Wikipedia:WikiProject Military history/Assessment/Michael Herrick

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Article promoted by Hawkeye7 (talk) via MilHistBot (talk) 02:20, 8 February 2022 (UTC) « Return to A-Class review list[reply]

Michael Herrick[edit]

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Nominator(s): Zawed (talk)

Michael Herrick (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)

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Another article for a New Zealand flying ace of the Second World War for consideration for A-Class, Michael Herrick was a little different in that he flew in Europe, shooting down German bombers as a night fighter pilot before being sent to fly with the Royal New Zealand Air Force in the Pacific. He served for several months and destroyed Japanese fighters. He didn't survive the war, being killed soon after returning to Europe. Originally written in April 2020 using his online biography on the NZHistory website and subsequently expanded with some print souces. It has been through the GA process and I have come back and made some revisions and done a little expansion work. As always, my thanks in advance to all those who stop by to provide feedback. Zawed (talk) 08:34, 2 November 2021 (UTC)[reply]

  • Image review pass (t · c) buidhe 10:15, 2 November 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Support Comments from AustralianRupert: G'day, not a lot stood out to me. Regards, AustralianRupert (talk) 06:30, 9 November 2021 (UTC)[reply]

  • "on the RMS Rangitiki": drop the definite article and provide a link to the ship
  • is there any more that could be said about his training or service between 1939 and 1940?
  • No, that's about the extent of it in the sources. Zawed (talk) 10:27, 12 November 2021 (UTC)[reply]
  • "No. 25 Squadron soon moved to Martlesham Heath": do we know when this occured?
  • Despite a bit of scouting on Google books, I'm having trouble pinning down a reliable source for when the move occurred. However, I have literally just bought a book online that might help. It will be sent next week and if it has anything I will add it. I might be able to use it to beef up what the squadron was doing in the period between March to September as well. Zawed (talk) 10:53, 12 November 2021 (UTC)[reply]
  • AustralianRupert, the book I purchased has turned up and from that I was able to add a little about the squadron's activities. See what you think of the additions. Cheers, Zawed (talk) 09:29, 25 November 2021 (UTC)[reply]
  • "equipped with airborne radar": link radar
  • "where it began operating P40s that" --> "P-40s"?
  • "leading a flight": link flight
  • "Japanese destroyers and strafing landing craft": link destroyer and landing craft
  • beachhead on Bougainville --> link to Landings at Cape Torokina?
  • when was he promoted to flight lieutenant and then squadron leader? If known, it should probably be mentioned in the body of the article
  • Added mention of promotion to flight lieutenant but can't find a source for when exactly he was promoted to squadron leader. Zawed (talk) 10:00, 12 November 2021 (UTC)[reply]
  • No worries, even if you don't have an exact date for promotion to squadron leader, I would encourage you to add some mention of the rank in the body as currently the infobox seems to be the only place it is mentioned. Regards, AustralianRupert (talk) 02:46, 13 November 2021 (UTC)[reply]
  • Ah yes of course. I have added a mention of his rank at the time of the squadron's arrival at Guadalcanal. The source mentions him with the rank at this time. Zawed (talk) 02:13, 14 November 2021 (UTC)[reply]
  • citation 23 (Gisborne Herald) should have an endash rather than a hyphen
  • in the References, "Auckland, New Zealand" v. "Wellington" -- is "New Zealand" necessary here for both?
  • Made formatting of location consistent by removing country. Zawed (talk) 10:00, 10 November 2021 (UTC)[reply]
  • as above, "London, United Kingdom" v. "Norwich" -- should Norwich also have UK appended?
  • Made location consistent by removing country. Zawed (talk) 10:00, 10 November 2021 (UTC)[reply]
  • AustralianRupert, Thanks for taking a look at this. I have actioned, as much as I can, all but one of your comments. I may be able to do something about that one comment next week. Cheers, Zawed (talk) 10:53, 12 November 2021 (UTC)[reply]
  • No worries, your changes look good. I have added my support above. Sorry for the delayed response; I have been focusing on spending time with the family since I got home and have been reluctant about getting involved too deeply in Wikipedia again. Regards, AustralianRupert (talk) 03:46, 28 November 2021 (UTC)[reply]
  • Thanks for the support AR and for sure, family has to take priority. Hope all is well. Zawed (talk) 09:49, 28 November 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Comments Support by Pendright[edit]

Lead:

  • Michael James Herrick DFC* (5 May 1921 – 16 June 1944) was a New Zealand flying ace of the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War. He was credited with the destruction of at least six enemy aircraft.
  • That's supposed to indicate the medal bar but I have used another way of expressing it so "Bar" is rendered as text. Zawed (talk) 03:51, 2 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]
  • "at least" -> What does this indefinite phrase add to the meaning of six enemy aircraft?
  • His total tally for aircraft shot down includes 2 shared, so there is an argument he destroyed eight. But I think this potentially subjective (some would argue you could take the two halves and combined them to add one to his score, so 7 destroyed). I prefer the chosen wording to indicate that it is the bare minimum, i.e. 6, but could be more subject to interpretation. Zawed (talk) 03:51, 2 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]
  • <>While I respect your point of view, I should think that "two shared" is more defiitive than "at least".
  • Have add mention of the shared aircraft destroyed. Zawed (talk) 02:03, 4 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]
  • "DFC & Bar" is, as I understand it, the correct presentation when being used as a postnominal as it is here. Zawed (talk) 02:03, 4 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]
  • Born in Hastings, New Zealand, Herrick joined the RAF in 1939.
This sentence seems more relative to the first paragraph than it does as the first sentence of the second paragraph?
  • I view the first paragraph as establishing notability, the second as a summary of his bio. (I have trimmed the 2nd para by removing New Zealand, since that is clear from the 1st para). Zawed (talk) 03:51, 2 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]
<>At this stage, I bow to your point of view. Pendright (talk) 23:52, 2 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]
  • He flew Bristol Blenheims on night operations with No. 25 Squadron during the Battle of Britain, destroying three German bombers.
"during the Battle of Britain," -> Suggest using this as the introductory phrase to the sentence
and dropping the comma?
  • In late 1941, having shot down at least four enemy aircraft, he was sent to New Zealand on secondment to the Royal New Zealand Air Force to take command of its newly formed No. 15 Squadron.
  • "at least" -> Same as above?
  • Similar reasoning as above. Zawed (talk) 03:51, 2 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]
<> Same as above. Pendright (talk) 23:52, 2 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]
  • I now explicitly refer to four. Zawed (talk) 02:18, 4 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]
  • In this section, the pronoun "he" is used eight successive times in referring to Herrick, which does not include the use of "his" a few times.
The purpose of using a subject pronoun is to avoid repetition of a subject's name, and ordinaraly a pronoun would refer to a noun used earlier. Instead, here, a pronoun is refering to a pronoun? Semantic satiation
  • Rejigged this to reduce usage of "he". Zawed (talk) 03:51, 2 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Early life:

  • He was educated at Hurworth School in Wanganui, before going onto Wanganui Collegiate School.
  • He was "first" educated?
  • Drop the comma - an independent clause and a dependent clause are not joined by a comma
  • Both above points done. Zawed (talk) 04:08, 2 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]
  • Could you add a few more details about Herrick?
  • That's about all I can glean from the sources. Zawed (talk) 04:08, 2

December 2021 (UTC)

<>Okay, thanks for looking Pendright (talk) 23:52, 2 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Second World War:

  • He was commissioned as a pilot officer on 7 March 1940,[5] and was posted to No. 25 Squadron which was stationed at North Weald and operated Bristol Blenheims.[4]
  • Drop the comma or add a subject to the last clause?
  • Rephrased the sentence as suggested. Zawed (talk) 04:08, 2 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Battle of Britain:

  • Although its aircraft had been intended for light bombing, in June No. 25 Squadron moved to Martlesham Heath to operate in a night fighting role.
The last mention of No. 25 Squardren is in the lead, so consider the following changes:
Although No, 25 Squardren's aircraft had been intended for light bombing, it was moved to Martlesham Heath in June to operate in a night fighting role.
  • On the night of 4/5 September, despite his aircraft's radar set malfunctioning, Herrick spotted a Heinkel He 111 bomber caught in search lights and shot it down.
  • caught in whose search lights?
  • Have linked and added these were anti-aircraft searchlights. Zawed (talk) 03:02, 4 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]
  • Add a year after September
  • For his exploit, he was later awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). The published citation read:
Should exploit be plural?
  • No. 25 Squadron shortly began converting to Bristol Beaufighters and in one of these aircraft, and now operating from Wittering, he possibly destroyed a bomber in December, damaged a Junkers Ju 88 bomber on 8 May 1941 and destroyed a Ju 88 the following month.
  • Replace shortly with soon
  • Add a comma after Bristol Beaufighters -> its an independent clause.
  • Drop "and now"
  • "possibly destroyed" -> Add a citation after the phrase
  • The cite at the end of the sentence covers all the facts recited so to deal with this, I have restructured this section so I end the sentence with that "possible destroyed". That way I don't have two cites to the same source in the same sentence. Zawed (talk) 02:49, 4 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]
  • By this time, he had been promoted to flying officer.[11]
By "this" time -> Could this be more specific
  • Done as part of the restructure mentioned above. Zawed (talk) 02:49, 4 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Secondment:

  • Promoted to flight lieutenant in March 1942, three months later he was posted to the RNZAF's No. 15 Squadron.
Consider moving "three months later" to the end of the sentence.
  • After a few months it was sent to Tonga, where it began operating P-40s that had been recently used by the United States Army Air Force's No. 68 Pursuit Squadron, with responsibility for the air defence of the island.
Consider replacing at least one "it"?
  • By this time Herrick had been promoted squadron leader and was in charge of the unit; its original commanding officer had been killed in a flying accident.[1][14]
The last "its" could be replaced by "the"
  • The squadron's initial encounter with the enemy took place on 6 May; while escorting a Lockheed Hudson, Herrick and his wingman shared in the destruction of a Japanese float-plane.[15]
Connsider ths instead: The squadron's initial encounter with the enemy took place while escorting a Lockheed Hudson on 6 May, when Herrick and his wingman shared in the destruction of a Japanese float-plane.
  • Yes, that's better as it gets rid of the semi-colon. Zawed (talk) 02:15, 4 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]
  • This is acknowledged to be the first enemy aircraft shot down in the Pacific by fighters of the RNZAF.[1]
This is acknowledged or This was acknowledged?
  • "is acknowledged". I use this terminology as a) it is a modern source and b) if "was acknowledged" is used, this could imply that it is no longer the case. Zawed (talk) 02:15, 4 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]
  • On 7 June, he was involved in a large dogfight that took place when a force of over 100 Allied fighters, including twelve P-40s from No. 15 Squadron, encountered nearly around 50 Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zeroes near the Russell Islands.
"nearly around" -> drokp one
  • In recognition of his services in the Solomons, he was awarded a bar to his DFC; this was gazetted in February 1944.
gazetted by whom?

Return to the RAF:

  • With Herrick's secondment to the RNZAF at an end, in January 1944 he embarked for England, via Canada, travelling on a troopship while in charge of 300 RNZAF personnel who were proceeding to Edmonton for flight training.
  • Move the comma after "at an end" and place it after 1944.
  • Change "at an end" to at "the" end
  • The proposed change doesn't sit well with me as currently worded. I rejigged it a little, see what you think. Zawed (talk) 04:08, 2 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]
  • Resuming his service with the RAF, he was sent to No. 305 Polish Bomber Squadron, where he took command of one of its flights.[4]
"his", "he & "he"?
  • Named dropped Herrick on first he. Zawed (talk) 04:08, 2 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]
  • Herrick is credited with the destruction of six enemy aircraft, shares in two other aircraft destroyed and two damaged.[8]
  • Replace the comma with and
  • Change shares to sharing
  • The month after Herrick's death, it was announced that he was to be awarded the United States Air Medal, in acknowledgement of his services in the Pacific; the medal was presented to his parents in a ceremony in Wellington in June 1945 by Captain Lloyd Gray, the naval attache at the United States Embassy.
The word "in" is repeated five times?
  • Ooh yeah, I hadn't noticed that. I have tweaked this some, down to two now. Zawed (talk) 04:08, 2 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]

@Zawed: Finished!

@Pendright:, thank you for another detailed and insightful review. I have made a number of edits in response to your feedback, see what you think. Thanks, Zawed (talk) 03:05, 4 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]
@Zawed: Supporting! Always a pleasure working with you. Best of the season! Pendright (talk) 19:02, 4 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]
Thank you Pendright, and all the best to you as well. Zawed (talk) 21:14, 4 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]
Source review - pass

The sources are all reliable, the long citations are complete, consistent and IAW MOS, as are the short citations. If you haven't got a third reviewer by the end of next week, ping me. Peacemaker67 (click to talk to me) 03:58, 16 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for the source review PM, much appreciated. Will ping you if another reviewer doesn't come along. Cheers, Zawed (talk) 08:15, 18 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Drive-by from CPA[edit]

  • There's a MOS:SANDWICH issue in the Secondment section. Please remove this issue. Cheers. CPA-5 (talk) 16:12, 28 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Image moved. Zawed (talk) 08:10, 29 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Support from Vami[edit]

Reserving a spot. –♠Vami_IV†♠ 10:33, 3 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

  • I cannot !support so long as any instance of "enemy aircraft" or "the enemy", excepting of course the quotation from the London Gazette, remains in this article. Are dead men the enemies of Wikipedia?
  • I have removed or otherwise rephrased all instances of "enemy". Zawed (talk) 02:32, 5 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
Lead
  • Born in Hastings, [...] What do you think of un-piping this link? The first sentence of the lead identifies the subject as a New Zealander, but there is of course a Hastings in the country for which Herrick cut his teeth as a fighter pilot.
  • Generally my preference when writing articles is to wikilink locations such as towns so that the reader can follow the link if they wish to learn more about that particular location. Here, just typing Hastings takes the reader to the English town which to my mind reinforces the need for the link, to make it easier for the reader to find. Zawed (talk) 02:22, 5 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
  • [...] for his achievements during the battle. Recommend "for his actions".
Early life
  • Michael James Herrick was born in Hastings in New Zealand [...] Recommend nixing "in New Zealand" and just un-piping the link to Hastings, New Zealand.
  • [...] one of five boys of [...] Recommend "one of five sons".
  • Recommend linking "pilot's licence".
Second World War
  • The outbreak of the Second World War forced Herrick's cadetship, originally scheduled to run for two years, to be consolidated. Consolidated by whom?
  • [...] it was involved in convoy patrols over the North Sea. What exactly did these patrols entail? Were they patrolling for U-boats so as to protect convoys, or looking for German convoys to attack?
  • [...] the Luftwaffe [...] "Luftwaffe" should be italicized and linked.
  • [...] repeated the feat [...] These successes [...] For his exploits, [...] I generally have an issue with this language on the grounds of good taste. I of course do not demean the difficulty of aerial combat, or deny that the destruction of an opposing force's aircraft is a success for the destroyer, but to describe them as "exploits" is to render the act of sending men into the grave or captivity is like describing the Boer War as a safari. Somewhat accurate, but in poor taste.
  • I have rephrased this section. I agree that the usage of "exploits" could be insensitive hence its removal although have retained "successes" (although used in a different sentence) as I do not feel that its use in this context is out of place. Zawed (talk) 02:22, 5 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
  • [...] he possibly destroyed a bomber [...] Recommend substituting "Herrick" for "he".
  • He destroyed a Ju 88 in June while on patrol over the Midlands. When?
  • Vami_IV, thank you for your review, I have responded as indicated above and my edits are here. Cheers, Zawed (talk) 02:32, 5 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
  • He spent a period of time as an instructor [...] How long and when?
  • It is not explicit from the sources, but can be inferred as being around six months from the timeline recited in the article - he arrives in NZ late in 1941 and receives an operational posting in June 1942. Zawed (talk) 04:13, 7 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
  • [Herrick led] a flight of eight P-40s accompanying light bombers attacking Japanese destroyers and strafing landing craft. Were the light bombers strafing the landing craft or was that the P-40s? Both?
  • The following month, Herrick relinquished command of the squadron and left to return to New Zealand. Whatever for? Was he going on leave?
  • His secondment had ended. I have moved some content from the next section to help clarify this. Zawed (talk) 04:13, 7 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
  • The citation noted that it was for "gallantry displayed in flying operations against the enemy in the Solomon Islands". This strikes me as superfluous.
  • I prefer to retain the citation, so as an alternative have trimmed the preamble to the citation. Zawed (talk) 04:13, 7 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
  • Interrogated by Spreckels, he was reportedly advised that Herrick had made a good account of himself before being shot down. What does this mean?
  • It means that he put up a "brave fight", as per the source. The "made a good account of himself" is my attempt at paraphrasing this concisely. Zawed (talk) 04:13, 7 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
  • I feel it is more neutral/less heroic than "brave fight", but whether it is neutral in itself I'm not sure. I note that no other reviewer has taken issue with it. Zawed (talk) 09:07, 7 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
  • The month after Herrick's death, it was announced that he was to be awarded the United States Air Medal, as an acknowledgement of his services in the Pacific; [...] The citation specifically noted his exploits in the Solomon Islands area during the period of May to June 1943. This information should be melded together: "The month after Herrick's death, it was announced that he was to be awarded the United States Air Medal for his services in the Solomon Islands."

Reading complete. –♠Vami_IV†♠ 11:06, 5 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Vami_IV, I have now responded to your latest comments. Thanks, Zawed (talk) 04:13, 7 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]
The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.
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