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.
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75 (NZ) Squadron Wellington III X3720 Sgt. John Charles Wilmshurst

Operation: Dusseldorf

Date: 10/11th July 1942 1942 (Friday/Saturday)

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

Type: Wellington III

Serial: X3720

Code: AA-U

Base: RAF Feltwell, Norfolk

Location: North Sea off the German-Netherlands coast

Pilot: Sgt. John Charles Wilmshurst NZ/411962 RNZAF Age 25 Missing - believed killed

Obs: Sgt. James Douglas Gould NZ/411233 RNZAF Age 21. Missing - believed killed

Air/Bmr: Fl/Sgt. Peter Desmond Lowther NZ/403583 RNZAF Age 22. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Richard Edwin Sharp NZ/405513 RNZAF Age 23. Killed

Air/Gnr: Sgt. Raymond John Finlay Hirst NZ/404067 RNZAF Age 22. Missing - believed killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 14:30 hrs leading three others from the squadron;

Wellington III Z1596 flown by P/O. Ivor John McLachlan NZ/404390 RNZAF (survived the war as a Fl/Lt and awarded the DFM, transferred to the reserve on the 01st June 1947)
Wellington III X3751 flown by P/O. Eric George Delancey Jarman Aus/404507 RAAF (killed as a Sq/Ldr. on the 29th April 1944)
Wellington III X3390 flown by Sgt. Richard Stansfield Derek Kearns NZ/405572 (also flew on the dam buster operations, survived the war as a Sq/Ldr, awarded DFM, DFC. DSO.MiD retired on the on 29 March 1963, understood to have passed away in 1995)

The four were recalled on the way to the target, near the Dutch coast, due to lack of cloud cover over the target. All but X3720 were safely back on the ground at Feltwell by 17:37p hrs. Some of the returned crews advised that they had been chased by Luftwaffe night fighters but they managed to lose them in the clouds.

It is understood they were way off course when they came down in the North Sea , off the German-Netherlands coast - no claims discovered in Luftwaffe combat reports or by flak units.

Sgt. Eric George DelanceyJarman, flying Wellington III X3714 and Sq/Ldr. Raymond John Newton flying Wellington X3586 flew over the area trying to locate the missing crew. They returned at 02:00 hrs after an unsuccessful search.
(W/Cdr. Newton DFC. listed as missing on the 02nd January 1945 flying Lancaster III ME321 AA-N - Sq/Ldr. Jayman DFC.killed on the 22nd April 1944 flying Lancaster III LM523 AA-L2)

The bodies of Fl/Sgt. Lowther and Sgt. Sharp were later washed ashore near Borkum, where they were buriea in the Luthanian Cemetery on the 15th July, Reinterred at Sage War Cemetery after the end of hostilities.

Buial and detailed information:

Sgt. John Charles Wilmshurst. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 118. Born on the 04th October 1916 in Strafford, New Zealand. Educated at Stratford Technical High School. Worked as a clerk in charge of the office of R.R. Curtis to No.3 Service Flying Training School,& Co., Stratford. Enlisted on the 23rd March 1941. Traded at No.2 Elementary Flying Training School, No.3 Service Flying Training School, then on the 14th June. Awarded his wings on the 26th July and promoted to sergeant, Embarked for England on the 14th September arriving on the 06th October 1941. On the 18th November he was posted to 12 Operational Training Uni based in Chipping Warden, Oxfordshire, to crew-up and receive operational training on Wellington aircraft prior to his posting on the 24th March, 1942, to 75 (N.2.) Squadron based at Feltwell, Norfolk, took part in 25 operational sorties., flew 393 Hours as pilot.

Son of Herbert Edward (died 20th April 1942, age 64) and Mary Wilmshurst (née Levandowski - died 24th December1965, age 63), of Stratford , Taranaki, New Zealand.

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Sgt. James Douglas Gould Runnymede Memorial. Panel 117. Also remembered on family grave in Otautau New Cemetery.. Born on the 17th March 1921 in Otautau,. Educated at the Southland Technical College, Invercargill. Also studied at the Aeronautical Engineering College of N.2. Ltd., Auckland., Employed as a tractor driver by Gould Brothers. Otautau. Enlisted at Levin on the 16th February, 1941, at Levin. After basic training embarked for Canada on the 29th April 1941. No. 6 Air Observers' School, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. On the 3rd August, 1941, he proceeded to No. 5 Bombing and Gunnery School, Dafoe, Saskatchewan. On the 15th September he was awarded his observer wings and promoted to sergeant. He was then posted to No. 1 Advanced Navigation School, Rivers, Manitoba. On the 20th October he proceeded to No. 1 'Y' Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia, for embarkation to the United Kingdom. Posted to 23 Operational Training Unit, Pershore, Worcestershire, where he trained as navigator on Wellington bomber aircraft. Joined 75 squadron on the 13th May 1942/ Completed 14 operational sorties and had accrued 396 flying hours as a navigator.

Son of Alfred (died 29th January 1963) and Mary Isobella Gould (née Dobie - died 16th November 1943, age 61), of 'Willowbank', Otautau, Southland, New Zealand. His brother, Henry Howard Gould died 22nd December 1944, age 15,

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Fl/Sgt. Peter Desmond Lowther. Sage War Cemetery, Grave 7. C. 13. Also remembered on the Auckland War Memorial Museum. Born on the 2nd July 1920 at Aratapu, Educated at the Nercer School leaving in 1933, Various jobs until he joined the Smeeds Quarries Ltd. of Auckland. as an electric welder on the 23rd September 1939. Enlisted at the Initial Training Wing, Levin, on the 29th September 1940 and embarked by the 'Awatea' on the 5th November 1940 for Canada to train under the Empire Air Training School. Arrived in Canada on the 20th November and commenced his wireless training at No.2 Wireless School, Calgary, Alberta, on the 28th of the same month. He was posted to No.3 Bombing and Gunnery School, Macdonald, Manitoba on the 26th April 1941• Here on the 26th May he was awarded the Wireless Operator Air Gunner badge and promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He was promoted to Flight Sergeant on the 1st December 1941. Meanwhile on the 27th May 1941 he had proceeded to No.1 M Depot, Debert, Nova Scotia, for embarkation to England. He proceeded to 23 Operational Training Unit, Pershore, Worcestershire for crewing up and completion of his training on the 229 hours as an air gunner.Wellington. Posting on the 13th May 1942 to 75 (NZ) Squadron. Flew 15 operational sorties and accrued 229 hours as Air Gunner. On the 02nd June 1942 flyng as a rear gunner shot down a Ju88.

Son of Henry Samuel Lowther (died 05th October 1934, age 48) and Anna Maria Winifred Lowther (née Olsen - died 21st July 1991, age 103, married in 1909, in New Zealand), of Auckland City, New Zealand; husband of Jean Lowther (née Danes - later Daniels - married on the 29th October 1940) and father of Carline Ann (died in 1943, age 17 Moths) of 43 Alberta Street, Point Chevalier, Devonport, Auckland. Brother of Veronic Anastasia, Nancy Margaret, Betty Theresa and Maria Winifred. (Note: some sources including the CWGC and the NZ Cenotaph quote his father was a George Lowther).

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Sgt. Richard Edwin Sharp. Sage War Cemetery, Grave 7. D. 1. Also remembered on the Matakana War Memorial. Born on the 6th October 1918 at Warkworth. Educated at Warkworth High School. Employed on Mr.J. M.Nelson's farm at Matakana. Enlisted for aircrew training on the 22nd December 1940 at the Initial Training Wing, Levin, and after a short ground course embarked on the 'Aorangi' at Auckland on the 30th January 1941 to proceed to Canada for training under the Empire Air Training Scheme. Posted on the 16th February 1941 to No.3 Wireless School, Winnipeg, Manitoba and after completing this course was posted on the 7th July to No.6 Bombing and Gunnery School, Mountain View, Ontario. Awarded his Wireless Operator Air Gunners Badge and received his appointment as sergeant. Following this, on the 10th August he proceeded to No.1 'Y' Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia, to await embarkation for England. Pposted on the 16th December to 23 Operational Training Unit, Pershore, Worcestershire, to crew-up and complete his training on the Wellington. Psted on the 13th May 1942 to No. 75(N.Z.) Squadron, Feltwell, Norfolk, and commencing operational flying. Flew 14 operational sorties and accrued 248 hours as wireless operator air gunner.

Son of William james (died 12th July 1955, age 74) and Annie Sharp (née Role - died 11th June 1951, age 70), of Matakana, Auckland, New Zealand.

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Sgt. Raymond John Finlay Hirst. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 117. Also remembered on the Clevedon Second World War memorial stone, 2014. Born on the on the. 05th April 1920 in Te Aroha. Educated at the Te Aroha District High School. Employed on farm duties with his father Mr Albert Hirst, Te Aroha. Enlisted on the 27th October, 1940, and on completion of his initial training embarked for Canada on the o5th December 1940 for training under the Empire Air Training Scheme. Posted on the Oth August to No.2 Radio School, Yatesbury, Wiltshire, thence on the 31st October, to No. 1 Air Armament School, Manby, Lincolnshire, and proceeded on the 16th December to 23 Operational Training Unit, Pershare, Worcester. posting on the 13th May, 1942 to No.75 (N.Z.) Squadron, Feltwell, Norfolk. With this squadron as Rear Gunner of Wellington bombers he took part in fifteen operational sorties and accrues 279 hours as air gunner.

Son of Albert (died 15th January 1970, age 79) and Isabel Hirst (née McCook - died 15th December 1973, age 85), of Clevedon, Auckland, New Zealand.

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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 Archives Kew AIR-27-646-13/14. 75 Squadron Website. The National Archives of Australia.

Other sources as quoted below:

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