Stories
Stories
Building Airfields
A massive network of airfields would be needed for Bomber Command to operate. From just 33 permanent stations in 1939, by the end of the war squadrons had operated from 170 airfields across England and Scotland. Construction of airfields, hangers, operations and accommodation these would be a major task.
Doug and his Dog
Bomber crews became quite attached to their regular “kites”, relying on them to get them home safely each night. A wartime photo, posted online by the Air Force Museum of NZ, re-united Doug Williamson with "his" Lancaster - HK601 JN-D for “Dog”, aka “Snifter”, 75 years after jumping from her over Germany.
Masters of the Air – A Kiwi Connection
Apple TV's new series, Masters of the Air, is based on the US Eighth Air Force’s 100th Bomber Group, on their mission to bomb targets inside German-occupied Europe, alongside with RAF Bomber Command. there is an interesting New Zealand connection, through pilot Johnny Checketts.
The Great Escape
On the night of 24 March 1944, the largest prisoner of war (POW) breakout ever attempted occurred at Stalag Luft III, a German camp for captured Allied airmen. The ‘Great Escape’, including six New Zealanders, was unprecedented in its organisation and scale, but also in its tragedy.
Lloyd Allan Trigg, VC, DFC
The third of the three New Zealand airmen to be awarded the VC in WWII, Lloyd Trigg flew with Coastal Command rather than Bomber Command. He holds a special place in history as the only serviceman to have been awarded the VC on the ‘recommendation’ of an enemy.
A Lucky Start
Nick Carter joined Jack Wright’s crew in 1942 flying Wellington’s with 75(NZ) Squadron from Feltwell. On their first op they were attacked by a German night fighter, with their bomber taking significant damage. Here is the tale of that raid in Carter’s own words.