Operation: Chambly, France

Date: 1st/2nd May 1944 (Monday/Tuesday)

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

Type: Lancaster I

Serial: ME689

Code: AA:Y

Base: RAF Mepal, Cambridgeshire

Location: Saint Arnoult, France

Pilot: Sqn Ldr. Euan Wilfred Sachtler 41362 RNZAF Age 24. KiA (1)

Flt Eng: Sgt. Piers Trevor Stevens 1813627 RAFVR Age 23. KiA

Nav: Fg Off. Allan Gleave Heron 133094 RAFVR Age 22. KiA

Bomb Aimer: Plt Off. Michael Ferdinand Lombard 171913 RAFVR Age 29. KiA

WOp/Air Gnr: Flt Sgt. Douglas John MacKenzie 417211 RAAF Age 27. KiA (2)

Air Gnr (Mid Upp): Flt Sgt. Thomas Alexander Peevers 417232 RNZAF Age 29. KiA (3)

Air Gnr (Rear): Sgt. John Gilbert Pettifer 1247027 RAFVR Age 38. KiA

Above: Flt Sgt. Douglas J. MacKenzie (from his Service Record), Flt Sgt. Thomas A. Peevers

REASON FOR LOSS

A busy night for Bomber Command send 801 aircraft on various tactical targets in Northern France and Belgium. Despite prevailing moonlight conditions Luftwaffe night fighters had a fairly limited success in attacks. None of the allied bombers were attacked during their outward routes to targets.

Taking off at 22:49 hrs to bomb the railway and storage depot at Chambly, France. 120 aircraft taking part from various squadrons.

During the return the Chambly force was attacked by night-fighters which shot down five (5) bombers and damaged three (3) others.

ME689 was claimed by two German night-fighter pilots:

Hptm. Hans-Karl Kamp, his 15th Abschuss, from Stab III./NJG4, over Saint-Arrnoult at 3.800 m. at 00:43 hrs;

Hptm. Martin Drewes, his 26th Abschuss, from Stab III./NJG1, over Saint-Arrnoult, 60 km NW of Paris at 3.500 m. at 00:45 hrs.

Fw. Handke, the Bordfunker for Hptm. Drewes describes this Abschuss in translation: “Paris was subjected to yet another bombing attack. When we arrived over the city the attack was already over. We could see only small fires burning in Paris below. We therefore decided o head west, north of the city, with the aim of cutting off the track of a few returning bombers. And indeed, 60 km NW of Paris I got a single Radar contact at a height of 3,500 metres flying on a NW course. At a distance of 500 metres we gained a visual contact, it was a Lancaster. We fired into its fuselage from below at a distance of some 50 metres and saw a fire erupting immediately. Only seconds later it plunged down in flames. At that instant, I noticed that someone flying nearby fire long bursts of tracer gunfire, without hitting anything”.

Hptm. Kamp’s claim was officially confirmed by the OKL/RLM on 18th August 1944 and Hptm. Drewes’ on the 19th August 1944. (Nachtjagd Combat Archive (16 March 1944 - 11 May 1944) Part 2 - Theo Boiten)

(1) Euan Wilfred Sachtler received his secondary education at Otago Boys High School. His principal sport was rugby which he played for the Union Football Club. After leaving school he worked for Mallachs shoe store (his fathers business) in Dunedin.

Served in the NZ territorial army for 2 years. Enlisted for aircrew training at the Initial Training Wing, Levin on the 19th January 1944. Trained at No.1 Elementary Flying Training School in Taieri, joining on the 1st March 1941. Then to No.1 Service Flying Training School, joining on the 14th April 1941 at Wigram.

Pilots course 13A, No. 1 Service Flying Training School, RNZAF Station Wigram. (Courtesy AWMM)

Left to Right Rear: Kenmir Loudon McAdam 41485 (killed 20th April 1942), Stanley Harold Mortimore 405307 (killed 13th May 1942), William Stuart Beattie 41301 (killed 22nd December 1941) G. McLdensem, W.A Brown, L. Yates, Philip Murray Sharplin 41366 (died 4th March 1999), E.G Wagstaffe, J.A Valentine, K.C Phillip, Albert Leonard Sanderson 41363 (killed 15th December 1941).

Middle: Robert Alfred Hamilton 41328 (killed 26th January 1942), J. McL Cochrane, Lawrence Heaton Baxter 41300 (killed 17th April 1943), Robert Walter Coddington 41310 (4), Robert Clifford Barclay 41505 (died 10th February 1969), Raymond Johnson Watson 404978 (killed 5th March 1944), P. Skinner, B.S Spain, Frank Alexander Piercy 41492 (killed 9th July 1943).

Front: R. Bowling, B.H Hay, R.J Dempsey, L.G Malthus, C.R Spence, Euan Wilfred Sachtler 41362

Awarded his Pilots Wings and appointed to a commission on the 5th July 1941. Embarked for England on the 22nd July 1941, arriving on the 2nd September 1941. reported to No.3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth, where he remained on attachment until posted to 11 Operational Training Unit (OTU) joining on the 16th September 1941 flying the Wellington. Attached to 15 OTU, joining on the 6th January 1942 again flying the Wellington. On the 17th June 1942 he was attached to No. 10 Aircraft Delivery Unit flying as second pilot a Wellington to Egypt via Malta 19th - 21st June 1941. Joined 37 squadron on the 28th January and completed 40 operational sorties. On a SAAF Loadstar to South Africa via Sudan, Kenya and Southern Rhodesia. Embarked for England on the 22nd July 1941. Joined 11 Operational Training Unit as an instructor on the 15th March 1943. Posted on the 27th April for a course at the Group Instructors' School, Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire. Posted for a course to No. 5 Flying Instructors’ School, Castle Combe, Wiltshire.

Promoted to Fg Off. on the 5th July 1942, Flt Lt. on the 5th July 1943 then to Sqn Ldr on the 5th April 1944. Joined 75 (New Zealand) squadron on the 6th January 1944, Mepal, Cambridgeshire, and resumed operational flying. With this squadron he now took part in ten (10) attacks on targets in enemy occupied Europe. Flying eight (8) sorties on the Stirling aircraft and two (2) on Lancasters. Attached to 1657 Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU) on the 30th January then to No. 3 Lancaster Finishing School (LFS) between 2nd - 7th April 1944. A total of 908 flying hours logged and on his 47th operational sortie.

(2) Douglas John MacKenzie worked as a milk carter prior to service. Served in the 48th Battalion Signals Regiment between December 1940 - June 1941. Enlisted in the RAAF on the 31st January 1942. Embarked for England on the 15th January 1943. Trained at 82 Operational Training Unit (OTU) joining on the 22nd June 1943. Promoted to Sgt. on the 12th November 1942, Flt Sgt. on the 23rd September 1943. Joined 75 squadron on the 27th October 1943

No 4. Initial Training School, RAAF, Course No 24, C Squadron, Flight 13 (Courtesy NAA)

Rear left to right: 417185 Aircraftman 2 (AC2) John Vincent Hewitt (later Warrant Officer (WO)); 417192 AC2 Gordon William Hughes (later Flying Officer (Fg Off); 417211 AC2 Douglas John Mackenzie; 417210 AC2 Angus Desmond Macdonald (later Warrant Officer WO); 417213 AC2 John Lavers Matthews (later Leading Aircraftman (LAC)); 417206 AC2 Allan Stewart Lawes (later Fg Off); 417193 AC2 Herbert Martin Humphrey (later WO); 417205 AC2 Kenneth Harcourt Langley (later Pilot Officer (PO)); 417199 AC2 Thomas Kevin Johnson (later WO); 417186 Keith Geoffrey Hickel (later Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt)); 417196 AC2 Keith Scott Jarvis (later WO); and 417200 AC2 Clarence Archibald Jones (later WO and died on flying operations over France on 22 June 1944).

Middle: 417204 AC2 John Allen Kingsmill (later Flt Sgt and died in an accident in Scotland on 23 August 1943); 417195 AC2 Frank Martin Jackson (later Fg Off. and died on flying operations over Germany on 10 April 1945); 417190 AC2 Eric Edward Hood (later Flt Lt); 417182 AC2 Thomas Robert Hart (later Fg Off); 417201 AC2 Ronald Martin Kain (later Fg Off); 417215 AC2 Kenneth Thomas Millikan (later WO and died on flying operations over Germany on 23 May 1943); 417217 AC2 Vincent Joseph McInerney (later WO); 417216 AC2 Alex Thomas McKinnon (later Fg Off); 417202 AC2 Francis Simeon Kelly (later Flt Lt); 417208 AC2 Vivian Keith Lohmeyer (later Flt Lt); 417194 AC2 Ian McIntyre Hunter (later LAC and died in an accident in Adelaide, South Australia on 28 July 1942); and 417184 AC2 Lionel Harry Hendrie (later WO).

Front: 417183 AC2 Ivor Clarence Hatcher (later Fg Off and died on flying operations over Merauke, New Guinea on 8 September 1943); 417203 AC2 Ross Newcombe Kemsley (later Sgt and died in an accident in England on 19 May 1943); 417198 AC2 Allan Clyde Johns (later Flt Sgt and died in flying operations over Germany on 22 March 1944); 417191 AC2 William Stanbridge Horwood (later LAC); 417197 AC2 David Lewis Jeffries (later WO); 417212 AC2 John Lewis Mann (later Flt Lt); Corporal Marshall; 417189 AC2 Arthur Eric Holloway (later Fg Off); 417207 Herbert George Lee (Later FO); 417214 AC2 Albert Thomas Mildred (later Fg Off); 417188 AC2 Laurie Holds (later WO); 417187 AC2 Alec Kitchener Hill (later WO); and 417209 AC2 Albert Paul Johns (later Fg Off).

(3) Thomas Alexander Peevers worked as a orchardist on his fathers farm in Otekaieke prior to service. Enlisted at Levin on the 28th December 1941. Embarked for Canada on the 17th March 1942. Awarded his air gunner badge and promoted to sergeant on the 18th December 1942 after training with No. 3 Bombing and Gunnery School. Taking a train to New York he then embarked for England on the 5th January 1943. Further training with 11 Operational Unit (OTU) when he joined on the 2nd March 1943 flying the Wellington. Joining 1652 Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU) on the 20th May 1943 flying the Sterling. Joined 15 squadron on the 10th July 1943. Injured in a take off crash 02nd August 1943 treated at the station sick quarters and redoing squadron on the 12th October. Joined 75 squadron on the 20th October 1943. Attached to No. 3 Lancaster Finishing School (LFS) between 2nd and 7th April 1944. A total of 261 flying hours logged and thought to be on at least his 11th operational sortie.

(4) Robert Walter Coddington was born on the 22nd January 1922 in Wellington, New Zealand.

He enlisted in the RNZAF on the 18th January 1941. He was trained as a Pilot on Tiger Moths at RNZAF Base Auckland located at Whenuapui and Fairey Gordons at No.1 Flying Training School (FTS) RNZAF at Wigram in Wellington.

41310 Sgt. Coddington embarked aboard the QSMV “Dominion Monarch”, which sailed from Auckland to Liverpool via Halifax, Nova Scotia arriving in Liverpool on the 2nd September 1941.

Posted to 11 Operational Training Unit (OTU) at RAF Bassingbourn on Wellingtons.

Posted then to 148 Squadron, 205 Group, Middle East Command in the second half of 1942 flying the Wellington 1C.

41310 Warrant Officer (WO) Coddington was appointed to a commission and promoted to Plt Off. on the 14th October 1943.

Returned to England in 1943 after completing his tour and was posted to 11 OTU at RAF Westcott & RAF Oakley.

He returned to New Zealand aboard the RMS “Rangitane” sailing from London on the 8th October 1952.

He transferred to RAF in 1947 as in the role of Pilot 1 in England and appointed to a commission and promoted to Fg Off with a Service No. of 4016203.

He was promoted to Flt Lt. effective 19th June 1952 (London Gazette 29th July 1952).

Trained as Pilot/Navigation Instructor at RAF Shawbury (RAF Central Navigation & Control School) and posted to RAF Feltwell, then to RAF Moreton-in-Marsh.

He was transferred to a direct commission as a Flt Lt. in the RAFO. (12 years on the active list and 4 years on the reserve and effective 11th February 1955). The period of service was to count from the 28th November 1949. (London Gazette 12th August 1955).

Flew the Vickers Valetta C1 with 52 Squadron, Far East Transport Wing at RAF Changi in Singapore, operating between Negombo (Ceylon) and Kai Tak (Hong Kong). He then became an Air Traffic Controller at RAF Duxford.

He relinquished his commission as a Flt Lt. on the 28th November 1965 (London Gazette 30th November 1965)

Burial details:

Above Poix-de-picardie cemetery (Courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission)

Sqn Ldr. Euan Wilfred Sachtler. Poix-de-Picardie Churchyard. Row A. Collective grave 15-17. Born on the 2nd March 1920 at Dunedin. Son of the late Wilfred and Janet Louisa (née Brown) Sachtler of Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.

Sgt. Piers Trevor Stevens. Poix-de-Picardie Churchyard. Row A. Collective grave 15-17. Grave inscription: 'LEAVE HIM IN THY CARE. THINE THE WILL AND THINE THE POWER. MINE - IS JUST THE PRAYER'. Born on the 15th July 1920 in Mottingham, Kent. Son of Charles James Henry and Lilian Mary (née Knight) Stevens of Welling, Kent, England.

Fg Off. Allan Gleave Heron. Poix-de-Picardie Churchyard. Row A. Collective grave 15-17. Grave inscription: 'EVER REMEMBERED BY THOSE NEAR AND DEAR TO HIM. FLO, KEITH, MUM AND DAD'. Born on the 7th march 1922 in Leeds, Yorkshire. Son of Frank Reginald and Nellie (née Gleave) Heron of Leeds, Yorkshire. Husband of Florence Rosa (née Moore) Heron of Lower Agbrigg, Yorkshire, England.

Plt Off. Michael Ferdinand Lombard. Poix-de-Picardie Churchyard. Row A. Collective grave 15-17. Grave inscription: 'LAMPADA TRADUIT'. (THE TORCH OF LIFE). Born in the 3rd Qtr of 1914 in London. Son of Boursfield Swan and Marian Alice (née Shaw) Lombard of Markyate, Hertfordshire. Husband of Sybil Agnes (née Dickinson) Lombard of Birkenhead, Cheshire, England.

Flt Sgt. Douglas John MacKenzie. Poix-de-Picardie Churchyard. Row A. Collective grave 15-17. Grave inscription: 'HE DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE'. Born on the 18th November 1916 at Parkside. Son of Walter James (died 6th July 1945) and Vera Mackenzie (died 27th June 1938). Husband of Mary Elizabeth Mackenzie of 3 Cambridge Street, Hackney, South Australia.

Flt Sgt. Thomas Alexander Peevers. Poix-de-Picardie Churchyard. Row A. Collective grave 15-17. Born on the 29th March 1914 at Otekaieke. Son of David (died 29th July 1955, age 77) and Mary Anne (née Brown) Peevers (died 23rd November 1958, age 73).

Bother of Pte. James Peevers 006567 23rd Battalion NZ Infantry who was KiA in the Adriatice sector, Italy.

Sgt. John Gilbert Pettifer. Poix-de-Picardie Churchyard. Row A. Collective grave 15-17. Grave inscription: 'HE DIED THAT OTHERS MIGHT LIVE'. Born in 3rd Qtr of 1905 in Camberwell, London. Son of Ernest Gilbert and Florence Margret (née Smith) Pettifer. Husband of Eveleyn Dorothy (née Collinson) Pettifer of West Dulwich, London, England.

Researched by Kelvin Youngs (Web Master) and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Stuart Murray 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, 75 Squadron website. Thanks to Janice Harris, daughter of Robert Walter Coddington, for his service outline which has been researched by Aircrew Remembered (Sep 2025)

Other sources listed below:

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