Add Information to Record of a Person who served during the Second World War on The Wartime Memories Project Website
Add Information to Record of a Person who served during the Second World War on The Wartime Memories Project Website
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228883
F/O G. Campbell
Royal Canadian Air Force 242 Squadron
F/O Campbell was piloting a Halifax III - LV-951 coded QB-A - when it was shot down on 13th August 1944 near Bremen, Germany. The crew were:
F/O G. Campbell RCAF–POW
Sgt E. Harvey RCAF–POW
F/O W. Barrett RCAF–POW
F/O W. Cram RCAF–POW
Sgt L. Maki RCAF–POW
Sgt W. Harris RAF
Sgt R. Austin RCAF–POW
Six of the crew were POWs and one was killed after being shot down by a nightfighter.
(Original from Mr Campbell in his own words: "Could not find the railroad. I was very hungry and thirsty and decided to sleep in a ditch by the side of the road. Fell asleep exhausted and hurting etc (ed. broken ankle). Daylight came and a farmer’s dog sniffed me out. The farmer came back with a soldier who was on leave and they took me to the farmhouse located above the stables. The old grandmother gave me the biggest mug of coffee. Then the soldier hobbled me to the enclosed chicken coop to await army officers who would then take over. Four showed up and demanded my parachute. I told them in German that I did not understand.
They put me in the back of their staff car and drove to the Luftwaffe night fighter station where I was turned over to the Luftwaffe who looked after all the Air Force prisoners. One pilot (German) came into see me and to give me some food. He was quite sympathetic and said that the same thing could happen to him. What next?!"