Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum - F/Sgt FW Farfan 123 Sqn escape from Crete

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F/Sgt FW Farfan 123 Sqn escape from Crete

Hi guys

F/Sgt Ferdinand Farfan, of West Indian origin, was shot down over Crete on 23 July 1943 while flying a Hurricane of 123 Squadron. This was during Operation Thesis.

I have read somewhere that he made an 'epic' escape from Crete but I don't have any details. Can anyone help? Does anyone know if there is a report of his escape lodged in the records at NA?

Cheers
Brian

Re: F/Sgt FW Farfan 123 Sqn escape from Crete

There is this link: http://www.newsday.co.tt/features/0,49691.html
He and another brother, Esmond, are mentioned.

Quote:

Among the well known families at BWIA were the Farfans. Ferdinand Junior Farfan was the airline’s first Trinidadian captain. A veteran of World War II, Farfan joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) at age 19. He flew Spitfires in the Middle East and was shot down over Crete in July 1942, just managing to elude capture. He also saw action in Normandy in 1944, taking part in the Battle of Falaise Gap.

After the war ended, Farfan joined BWIA. His first flight with the airline took place exactly 61 years ago — on Christmas Eve 1945. He retired in 1968.

Farfan’s brother, Esmond, became the third Trinidadian pilot to join BWIA. He too was a veteran of World War II who saw plenty of action over Germany and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Esmond Farfan, who flew Lancaster bombers and Mosquitoes during the war, joined the airline in October 1946. He remained with the airline for 33 years and was the first to fly Boeing 707s with BWIA in 1963. He retired from the airline after the pilots’ strike of 1978.

In addition to his job as a pilot, Esmond Farfan can also be counted among this country’s business leaders. He has paid a critical role in the success of the business founded by his father, Fernand Theodore Farfan six decades ago — FT Farfan and Sons.

The Farfan brothers made history for the local carrier in 1955 when they piloted BWIA’s first Viscount aircraft. Ferdinand Farfan was captain with Esmond as co-pilot on the flight from London which arrived in Trinidad via Prestwick, Iceland, Greenland, Gander, New York and Bermuda.

Re: F/Sgt FW Farfan 123 Sqn escape from Crete

Thanks Icare9

I had just found that!!

Thanks all the same for searching.

Cheers
Brian

Re: F/Sgt FW Farfan 123 Sqn escape from Crete

Brian,

Picture of Farfan here: http://www.caribbeanaircrew-ww2.com/?tag=fl&paged=4

It says that he escaped to Egypt and was a recipient of the Order of Leopold, which probably is the Belgian one..

Regards,

Leendert