RAF Mepal, 75 NZ Squadron and more.

[smujsmith]

Like many I'm getting on a bit now, but have the honour to be married to a smashing lady from Leicestershire. Her Dad served his wartime service on only two squadrons. 75 squadron at Mepal, and then posted to 617, I believe at Woodhall Spa later in the war. Unfortunately Dad has passed some years ago now, and as always, we are trying to put together some sense of "his war". 75 was definitely Stirlings when he was there, he was an LAC ground crew bloke, that's all we know. I remember him telling me about his only flight in the RAF. A one hour air test, locked in the bomb bay of a Lancaster. I have a vivid memory of leading a team, carrying out a complete rebuild of PA474's mainplanes at Abingdon. Inviting him down for the weekend, we took him on board and introduced him to some of the BBMF guys. Ooops, must be dusty.

Anyway, any hints as to publications, web sites, sources of info on any of that period for the Squadrons or locations would be gratefully seized.

Smudge

[Wander00]

RAF - Bomber Command No.75 Squadron (http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/bombercommandno75squadron.cfm)

75 Squadron (http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/showthread.php?4982-75-Squadron)

Couple of links that might help

[Fareastdriver]

Wasn't Mepal one of those places that had those Thor thingys that I just missed with my Vampire's wingtip when they erected one.

[Wander00]

Yup, just so!

[brokenlink]

Smudge, if you PM me I'll get you the e-mail address of the of one of the 75(NZ) Sqn Association members which is still active in New Zealand. We also have the Roll of Honour in our church if you need a look.

Regards,

BL

[OwnNav]

You might like to read "Luck and a Lancaster" by Harry Yates, DFC.

Airlife Publishing Ltd.

ISBN 1 84037 079 3

[Lordflasheart]

Smudge, I imagine you've seen this, but just in case ...

75(nz)squadron | About my father and the aircrews of 75(NZ) Squadron RAF (http://75nzsquadron.wordpress.com/)

There's quite a bit about their groundcrew - including some mass photos etc, for instance ...

More information about 75(NZ) Squadron Ground Crew ? Christmas 1944. | 75(nz)squadron (http://75nzsquadron.wordpress.com/2013/02/28/more-information-about-75nz-squadron-ground-crew-christmas-1944/)

Given that 75 moved to Mepal in June '43 and kept their Stirlings til April '44, there might be something useful among the many pages. LFH

[ExAscoteer]

Smudge,

I know that copies of the 115 Sqn records from RAF Witchford (5 miles E of RAF Mepal) are held by Cambridgeshire County Council (both F540 and F541).

The same may well be true of the Mepal Sqns.


You might also try the 75 Sqn Association:

75 Squadron Association New Zealand | RFC | RAF | RNZAF (http://www.75squadron-raf-rnzaf.com/)