Bomber Memories

The Wings Over New Zealand Show Episode 299 “Bomber Memories” is now online. In this episode I dipped into the archive and pulled out a 2013 recording that I made when Peter Wheeler (of the New Zealand Bomber Command Association) and I visited bomber veterans Arthur Joplin and Ron Mayhill at Arthur’s home in Remuera.

The recording was made during a social visit, and Peter and I got Arthur and Ron to talk about some of their wartime memories. This show includes the most interesting highlights from the conversation.

Arthur was an RNZAF veteran who served as a Lancaster pilot with No. 617 Squadron RAF during WWII. He was one of the pilots that attacked the German battleship Tirpitz twice, sinking it in November 1944.

Ron was an RNZAF bomb aimer, who flew with New Zealand’s heavy bomber squadron, No. 75 (NZ) Squadron, during the latter part of 1944. He wrote the absolutely brilliant memoir Bombs On Target, which is a must read. He also served several years till his death as President of the New Zealand Bomber Command Association.

Ron passed away in 2020, and Arthur died in 2023, so these memories and stories are precious reminders of these great men and the things they did during WWII.

cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZShow/2024/02/wonz-299-bomber-memories/