POW escape
 

Hello,

One of the pilot´s I´m researching was captured and imprisoned in Stalag Luft III in 1942. Recently I found out that he had escaped for a period of three weeks before being recaptured.

Has anyone any good ideas or links to research these escapes?

Thanks,
Ray

Re: POW escape
 

Hello Ray,

Any chance of posting your mans name? It might give a member of the forum a lead.

Regards
Peter

Re: POW escape
 

C.W.P.Carter 75th squadron RNZAF

I have contact with his children and they told me about the escape.

Re: POW escape
 

For correctness, it should be 75 Squadron RNZAF not 75th Sqn-trust the Commonwealth and Dominions to be different!

Re: POW escape
 

P/O. C W P. Carter was held at Luft 3 his pow number was 545

The following from Bomber Command Losses Vol.3 - W R. Chorley

2-3 June 1942

75 Squadron
Wellington III X3408 AA-
Op. Essen

P/O. C W P. Carter RNZAF pow
Sgt. H. Ives RNZAF pow
Sgt. J R. Mayall RNZAF pow
Sgt. J L. Coy RNZAF pow
F/S. P N. Howard RNZAF pow

Took off 0011 hrs Feltwell. Hit by flak while flying at 10,500 feet and crashed in the target area.

This is believed to have been the first all RNZAF Bomber Command crew to be made prisoners of war.

..................................

The Essen raid of 2/3 June 1942

195 aircraft - 97 Wellingtons, 38 Halifaxes, 27 Lancasters, 21 Stirlings, 12 Hampdens. 14 aircraft - 7 Wellingtons, 2 Halifaxes, 2 Lancasters, 2 Stirlings, 1 Hampden - lost.
This attack was also widely scattered. Essen records only 3 high-explosive and 300 incendiary bombs in the city, with no serious damage or casualties.

'The Bomber Command War Diaries' - Middlebrook/Everitt

Re: POW escape
 

I am curious to hear where the plane came down.
The "target area" is rather vague.

Jaap Woortman
Study Group Airwar 1939-1945

Re: POW escape
 

It came down in Aalst-Waalre, Holland.

This is my home village and I concentrate my research on the planes that came down here.