Gp Captain Harry Day GG, OBE, DSO 'Wings'

[Danny152]

Hiya all,
Doing some research for a friend on his grandfather. Does anybody have anything on this officer, very famous!!! He was serving with 57 Squadron flying Blenheims and was shot down on the 13th October 1939 and played a role in the 'Great Escape' Stalag III. Anybody know the German Squadron, pilot who shot him down, etc etc.....

He played himself in the film reach for the skies.

I know he was a WW1 he was Royal Marines.

Thanks, hopefully a easy bit of research!!!! He says lol.

Regards

Danny

[Peter Cornwell]

13 October 1939 BRITISH AIR FORCES IN FRANCE 57 Squadron, Roye-AmyBlenheim I L1138. Shot down by Oberfw Ernst Vollmer of 4./JG 53 during reconnaissance sortie over Hamm - Hannover - Soest. and exploded over Birkenfeld 1.05 p.m. Wing Commander H. M. A. Day (Squadron Commander) baled out and captured near Langweiler, Sergeant Eric Bernard Hillier and AC2 Frederick George Moller also baled out but parachutes caught fire and both killed. Aircraft a write-off.
‘Wings’ Day was a Royal Marine Officer who transferred to the Fleet Air Arm in 1924 and joined the RAF in 1930. Initially imprisoned in Spangenberg, and later Dulag Luft, he was to become a notorious escapee making seven escape attempts until eventually incarcerated in a condemned cell at Sachsenhausen. His outstanding courage and leadership while in captivity would be recognised in the award of a DSO and OBE in December 1945.

[Bruce Lander]

Hi,

pretty good biography of Day - on Amazon - see below

Wings Day [Paperback]
Sydney Smith (Author)


Available from these sellers.


9 used from £01

Cheers
Bruce Lander

[Danny152]

Thanks guys, that's a great start and again when I get back a few nights in front of the computer!!!!!!