC NORMAN Pilot Officer 404461 21sq RAF 13/09/1941 25 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Row C. Grave 56. WATTON (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD UK Norfolk CLARKE, DANIEL JOSEPH Flight Sergeant 414467 17 AFU RAF 2/06/1943 20 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Sec. A. Grave 63. WATTON NONCONFORMIST BURIAL GROUND UK Norfolk
Graves Hi Will contact Glen about the Marham & Feltwell ones as I know he visited there. Dont know if he took ones of the RAAF graves but when I was travelling with him he didnt just take photos of NZ ones because the crew might have had a new zealander in it . Brancaster and Bircham are a little away from me but not so far as you are. May well go into North Norfolk when the weather gets better so will keep them in mind. The others are a lot nearer so I can do them sooner. Dee
Hi Dee, Thank you for your assistance - That would be great. Hope you had a great New Year. Cheers Geoff
Hi Geoff My Sgt is off up to Bircham Newton so he is going to pop into Great Bircham and take photos of the 4 there when he does. Have emailed Glen about the Marham/Feltwell ones... Hope your new year is going well. Dee :couch2:
Graves Hi He has just rung to say that the course was cancelled today cos of the snow so he isnt going but it will happen though not as quick as I thought. If not him I will do the photos for you. Dee
Hi Navestock, The only mention of the loss of the Gordon crew in the book "Luck and a Lancaster" is the following; 3 crews are missing. Ron Gordon and crew were on their 28th op, F/O McCartin and crew were on their 22nd op, and Hurbert Rees and crew were on their 34th op. Regards, Wayne.
Hi Navestock, I know this is an old post, but my Granddad was lost in the same aircraft, he was the Bomb Aimer AJ Weston also know as Mick. My email is wesso1715@hotmail.com if you would like to drop me a line / share any information All the best Mark
