Raymond Cammock

Raymond Cammock (4 July 1923–6 October 1944) was a flying ace of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) during the Second World War. He is credited with the destruction of at least 20 V-1 flying bombs.

From Christchurch, Cammock joined the RNZAF in August 1941 and was sent to England to serve with the Royal Air Force (RAF) once his training was completed the following year. He briefly served with No. 485 Squadron before being posted to No. 253 Squadron in September 1942. He flew Hawker Hurricane fighters extensively with this unit during the later stages of the campaign in North Africa. He returned to the United Kingdom in July 1943, and served with research and training units for several months. In May 1944, Cammock was posted to No. 486 Squadron, which was staffed with mostly New Zealand flying personnel and operated the Hawker Tempest fighter. The squadron was engaged in Operation Diver, the RAF's campaign against the V-1, with Cammock being one of its most successful pilots. Killed on 6 October during a strafing attack on a train in the Netherlands, he was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Early life Raymond John Cammock was born on 4 July 1923 to David John and Bertha Agnes Cammock in Christchurch, New Zealand. He was educated at Papanui Technical College and once his schooling was completed, he worked as a clerk for the New Zealand Government's Tourist bureau in Christchurch.

Second World War Cammock enlisted in the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) in August 1941 and commenced his training as an airman pilot at RNZAF Station Weraroa, near Levin. He proceeded to No. 3 Elementary Flying Training School the following month, making his first solo flight on 4 October. After further training at No. 1 Flying Training School, he gained his wings and a promotion to sergeant pilot in January 1942. He was sent to the United Kingdom the next month to serve with the Royal Air Force (RAF). After a period of training at No. 61 Operational Training Unit for familiarisation on Supermarine Spitfire fighters, he was posted to No. 485 Squadron in July.

His new unit, composed largely of New Zealand flying personnel and equipped with Spitfires, was based at Kings Cliffe, in No. 12 Group's area of operations from where it carried out convoy patrols over the North Sea. Cammock flew only seven sorties with the squadron before he was transferred to No. 253 Squadron on 6 September. Stationed at Hibaldstow, the squadron operated the Hawker Hurricane fighter and was preparing to be deployed to North Africa. Arriving at Maison Blanche in Algeria in November, its duties were to protect shipping destined for Algiers. Cammock flew 97 sorties during his time with No. 253 Squadron, and with another pilot, shared in the destruction of one enemy aircraft. He returned to the United Kingdom in July 1943.

Cammock, who was survived by his wife and son, was originally buried at Eefde in the Netherlands but after the war, his body was re-interred at Lochem New General Cemetery, where five other graves of Commonwealth personnel are located, in Lochem in the province of Gelderland. In 2021, during work on the railway line at Wagenvoortsdijk in the Netherlands, remnants of his Tempest were found. A tunnel in the locality was named for him in 2022, with members of his family present for the unveiling ceremony.