Stalag Luft III

[Steve Smith]

Hi,

Looking for anyone who specialises in researching Stalag Luft III. I have some photographs taken in the camp and I'm trying to discover the identity of an RAF airman who was shot attempting to escape.

TIA

Steve

[Alex Smart]

Hello Steve,
This may hold the answer you seek -

http://www.rafcommands.com/archive/12349.php

Alex

[Steve Smith]

Hi Alex.

Thank you for the heads up, sadly not my man.

Kind regards

Steve

[Alex Smart]

Hello Steve,
I knew that I had others and found them today. most are in the BCL and FCL series.

Flt/Lt. McCloskey shot while in cooler December 1943.
Sqdn/Ldr Grant Shot while returning to hut 103 after Christmas party Dec 1943.
Sgt. Crosswell RCAF shot whilst trying to escape13th April 1945.
Flt/Sgt Lewis escaped in March 1944, recaptured in July handed over to the SS and shot 1st August 1944.
Flg/Off Carter RCAF at large from 17th June 44 till captured and shot on 9th July 1944 grave never found.
Flt/Lt Walker evaded for several weeks Shot by SS on 9th July 1944.
W/Off Young thought to have been shot by Gestapo while pow.
Flt/Sgt Ingram evaded captured by Gestapo shot on 1st October 1944.
Flt/Lt. Merret DFC RAAF killed in captivity.
Flg/Off Oberdak evaded from May 44 til 24th Dec 44, executed 8th March 45.
Plt/Off Horsey, Tempest pilot shot whilst prisoner around the 2nd April 1945.
Others , Cuthbertson, Typhoon pilot; P/Off Birnie RCAF; Flt/Lt Grantham DFC Typhoon pilot.

Some were killed by German troops shortly after crashing such as Flt/Lt Sworniewski of 315 Sqdn; Flt/Lt Thompson 24 OTU,shot 5th July 1944.

To name but a few, most but not all were in SL3 though as far as I am aware.
Alex

[David Layne]

Alex could you please furnish a little more information about Sqdn/Ldr Grant Shot while returning to hut 103 after Christmas party Dec 1943.

[Alex Smart]

Hello David,

Sorry to be late with reply but I cannot now find my reference to this event except the written paper with the brief note.

I have looked in CWGC site and thereto cannot find a match so can only now assume that he was only wounded.

That said I then checked All Named Grant in RAF/RCAF and RNZAF and RAAF for period 1939 to end December 1943..

Result from RAFCommands.com POW lists was that there are 21 recorded with the name of Grant.
RAF
A. Grant - 129612.[ 35 Sqn 1944 ].
A. Grant - 615683.
A. Grant - 1105073.
C.A. Grant - 1851087.
C.E.L. Grant - 138338.[ 103 Sqn - 25/26-6-43 - Lancaster I - W4827 "PM-W" ].
G. Grant - 1177485.[ 149 Sqn -17/18-5-42 - Stirling R9320 "OJ-S" ].
H. Grant - 67668.
J. Grant - 616692.[ 44 Sqn - 29/30-5-43 - Lancaster I W4838 "KM-B" ].
J. Grant - 1561394.[ 49 Sqn - 23/24-5-43 - Lancaster III ED813 "EA-W" ].
K.R. Grant - 65568.
M.V. Grant - 940444.
R.D. Grant - 174409.
T.G. Grant - 134700.[ 23/24-9-43 - Stirling III - EH941 "LS-V" ].
W.A. Grant - 1822923.
RCAF
D.R. Grant - R/210613.[ 9 Sqn 1944 ].
L.C. Grant - J/15293.
R.H.McD. Grant - R/76497.[429 Sqn - 3/4-12-43 - Halifax II - JD374 "AL-M" ].
W.A. Grant - J/18813.[432 Sqn - 27/28-9-43 - Wellington X - HE817 "QO-K" ].
W.D. Grant - R/129018.[ 576 Sqn 1944 ].
RNZAF
I.G. Grant - 41216.
J.S. Grant - 421274.

So unless the "S/L" was for a Fleet Air Arm airman I am unable to help further at this time.

All the best
Alex