46463 F/Lt. W.G. BRINN, D.F.M. 88 Squadron, Evasion France Shot Down

MI9/S/P.G.(-) 1404

EVADED CAPTURE IN FRANCE.​

46463 F/Lt. William George BRINN, D.F.M. 88 Squadron, Tactical Air Force, R.A.F.

Left: GIBRALTAR, 14th September 1943
2Arrived: WHITCHURCH, 15th September 1943
Date of Birth: 28th January 1913
RAF Service: Since 14th January 1929
OTU: No O.T.U.
Post in crew: Navigator/Bomb aimer
Peacetime Profession: R.A.F.
Private Address: 16 Ystrad Terrace, Ystrad, Rhondda, Glamorgan

I was a member of a crew of a Boston Mark III, which took off from SWANTON MORLEY (Norfolk) about 16.00 hrs on 16th August 1943, to take part in a low level bombing attack on DENAIN (FRANCE) (N.W. EUROPE 1:250,000, Sheet 5). On the return flight in poor visibility we flew over the marshalling yards at ARRAS, and the starboard engine was hit by flak. While creeping along on one engine we passed over an airfield at about 50 ft. We were hit on the port wing and belly by light flak. About five minutes later the port wing caught fire and the wireless failed. The pilot instructed us to bale out. I got out at about 1200 ft

The other members of the crew were:-
S/Ldr. Gunning (Pilot) (Probably did not leave aircraft);
F/O. LEDGARD (Wireless operator/air gunner) (baled out: believed POW)
P/O. ENGLAND (Under gunner) (Baled out: believed POW)

I came down about 17.55 hrs in a wheat filed at BUNEVILLE, a small village about 5 miles S.E. of ST. POL. The two members of the crew whom I saw come down appeared to land about a mile away, and the aircraft crashed in a wood about three-quarters of a mile from me. I first of all put my parachute, harness, mae West, and dingy in a wheat sheaf, and about a minute after that I saw six M.E. 109’s circling the wood at about 200 ft. I hid in another wheat sheaf, and in a short time saw a car driving round the wood and going in the direction in which the two others had landed. I stayed about an hour and a half in the wheat sheaf. Then, as things seemed fairly quiet, I took off my jacket and started walking. I took with me the iron rations from the dinghy. I had already consulted my escape maps and, using one of my compasses, headed South, having a fairly good idea where I was. I was wearing ordinary shoes.

After I had walked about 2 kms. I came across a farmer with his wife, son, and daughter beside a haystack. I asked them if there were Germans around, and they said there were none. The small girl was sent to bring me food and beer, and her parents took my jacket and gave me a civilian coat which was much too small for me. They told me to lie in the haystack, and that they would send for me.

About 22.30 hrs two boys of about 17 years of age came to the haystack an took me to the house of the farmer. Here I was given a better coat, cap, civilian tie, and a bag full of food and drink. I said I wanted get a train out of the ten mile coastal defence belt, which I knew I was in, and they advised me to walk to LE BREUVIETTE, about five miles South of BUNEVILLE.

I started walking about 03.00 hrs (17th August). As I approached the railway station at LE BREUVIETTE I met six young men with packs on their backs. I stopped them. One of them, who spoke a little English, explained that they were Belgians and were evading the German labour service. I gathered later, however, that they were probably engaged in the black market. They told me there was no train from LE BREUVIETTE, and that they were walking to the station at SIBIVILLE. I tagged along with them, and at SIBIVILLE they bought my ticket for me for ARRAS. We changed trains at ST. POL. I left the Belgians at the railway station at ARRAS as they were going on to LILLE.

I left the railway station and went into the town with the idea of getting help from a priest. After a time I went into the cathedral on the North side of the town, just as an air raid warning went. I stayed about two hours in the cathedral, but no one came in except one German soldier who strolled round. In the afternoon I left ARRAS and walked South intending to continue until I found help. I walked till sunset, and lay up for the night in a haystack.

Next morning (18th August) I continued walking, asking at all the villages through which I passed if there were any Germans there. Where there were Germans I made a detour. At one village, where there were no Germans, I went to an isolated house, and the woman, whose husband is a POW in GERMANY, gave me food, cigarettes and a bottle of water. My feet gave me considerable trouble, and once during the day I bathed them with beer. In the afternoon I reached MORY, where I found helpers who put me in touch with an organisation.

WO 208/3315/51

Flying Officer J Ledgard: killed; Squadron Leader R S Gunning, Pilot Officer R D... | The National Archives

W G Brinn, Flight Lieutenant, 46463, 88 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Award recommended:... | The National Archives

https://ww2talk.com/index.php?threa...ed-wounded-missing.82955/page-76#post-1070061

 

Western Mail 23rd October 1943

 

Name: Robert Douglas England.
Date of Birth: 17/8/1920.
Place of Birth: [unspecified].
Service: Royal Air Force.
Rank: Pilot Officer.
Regiment/Unit/Squadron: [unspecified].
Service Number: 52285.
Date of Capture: [unspecified].
Theatre of Capture: [unspecified].
Camp Name/Number: Stalag Luft 3.
PoW number: 2264.
Date of Death: [unspecified].
Number of Photographs: 0.
Number of Fingerprints: 0.
Number of X-rays: 0.
Number of Cards: 1.

 

Sqn Leader Richard "Dickie" Samuel Gunning, DFC, DFM
Date of Birth: 4 April 1912.
Place of Birth: London.
Service: [Royal Air Force].
Rank: Squadron Leader.
Regiment/Unit/Squadron: [unspecified].
Service Number: 44873.
Date of Capture: [unspecified].
Theatre of Capture: [unspecified].
Camp Name/Number: Stalag Luft 3 Sagan.
PoW number: 2267.
Date of Death: [unspecified].
Number of Photographs: 0.
Number of Fingerprints: 0.
Number of X-rays: 0.
Number of Cards: 1.
WO 416/154/430

 

https://www.noonans.co.uk/archive/lot-archive/results/78842/