211173 Flt.Sgt Wilfred Harold "Wilf" Fixter Royal Air Force 106 Sqd from:Middlesbrough I am trying to find out some more information about Flt/Sgt W H Fixter who was the pilot of Manchester R5840 and was shot down on the night of 2/3 May 1942. We know Roy Dotrice was his rear gunner on this mission and with other members of the crew were picked up from their dinghy, earning him a commemorative Goldfish Badge. He spent time at Fallingbostle and Stalag Luft III plus other camps we are not sure of. My father was not very forthcoming with information as it was a time in his life with events he felt not suited to divulge to a young lady (me). While he was a POW we know from him he used to play poker with the guards to obtain equipment papers etc to help the escape committee. He was a fluent German speaker which also served later when he escaped whilst being marched to Poland towards the end of the war. His escape being assisted by one of the 'friendly' guards. Whilst making his way back towards the Allied lines he stayed on to assist in the interpretation of the inmates, one of whom was Irma Gresa.
We also know that my father flew with Guy Gibson and had completed his training on the Lancs and would quite possibly have been part of the Dambusters raid had events not intervened. Regrettably his flight log books were given to someone other than family as Dad didn't realise they would be of interest to me as I grew older.
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