Raymond Cammock was the son of David John and Bertha Agnes Cammock, of Christchurch, New Zealand; husband of Kathy Cammock, of Barrowford, Lancashire, England.
Raymond posted from 61 OTU joined 485 (NZ) Sqn in July 1942 and remained with the squadron till September 1942 and left for North Africa and the Mediterranean Theater of Operations with 253 Sqn. Where he received a commission and also shared a enemy aircraft victory with the 253 Sqn in 1943.
In May 1944 for a second tour of operations he returned to the European Theater of Operations joining the 486 (NZ) Sqn were during the course with 486 (NZ) Sqn flying the Tempest Mk. V, Raymond became a V1 Ace shooting down 21 V1 flying bombs (1 being shared with the squadron).
Raymond was killed 6 October 1944 while stationed at Volkel when his Tempest JN863 was hit by flak while attacking an ammunition train, hitting the last coaches and exploding the ammunition train. The Tempest crashed at the railway crossing at Wagenvoortsdijk, Almen.
Raymond was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with 486 (NZ) Sqn. In the Supplement to the London Gazette of 13 December 1944.
The announcement included the following citation, "This officer has displayed great zest for operations and has completed a large number of varied sorties. He has set a fine example of skill and courage and his devotion to duty has been unflagging. Flying Officer Cammock has destroyed 20 flying bombs."
Raymond rests at the Lochem New General Cemetery, Gelderland, Netherlands Row 1. Grave 6.
Raymond Cammock (right) with Owen Eagleson in the 486 NZ Squadron. © IWM (CL 1386)
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Last pages of Raymond's Log Book.
Cammock's victories in Tempest
| Date | Type claimed | Aircraft Serial No. | Location of claim | Unit |
| 19 June 1944 | V-1 | SA-P (JN810) | 10m N Beachy Head | 486 |
| 23 June 1944 | 1/2 V-1 | SA-P (JN810) | 2m N Pevensey Bay | 486 |
| 23 June 1944 | V-1 | SA-P (JN810) | Edenbridge | 486 |
| 24 June 1944 | 2 V-1s | SA-N (JN808) | Eastbourne area | 486 |
| 25 June 1944 | V-1 | SA-R (JN804) | S Maidstone | 486 |
| 25 June 1944 | V-1 | SA-R (JN804) | 5m N Hastings | 486 |
| 27 June 1944 | V-1 | SA-T (JN794) | N Rye | 486 |
| 28 June 1944 | V-1 | SA-P (JN810) | Beachy Head | 486 |
| 1 July 1944 | V-1 | SA-U (JN866) | Bexhill | 486 |
| 7 July 1944 | V-1 | SA-W (JN873) | 7m N Pevensey | 486 |
| 11 July 1944 | V-1 | SA-D (JN803) | Bexhill | 486 |
| 22 July 1944 | V-1 | SA-R (JN863) | N Ashford | 486 |
| 26 July 1944 | V-1 | SA-X (EJ523) | 7m N Bexhill | 486 |
| 26 July 1944 | V-1 | SA-V (JN770) | 3-4m SW Ashford | 486 |
| 27 July 1944 | V-1 | SA-X (EJ523) | 4-5m S Tunbridge Wells | 486 |
| 27 July 1944 | V-1 | SA-X (EJ523) | Hastings | 486 |
| 6 August 1944 | V-1 | SA-X (EJ523) | Eastbourne | 486 |
| 7 August 1944 | V-1 | SA-R (JN863) | Dungeness | 486 |
| 15 August 1944 | V-1 | SA-P (EJ528) | Rye | 486 |
| 29 August 1944 | V-1 | SA-R (EJ869) | 2m N Tonbridge | 486 |
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In 2021 pieces of Raymond Cammock's Tempest JN863 was found at the railway-crossing at Wagenvoortsdijk, Almen. Together with the pieces of the Tempest, pieces of the train and ammunition were also found leading to the conclusion this had to be the location where Raymond Cammock lost his life. A commemorative plaque and information panel are now placed here.
A pedestrian tunnel, just east of the crash site, has been named after Raymond togehter with another information panel. His family was present for the formal opening of the tunnel in 2022. In the video, the granddaughter of Raymond is revealing the name of the tunnel.
Read more here: R.J. Cammocktunnel geopend
Thanks to Jerry Huisman for the information about the R.J. Cammock tunnel!
Sources:
No 485 NZ Squadron RAF
Aces High Vol. 2 by Christopher Shores
Jerry Huisman