Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
Check our Research databases: Database List
.

---

We seek additional information and photographs. Please contact us via the Helpdesk.

---

75 Squadron Wellington III X3714 Fl/Sgt. Colin Valentine McPherson

Operation: Hamburg

Date: 26/27th July 1942 (Sunday/Monday)

Unit: No. 75 Squadron (RNZAF)

Type: Wellington III

Serial: X3714

Code: AA-?

Base: RAF Feltwell, Norfolk

Location: Lost without trace

Pilot: Fl/Sgt. Colin Valentine McPherson NZ/404912 RNZAF Age 21. Missing - believed killed

Pilo 2t: Fl/Sgt. Stanley David Ross NZ/41359V RNZAF Age 25. Missing - believed killed

Obs: P/O. Philip Charles Spittal NZ/404420 RNZAF Age 26. Missing - believed killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Raymond Patrick Coppersmith NZ/391697 RNZAF Age 21. Missing - believed killed

Air/Gn Front: Fl/Sgt. Louvain Trevor Cairns NZ/402437 RNZAF Age 25. Missing - believed killed

Air/Gnr: Rear. Fl/Sgt. Norman Albert Bryson NZ/40859 RNZAF Age 26. Missing - believed killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off between 22:35 and 23:30 hrs to bomb Hamburg. 403 aircraft taking part with crews experiencing cloud and icing en-route but clear weather over the target. Fifteen aircraft from the squadronwere detailed to attack the target. Bomb load of 1 x 4000lb.,1 x 1000lb,1 x 500lb. incendiaries was dropped in target area. Numerous fires were seen in target area bomb bursts were observed. Seven searchlights destroyed and others damaged.

One searchlight gun post was destroyed by the crew of X3396. Anti-aircraft fire was accurate but the enemy searchlights were ineffective due to the moonlight. A Ju88 was seen 30 miles from the enemy coast but did not attack. The weather was clear over the target but clpudsy on route.

Hamburg reports state that widespread damage was caused - 823 houses being destroyed with more than 5,000 damaged - 14,000 people were bombed out, 337 people killed on the ground with 1,027 injured.

Wellington III X3714 failed to return to base and listed as missing.

---

Aircraft crews from the squadron consisted of:

1: X3588 flown by Sgt. Alexander George Sutherland RNZAF NZ405340 (Born on the 28th May 1919, killed with all crew on the 29th July 1942 on Wellington III X3558)

1: X3588 flown by Sgt. Alexander George Sutherland RNZAF NZ405340 (Born on the 28th May 1919, killed with all crew on the 29th July 1942 on Wellington III X3558)

2: BJ661 flown by Sgt. John Edward Gilbertson RNZAF N/Z41894 (Born on the 09th July 1920, killed on the 9th July 1943 with two other crew, 2taken PoW on the same Wellington III BJ661)

3: BJ584 flown by P/O Arthur Ashworth, RNZAF NZ/43699 (Born on the 03rd May 1920, passed away on the 19th February 1994 - survived the war with a distinguished career in the RNZAF as a Wing DSO. DFC. AFC. MiD)

4: Z1570 flown by Sgt. John Leonard Wright, RNZAF NZ/405781 (Born on the 24th February 1914, killed in tragic circumstances, along with his wife on the 05th April 1956 - survived the war DFC. DSO, served in RNZAF from 20th December 1940-28th April 1946.

5: X3751 flown by F/O. William Ronald Parkes NZ/403822 (Born on the 23rd September 1910, killed on the 07th September 1942 with all crew on Wellington III X3867)

6: BJ625 flown by Sgt. Charles Croall RNZAF N/Z41627 (Born on the 23rd January 1916, passed away on the 1: 20th October 2013 holder of a MBE - 4 crew PoW. 1 killed on Wellington III X3452)

7: X3538 flown by Sgt. Arthur Gibson Osborne RNZAF NZ/41353 (Born on the 26th March 1917, passed away on the 28th January 1992 - survived the war)

8: X3396 flown by Sgt. Richard Stansfield Derek Kearns, RNZAF NZ/405572 (Born on the 09th March 1920, passed away in 1995 - survived the war DFM. DFC. DSO. Also served in 156 and 617 squadron)

9: X3664 flown by Fl/Lt. Peter John Wilson, RNZAF NZ402475 (Born on the 12th September 1919, killed with all crew on the 28th July 1942 on Wellington III X3664)

10: X3786 flown by Sq/Lcr. Raymond John Newton, RNZAF NZ/40984 (Born on the 17th July 1916, killed on the 01st January 1945 with all crew on Lancaster III ME321 W/Cdr. DFC. MiD)

11: Z1596flown by P/O. Ian james Shepherd RNZAd NZ/404414 (Born on the 25th September 1915, killed on the 27th July 1942 with 3 other crew, 1 PoW on the sane aircraft Wellington III Z1596)

12: BJ8317 flown by Sgt. Neville John Netscher Hockaday, RAFVR 1376051 (Left RAF as Fl/Lt on the 07th November 1951 - survived the war. DFM)

13: X3468 flown by F/O. Stanley Holmes Gunning, RNZAF NZ402470 (Born on the 07th January 1918, passed away on the 17th November 2003. No further details - wounded but survived the war)_

14: X3646 flown by Sgt. George Edward Francis Bradey, RNZAF NZ/401954 (Born on the 23rd September 1916, killed with 4 crew, 1 PoW on the 11th August 1942 on Wellington II X3646)

15: Z1570 flown by Sgt. Arthur Grahame Johns RNZAF NZ/41907 (Born on the 02nd March 1922, killed on the 29th July 1942 on this Wellington III Z1570)

---

Burial details:

Fl/Sgt. Colin Valentine McPherson. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 117. Born on the 02nd March 1921 in Rotorua, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. Son of Alexander McPherson and Margaret Mary McPherson (née Prendergast, later Bodman) of 165 Campbell Road, One Tree Road, Auckland, New Zealand

Fl/Sgt. Stanley David Ross. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 117. Born on the 15th October 1916 in Miramar, Wellington, New Zealand. Son of Alexander James Ross (died 1969 age 84) and Gwenith Madeline Ross (née Davis - died 15th January 1978, age 85), of 38 Broadway, Miramar, Wellington, New Zealand. Epitaph: 'For Evermore: Stories Of The Fallen'.

P/O. Philip Charles Spittal. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 117. Born on the 01st August 1915 in Canterbury, New Zealand. Son of Charles Edward (died 24th December 1951, age 71) and Maud May Spittal (née Coote - died 13th Auguste 1960), of Riccarton, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Sgt. Raymond Patrick Coppersmith. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 117. Born on the 03rd December 1920 in Denniston, New Zealand. Son of Charles Edward Coppersmith (died 1975) and of Alice Coppersmith (née Smith), of 30 Kilburn Parade, Wellington, New Zealand.

Fl/Sgt. Louvain Trevor Cairns. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 117. Born on the 16th November 1916 in Canterbury, New Zealand. Son of Robert Cairns (died 10th August 1975, age 87) and of Elizabeth Cairns (née Latimer - died 07th June 1941. age 51), of 985 Colombo St. Albans, Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand. His brother Fl/Sgt. Vickers Kitchener Cairns NZ38108 RNZA died in service on the 23rd September 1943 whilst with 6 squadron flying the Catalina.

Fl/Sgt. Norman Albert Bryson. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 117. Born on the 01st April 1916 at Timaru , Canterbury, New Zealand. Son of Henry Albert Bryson, (died 24th September 1938, age 48) and of Alice doline Bryson, (née Netlon - died 1980, age 88) of 124 Woodham Road, Linwodd, Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand.

Above: L-R: Rear; Ivan Clarence Hugh Sullivan NZ/404990 ✝, Frank Vernon Watkins NZ/404847 ✝, Keith Williamson Morrison NZ/404396 ✝, Reginald Sidney Lees NZ/404907 ✝, James Francis Sheridan NZ/404952, Henry Twite Sturt NZ/404963 ✝, Robert Edward Scott NZ/404951, Howard Arthur Crafts NZ/404901.

Centre; Gerald Edmond Rawson NZ/404943 ✝, Brian Thomas Verry NZ/404971, Peter Stanley Voss NZ/404972, Ivan Reid Mitchell NZ/404921 ✝, Roy Oldfield Calvert NZ/404890, Valentine Stuart Moore NZ/404924 ✝, Brian Joseph O'Connor NZ/404933 ✝, James Johns Richardson.NZ/404947

Front; Charles Napier Richards NZ/404846, Trevor Bernard Robertson NZ/404948 ✝, Tom Hamilton Morgan NZ/404999, Colin Valentine McPherson NZ/404912 ✝, George Rattray NZ/404409, Frank Robert Traynor NZ/402525 ✝, Mervyn James Taylor NZ/404965 ✝, Thomas Donald Gordon Murray NZ/404925 ✝.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to the extensive research by Errol Martyn and his publications: “For Your Tomorrow Vols. 1-3”, New Zealand Cenotaph, Weekly News of New Zealand, Air Museum of New Zealand, Museum of Transport and Technology, Auckland, National Archive Kew, AIR-27-646-13/14

Other sources as quoted below:

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
All site material (except as noted elsewhere) is owned or managed by Aircrew Remembered and should not be used without prior permission.
© Aircrew Remembered 2012 - 2026 Last Modified: 15 April 2025, 08:38

Monitor Additions/Changes?Click to be informed of changes to this page. Create account for first monitor only, thereafter very fast. Click to close without creating monitor