Operation: Essen

Date: 03/04th July 1941 (Thursday/Friday)

Unit: No. 75 Squadron (motto: Ake ake kia kaha -'For ever and ever be strong'). 3 Group

Type: Wellington IC

Serial: W5621

Code: AA-E

Base: RAF Feltwell, Norfolk

Location: Not established

Pilot: Sgt. Ian Laurie Reid NZ/391846 RNZAF Age 23. Missing - believed killed

Pilot 2: P/O Joseph Wesley Greening AUS/400222 RAAF Age 21. Missing - believed killed

Obs: Sgt. John Ross Nation NZ/40945 RNZAF Age22. Missing - believed killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Richard Edward Haycock 942288 RAFVR Age 28. Missing - believed killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Harold Jones 977479 RAFVR Age 21. Missing - believed killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Roydon Horatio Hartstone NZ/402111 RNZAF Age 29. Missing - believed killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

A force of 90 aircraft were dispatched to bomb the target area between 01:25 and 02:32 hrs. Four aircraft failed to return, W5621 the only aircraft lost from this Squadron.

Two were claimed by night fighters, one by flak. Nothing further was heard by Sgt. Reid and they are listed missing without trace.

Above: 75 Squadron crews at RAF Feltwell, Norfolk (IWM)

Burial details:

Sgt. Ian Laurie Reid. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 64. Born on the 21st August 1917 at Waikino. A journalist for the Auckland Star prior to enlisting on the 18th December 1939. Son of Robert Theodore Reid and of Kathleen Lena Reid (née Gerrand), of 8 Beresford Street, Bayswater, Auckland, New Zealand. 434 flying hours logged and completed 27 operational sorties. Sadly his family suffered the loss of his younger brother, Sub/Lt. Francis Graham Reid RNZNVR. Whilst serving with 887 Squadron (FAA) flying Seafire III LR846. He went missing after crashing into the sea off Portavogie, County Down Northern Ireland during a dog fighting exercise on the Sunday, 12th March 1944.

P/O Joseph Wesley Greening. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 62. Son of George and Clara Margaret Greening, of Toorak, Victoria, Australia.

Sgt. John Ross Nation. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 64. Born on the 03rd October 1918 at Hastings. A shepherd working on his fathers farm prior to enlisting on the 09th April 1940. Son of Esdaile Chilcott Nation and Mavis Nation (née Mchardy), of Waipawa, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. 284 flying hours logged and completed 18 operational sorties.

Sgt. Richard Edward Haycock. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 44. Son of Samuel and Florence Haycock and husband of Joan Haycock, of Hull, England.

Sgt. Harold Jones. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 46. Son of Benjamin and Mary Anne Jones, of Rhydding, Neath, Glamorgan, Wales.

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Roydon Horatio Hartstone. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 64. Born on the 09th March 1912 at Woodville. A farmer on his fathers farm prior to enlisting on the 27th July 1940. Son of John Lewis Hartstone and Lydia Margaret Hartstone (née Curry), of Frankton Junction, Auckland, New Zealand. 155 flying hours logged and completed 18 operational sorties.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to Jenifer Lemaire and 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:

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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