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.

---

13/14th October 1942 75 Squadron Wellington III X3954 Sgt. Watters

Operation: Kiel, Germany

Date: 13/14th October 1942 (Tuesday/Wednesday)

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

Type: Wellington III

Serial: X3954

Code: AA-?

Base: RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk

Location: near Darenwurth, Helse, Germany

Pilot: Sgt. Ventry Watters NZ/413522 RNZAF Age 22. Killed

Obs: Sgt. Lewis Harry Parkinson NZ/412518 RNZAF Age 20. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Albert Cyril Orr 1145143 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Ellison George Firth NZ/412218 RNZAF Age 19. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Henry Edward Goldsack 1250808 RAFVR Age 28. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at around 18:30 hrs to bomb Kiel, Germany. 288 aircraft (13 from 75 squadron) taking part from which 15 failed to return.

Shot down by 1. 4./Schw. Flak Abt. 613 and 2./Res. Flak Abt. 225 with the aircraft coming down at 23:10 hrs in a field owned by Frau Nannt Meyer near Darenwurth.

This was the only loss from 75 squadron during the operation but one crashed landed on return:

Wellington III BJ837 Flown by 21 year old, Sgt. Charles Raglan Davey NZ/413937 crashed landed at Lakenheath after running out of fuel. All crew survived with various injuries however Sgt. John Brewick Redhead 1056192 RAFVR succumbed to his injuries on the 19th October 1942. Sadly Sgt. Charles Davey was killed on the 08th March 1943 flying Stirling I BF347 AA-L during an operation to Nurnberg along with all his crew.

Right: Sgt. Charles Raglan Davey

Burial and personal details:

Initially buried at Brunsbüttelkoog Cemetery, reinterred after the end of hostilities.

Sgt. Ventry Watters. Kiel War Cemetery. Grave 3. F. 5. Born on the 02nd June 1920 at Warkworth. Worked as a clerk for the Bank of New Zealand prior to service. After serving in the territorial army for 2 years enlisted in the RNZAF at Levin on the 15th June 1941. Embarked for Canada on the 20th October 1941. Pilots badge awarded and promoted to sergeant on the 27th February 1942. Embarked for England on the 14th March 1942. Joined 75 squadron from 11 Operational Training Unit on the 20th September 1942. Son of Francis and Moya Ventry Watters (nee Ventry-Smith), of Warkworth, Auckland, New Zealand. His brother, Sgt. Terrence Watters NZ/417299 killed on the 31st August 1943 also with 75 Squadron. A total of 359 flying hours logged and on his 04th operational sortie.

Sgt. Lewis Harry Parkinson. Kiel War Cemetery. Grave 3. F. 4. Born on the 28th November 1921 at Wanganui. Worked as a printer for Roe and Payne prior to service. After serving in the territorial army for a short period enlisted in the RNZAF at Levin on the 13th April 1941, initially as a pilot under training but re-mustered as an observer under training on the 02nd July 1941. Embarked for Canada on the 20th October 1941. Observer badge awarded and promoted to sergeant on the 28th March 1942. Embarked for England on the 09th May 1942. Joined 75 squadron from 11 Operational Training Unit on the 20th September 1942. Son of Harry and Cecily Maud Parkinson (nee O'Sullivan), of Opotiki, Auckland, New Zealand. A total of 104 flying hours logged and on his 04th operational sortie.

Sgt. Albert Cyril Orr. Kiel War Cemetery. Grave 3. F. 2. Son of Stanley and Annie Orr, of Kilkeel, Co. Down. Northern Ireland. Grave inscription: 'Safe In The Arms Of Jesus. For Ever With The Lord'.

Sgt. Ellison George Firth. Kiel War Cemetery. Grave 3. F. 3. Born on the 06th January 1923 at Wellington. Worked as a assistant store man for Tollet and Son prior to service. Enlisted in the RNZAF at Levin on the 13th April 1941, initially as a pilot under training but re-mustered as an air gunner under training on the 24th June 1941. Embarked for Canada on the 14th August 1941. Wireless operator/Air gunner badge awarded and promoted to sergeant on the 16th March 1942. Embarked for England on the 01st April 1942. Joined 75 squadron from 11 Operational Training Unit on the 20th September 1942. Son of Ernest John Firth and of Gladys Mary Woods Firth (nee Collins), of Rex Street, Mirimar, Wellington, New Zealand. A total of 176 flying hours logged and on his 04th operational sortie.

Sgt. Henry Edward Goldsack. Kiel War Cemetery. Grave 3. F. 6. Son of Edward and Martha Goldsack; husband of Gertrude Alfreda Goldsack. Grave inscription: 'Always In Our Thoughts And For Ever Remembered. Wife And Daughter Susan'.

---

Special additional information on Sgt. Lewis Harry Parkinson by Sonia Edwards researching all who lost their lives from the Bay Of Plenty area of New Zealand.

Lewis Harry Parkinson (1921-1942) was just 19 years when he enlisted with the Royal New Zealand Air Force, in December 1939. He was born 28 November 1921, in Wanganui, the son of Henry Lewis (Harry) and Cecilia Maude PARKINSON née O’Sullivan (d.1961) of Nelson St, Opotiki. He attended Opotiki Public School and went on to Opotiki District High School. He played in the First XV, and was a Junior Rugby Rep for the sub union. Lewis was the only child for Harry and Cecily but he went overseas with several cousins who joined the services.

The Parkinson family in Opotiki was a large one. Several family members arrived from Bristol, England via Australia, and settled in Opotiki about 1865, where the military had confiscated land. Alfred Steven Parkinson (1851-1926) was the seventh child in his family. He arrived in Opotiki aged 17, to set himself up as a butcher. In 1872 he married Emily KIRK (1857-1937). Harry (Henry Lewis) PARKINSON (1895-1981) was their ninth child.

In 1939 Lewis Harry Parkinson was working as a linotype apprentice, for Roe & Payne, who were publishers of the Opotiki News. The Opotiki News notified that he was missing on air operations in November 1942

NZ412518 L H Parkinson joined the Initial Training Wing, as an Airman under training at Levin, 13 April 1941. He attended the Elementary Flying Training School from 24 May 1941 when his pilot training was terminated. He then re-mustered 2 July 1942, as Air Observer in Training, before moving to the Air HQ Initial Training Wing, 31 August 1941. He was able to embark for Canada 20 October 1941, to be attached to the Royal Canadian Air Force, 4 November 1941. Training continued at Air Observers School and Bombers Gunnery School, which gained Parkinson his Air Observers Badge. He was promoted to Sergeant 28 March 1942.

In April 1942, NZ12518 Sgt Parkinson was at Air Navigation School in Halifax, Nova Scotia, before attachment to the Royal Air Force in the UK. He embarked for the United Kingdom 9 May 1942. He began his operational training in Wellingtons, at the special Unit 7 July 1942. By September Parkinson had re-mustered as an Air Navigator, flying Stirling aircraft.

He flew 4 operations with 75 (NZ) Squadron in Wellingtons from September 1942, until he was killed on air operations 13 October 1942. Flying with Bomber Command, 75(NZ) Squadron left RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk. 3 Group went on a raid over Kiel in Germany, on the night of Tuesday 13 /Wednesday 14 October 1942. 288 aircraft flew that night, with 15 lost.

Wellington III X3954 took off at approximately 1820-1850, and was shot down by flak over Germany, crashing into a field owned by Frau Nanny Meyer in Dahrenwurth, 7 km NE of

Tonning. All five crew were buried in Brunsbuttelkoog, but later reinterred at Kiel War Cemetery, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. (Grave 3 F 4)

Navigator NZ412518 Sgt Lewis Harry Parkinson, RNZAF, was aged 20. He had flown 104 hrs. This was his fourth operation. He is remembered at the Opotiki Cenotaph, on a plaque within St Johns Union Church, and at the Opotiki Rugby Clubrooms. His name is on the Hall of Memories at Auckland War Memorial Museum.

Sources: Opotiki War Vigilance Association Records p 232, Parkinson of Opotiki. JCM Cresswell pp52-54, Opotiki News Vol V Issue 471 27 November 1942.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Sonia Edwards 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, Nachtjagd Combat Archive 'The Early Years' part three, 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 - 2024 Last Modified: 31 July 2021, 18:20

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