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Operation: Hamm
Date: 29/30th December 1940 (Sunday/Monday
Unit: No. 75 Squadron (motto: Ake ake kia kaha - 'For ever and ever be strong')/
Type: Wellington IC
Serial: R3211
Code: AA-J
Base: RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk
Location: Goudswaard, Netherlands
Pilot: P/O. Herbert Douglas Newman 36271, NZ/2508 RAF/RNZAF PoW No. 459 Stalag Luft Barth Vogelsang and Stalag Luft Sagan
Pilot: Sgt. John Middleton Garrett NZ/391349 RNZAF PoW No. 597 Stalag Luft Barth Vogelsang, Stalag Luft Sagan, Stalag Kopernikus and Stalag Luft Heydekrug
Obs: P/O Robert Garth Stark NZ/40631 RNZAF PoW No. 414 Stalag Luft Barth Vogelsang, Stalag Luft Sagan
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Sidney Lawrence Spittle 968421 RAFVR PoW No. 447 Stalag Luft Barth Vogelsang, Stalag Luft Heydekrug
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Manville Charles Fenn 909269 RAFVR PoW No. 429 Stalag Luft Barth Vogelsang, Stalag Luft Heydekrug and Stalag Kopernikus
Air/Gnr: Sgt. David Garrick Branscombe Protheroe NZ401231 RNZAF PoW No. 446 Stalag Luft Barth Vogelsang, Stalag Luft Sagan and Stalag Kopernikus
REASON FOR LOSS:
Weather was not good, 10/10 cloud being experienced over whole of route and in target areas.
Three Wellington aircraft of 75 squadron were detailed to carry out individual bombing attacks against the marshalling yards at Hamm. A mixed bomb load with 500 lb.. bombs fused N.D.T., 500 lb. bombs delayed action and containers of incendiaries.
Understood to have encountered strong headwinds on their return leg and ran out of fuel. They crash landed at Goudswaard at 02:25 hrs. All crew were taken PoW
P/O. Newman awarded a MiD for services whilst a PoW. His brother, F/O. Andrew George Patterson Newman killed piloting a Spitfire on the 18th January 1945. More details here. Herbert Newman passed away in 1974. Sgt. Garratt was awarded the MBE for services whilst a PoW. P/O. Stark also awarded MBE on the 28th December 1945 and Bronze Star (USA) on the 5th July 1946 for his services while PoW. Sgt. Protheroe died 27th September 1986, age 66 at Haapi, Tonga.
Burial details:
None - all survived the war.
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”, Auckland Library Heritage Collection, Weekly News of New Zealand, other sources as quoted below:
KTY 24-10-2021
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember
them. - Laurence
Binyon
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Last Modified: 24 October 2021, 13:32