No.75 Sqn ORB

[phasselgren]

Hi,
I need some help to identify two aircraft of No.75 Sqn mentioned in the “Monthly Supplementary Narrative of Operations” (summary of claims against enemy aircraft made by Bomber Command crews).

Night 27/28 September 1943
“A/C Stirling ‘H’ of 75 Squadron over HANOVER at 2218 hours. Height 17,500 ft. identified a Ju,88. The R/G opened fire and hit the E/A which fell in flames to the ground. The Ju,88 is claimed as destroyed.”

There is no surviving Combat Report for this claim and I am not sure if the information in “Forever Strong” by Norman Franks is 100% correct. I would appreciate help to confirm the names of pilot and R/G of Stirling ‘H’ had and if possible also serial number of the a/c. Additional information about the claim is of course also welcome.

Night 8/9 October 1943
Stirling ‘A’ of 75 Squadron damaged a Me.110 and Me.109

There are some conflicting data in Combat Reports and “Forever Strong” by Norman Franks. I would also here appreciate help to confirm which crew Stirling ‘A’ had (or at least pilot and gunners) and if possible also serial number of the a/c. Additional information about the claims is of course also welcome.

Regards,
Peter

[MW Giles]

The 75 Sqn ORB does not give aircraft letters in Form 541. On both nights two aircraft made claims

27.09.43

EF148 Captained by F/S D Horgan had a combat with a Ju88, which was claimed as destroyed Sgt A Fisher M/U, Sgt A Te Aika R/G

EF465 Captained by F/S H Burton sighted a Ju88 and the rear gunner fired, it was seen to fall in flames and was claimed as destroyed Sgt R McGregor M/U, Sgt T Anderson R/G

8.10.43

EF512 Captained by F/S R Spiers claimed a Bf109 Probable and Bf110 Damaged Sgt E Feather M/U, Sgt J Clift R/G

EH949 Captained by P/O O White claimed a Bf109 Damaged Sgt T Collins M/U, F/O J McCorkingdale R/G

Regards

Martin Giles

[phasselgren]

Hello Martin,

Thank you for the help. Regarding 27/28 September mystery is solved. Forever Strong had the serial number as KF465 but EF465 had according to my notes code letters AA-H (but I have also seen the code AA-K on internet).

For the night 8/9 October EF512 is most probably the missing Stirling ‘A’. I assume the Probable Bf109 was downgraded to a damaged if the “Monthly Supplementary Narrative of Operations” is correct. The claim made by the crew EH949 is not mentioned at all in this document.



I am afraid that the information in Forever Strong must be completely wrong. It has two claims on this date:

• Ftr damaged, AG F/Sgt I. Kaye, pilot P/O H. Williams, Stirling EH936
• Ju88 damaged, AG Sgt J. Kenefick, pilot F/Sgt H. Humpreys, Stirling EF462 (there is a surviving Combat Report but the claim is only “Probably damaged”)

The author Norman Franks also admits the difficulties he had when he made the list of claims by No.75 Sqn.

Regards,
Peter
PS
I just saw in my notes that EF512 had the code AA-A (I believe the information comes from Chris Ward´s BC Sqn Profile: 75 Sqn, but I cannot find my copy now)

[Wayne400]

Hello Martin,

I have a question regarding the mid upper gunner on Stirling EF148 mentioned above.
Was Sgt A. Fisher RAF or RNZAF?
I once met Albert Fisher RNZAF who was on 75 squadron and flew in Stirlings. Just wondering if it could be the same person.

Regards,
Wayne.

[phasselgren]

Hi Martin,

I am sorry but I forget the obvious question. Is there any information about which gunners who made the claims for a Bf109 Probable and Bf110 Damaged in the EF512 crew?

Regards,
Peter