230511 Sgt. John Cecil Shaw MIDRoyal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 49 Sqdn. from:Hayes (d.4th Jan 1942) I have some photos of the military funeral Of Sgt J.C Shaw (in the POW camp Stalag Luft 1st January 1942.) They look to be giving him a funeral with full military honours, complete with a volley by the Germans. I have been told that he was shot trying to escape, but have no idea about the escape. Was he by himself? Were others shot? How did they try to escape? If anybody could answer these questions I would be very grateful.
Update: Sgt Shaw was shot attempting to escape. There were no others involved. During his escape attempt he had apparently been spotted by a guard and held his hands up, surrendering, but the guard shot him dead anyway. There was an inquiry by the Germans, but there doesn't seem to have been any action taken as a result of this. The Germans allowed a full military funeral.
Sgt Shaw's Hampden P4404 of 49 Squadron had been brought down about 50 miles south of Paris and all the crew became POWs. A subsequent shooting of another member of the crew occurred after the "Great Escape" from Stalag Luft 3. F/Lt Brian Herbert Evans was one of the many escapees, but was recaptured. The Gestapo executed him on 31st March 1944. He is buried in Poznam Old Garrison Cemetery.
The full crew were:
Sgt J.C. Shaw (pilot)
F/Lt B.H. Evans (navigator)
Sgt D. Young (wop/airgunner)
W.K. O'Leary (wop/airgunner)
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