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Histories» Show All «Prev «1 ... 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 ... 161» Next» » Slide Show The Crew of the Halifax I originally believed that my relative, Stanley Musgrove, was a member of the crew of a Halifax which was shot down over Belgium on 27 / 28th April 1944. I now know it was another Stan Musgrove but this is a small tribute which records the events of that night and the aftermarth.
When a member of the armed forces goes missing behind enemy lines, they are debriefed and complete an "Escape and Evasion Report" on their return. These are now in the public domain and I have copies of each crew member who evaded capture. From these, and other blogs on the net, I have ascertained that :
FLIGHT ENGINEER - Sgt. Stan Musgrove RAF; 25 years old - I don't know how or at what point Stan was captured but he ended up as a POW at Kopernikus, Stalag Camp 357. I need to visit the National Archives to find if he completed his Liberation report (WO 208 3348 to 3352. There is a card index of names in the Research Enquiries room but it is not comprehensive). The files consist of Evaders who were captured and POW Escapers reports from all war zones. About 60% of returnees completed the liberation questionaire.
NAVIGATOR - F/O. Peter Holmes RCAF; 21 years old - was wounded badly in both legs with flak and was attended to in Belgium by a young doctor in a small village, Villers le Bouillet, in Eastern Belgium. He was the only survivor who believed everyone in the crew, except FLATHER, had been killed. Peter was previously a life assurance student from St John's, Newfoundland, before the War.
RADIO OPERATOR - Sgt. Warren McPherson RCAF; 25 years old - his Report says that his "wounded arm was giving trouble and my feet were very blistered."
TAIL GUNNER - Sgt. Roy Harmsworth RAF; only just 20 years old - the only fatality of the raid. Roy is buried in a cemetery of the Church of Hanneche in Belgium.
Comment : It is difficult, sitting here at the beginning of the 21st century, to comprehend the fear which must have gone through their minds as their plane caught fire at over 10,000 feet and they descended by parachute into enemy territory. Hardly suprising those returning were reluctant to talk about their experiences afterwards.
(The picture is a photograph of a Halifax bomber dated 12th April 1944 from a painting "Just in Time" (77 squadron) by John Rayson G.A.V.A.)
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