Nelson Renner (second from right) stands with his fellow crew members in front of their Lancaster bomber in 1944. The crew were members of the 75th (New Zealand) Squadron of Britain's Royal Air Force (RAF). New Zealanders played an important role in the bombing operations of the RAF, both in greatly hindering Germany's industrial production and in support of operations such as the D-Day landings. Renner served with both the New Zealand Army and the Royal New Zealand Air Force during the war, and again with the RNZAF after the war. Casualties among the airmen, especially the bomber crews, were very heavy. Of all New Zealanders serving with the RAF, 3,285 (27%) died.