No. 214 (Federated Malay States) Squadron
Royal Air Force

PRISONERS OF WAR

They yearned to get back into the fight.....

To get a ticket to the hell of a POW camp you had to SURVIVE the initial attack and subsequent flames and explosion of your aircraft, SURVIVE the parachute jump as you floated down completely helpless and unprotected in air that was often filled with flak and lead, SURVIVE not getting shot by the enemy as you drifted down often right on top of them, SURVIVE not being killed by enraged ordinary citizens as you made your way through hostile territory, SURVIVE the events that led to your capture, knowing it was much easier to shoot you then take you in, SURVIVE the interrogation who without accountability and without reason, could send you to a POW camp or send you to your death, Then worst of all, you had to SURVIVE years of discomfort, poor diet, and the unimaginable boredom as you wasted away the best years of your youth.

There is an excellent book written by Oliver Clutton-Brock , called "Footprints on the sands of time" (ISBN 1904010350) which gives an excellent historical account of RAF Bomber Command Prisoners of War in Germany 1939 - 1945.

"Life in the various POW camps was at first relatively good, if one could forget the shortage of food, the lack of heating fuel in the winter months and the mind-numbing boredom. Nor was overcrowding a problem for the first 2 or 3 years, though this slowly changed in 1942 with the arrival in England of the American 8th Air Force which, by the middle of 1943, was capable of putting 1,500 or more heavy bombers and fighters into the sky over Germany each day. It was also at this time that the tide of war turned against Germany and the time when the treatment of Allied POWs began to worsen. Against the airmen, from 1943 onwards, the Nazis fostered a deliberate propaganda campaign of murder. By the end of World War 2 approximately 1 in every 20 captured RAF aircrew and 1 in every 80 Americans had been murdered 'in violation of the laws and usages of war'. Every prisoner who went home at the end of the war did so in the knowledge that he was lucky to have survived"

Most German POW camps fell within the control of either the Luftwaffe (German Air Force) or the Wehrmact (German Army), each having it's own numbering system. Occasionally the same number appears twice. If so both have been listed below.

There are numerous POW camps but our list comprises only of ones that our men were sent to.

LUFT	NAME	COUNTRY	OPENED	CLOSED
1	Barth	Germany	July 1940	May 1945
2	Lodz (Litzmannstadt)	Poland (100km SW of Warsaw)	June/July 1941	Not known
3	Sagan (Zagan) & Belaria	Germany	Mar/Apr 1942	28 January 1945
4	Beninia?	Poland	Not known	Not known
5	Groditz (Gorlitz?)	Germany (75 km E of Leipzig)	Not known	Not known
6	Heydekrug (Silute)	Lithuania	June 1943	July 1944
7	Bankau (Bakow)	Poland	6 June 1944	19 January 1945
S	Sudauen (Suwalki)	Poland	Not known	Not known
STALAG	NAME	COUNTRY	OPENED	CLOSED
3A	Luckenwalde	Germany	January 1945	May 1945
4B	Muhlberg am der Elbe	Germany	Not known	Not known
8B	Lamsdorf (Lambinowice)	Germany	Not Known	1943 - became 344
8B	Teschen (Cieszyn)	Poland	1943	Not known
7C	Laufen	Austria	Not known	Not known
9C	Bad Sulza / Muhlhausen	Germany	Not known	Not known
10B	Sandbostel	Germany	Not known	Not known
18A	Wolfsberb / Spittal a.d. Drau	Austria	Not known	Not known
344	Lamsdorf (Lambinowice)	Germany	1943 - was 8B	Not known
357	Thorn (Torun)	Poland	Not known	Not known
357	Oerbke (Fallingbostel)	Germany	Not known	Not known
OFLAG	NAME	COUNTRY	OPENED	CLOSED
9A/H	Spangenberg bei Kassel	Germany
DULAG	NAME	COUNTRY	OPENED	CLOSED
DL	Dulag Luft	Germany	1939	1945

214 SQUADRON POWS
(identified so far)
All are RAF unless otherwise stated

NK = Not known

NAME	POW No.	DATE	See CREWS & LOSSES		TARGET	CAMPS	COMMENTS
Sgt W Adamson	NK	23 August 1943	Stirling	EH 895 BU-?	Berlin	NK	Leg amputated. Repatriated 6/2/45?
F/O PJ Anderson	NK	15 March 1945	Fortress	HB 803 BU-L	Bomber Support	None	Broken leg.Liberated by US Army
Sgt R Antehley	NK	29 September 1941	Wellington	X9884 BU-?	Stettin	NK	Also known as Critchley
FSt D W Attwood RNZAF	25045	26 July 1942	Stirling	W7560 BU-?	Hamburg	8B-L6-L4
Sgt J H Bailey	303	20 June 1942	Stirling	N3762 BU-C	Emden	L3-L6-L4
Sgt Alex Ballentine	304	11 June 1942	Stirling	R9326 BU-G	Minelaying	L3-L6-L4
FS AHE Bamsey	583	27 September 1943	Stirling	EF402 BU-E	Hannover	L6-357
FS P Barkess	52666	25 August 1944	Fortress	HB763 BU-T	Russelsheim	9C
Sgt H Barnes	NK	9 May 1941	Wellington	R1447 BU-?	Mannheim	NK
Sgt G A Barrow	27173	17 September 1942	Stirling	R9350 BU-T	Essen	8B - 344
FS L C Beagles	306	11 June 1942	Stirling	R9326 BU-G	Minelaying	L3-L6-357
Sgt R G Bentley	269828	27 September 1943	Stirling	EF402 BU-E	Hannover	4B-L3
Sgt G J Booth	914	28 November 1942	Stirling	R9194 BU-N	Turin	L1-L6-L4
FS Norman Bradley DFM	None	15 March 1945	Fortress	HB779 BU-K	Bomber Support	NK	Baled out - pilot flew home alone.
FS C Brown	598	27 September 1943	Stirling	EF402 BU-E	Hannover	L6-357
Sgt J I Burbridge	18331	29 September 1941	Wellington	X9884 BU-?	Stettin	L6-8B-357	Also known as Burbage
Sgt B Burgess	NK	14 March 1945	Fortress	HB802 BU-O	Lutzkendorf	NK	UK 26 April 1945
W/O L R Burgin	312	20 June 1942	Stirling	N3762 BU-C	Emden	L3-L6-L4
FS T W Burke RAAF	NK	3 February 1943	Stirling	R9282 BU-Q	Hamburg	8B
P/O P M W Butler	42899	28 November 1942	Stirling	R9194 BU-N	Turin	L3
Sgt Jack G Cameron RCAF	42710	13 October 1942	Stirling	BK599 BU-R	Kiel	9C-L6-357
Sgt W R Case RCAF	222579	31 August 1943	Stirling	EE970 BU-B	Berlin	4B
Sgt J E Chisholm	222675	31 August 1943	Stirling	EE970 BU-B	Berlin	4B
Sgt D J Connearn	27512	3 February 1943	Stirling	R9282 BU-Q	Hamburg	8B-344
WO1 John F Coombs	424					L6
Sgt David F Cooper	9699	29 September 1941	Wellington	X9884 BU-?	Stettin	L6-8B-357
Sgt R J Cox	27105	17 September 1942	Stirling	R9350 BU-T	Essen	8B - 344
P/O J Gordon Crampton	1632	14 July 1941	Wellington	R1613 BU-G	Bremen	7C-L3
Sgt R F Crawley	27504	3 February 1943	Stirling	R9282 BU-Q	Hamburg	8B-344
Sgt P J Curtis	697	25 August 1944	Fortress	HB763 BU-T	Russelsheim	L7
FS J L Cuttance RNZAF	NK	14 March 1945	Fortress	HB802 BU-O	Lutzkendorf	NK	UK 8 May 1945
Sgt G Daulby	222586	31 August 1943	Stirling	EE970 BU-B	Berlin	4B
Sgt C H Davidson	42	1 April 1942	Wellington	Z1052 BU-?	Hanau	L3-L6-357	Sole survivor of crew
Sgt H M Diebel RCAF	222684	31 August 1943	Stirling	EE970 BU-B	Berlin	4B
FS R O Douglas RNZAF	NK	14 March 1945	Fortress	HB802 BU-O	Lutzkendorf	NK	UK 8 May 1945
Sgt J Follitt	9691	29 September 1941	Wellington	X9884 BU-?	Stettin	L6-8B-357
F/O Harold Frost DFM	None	15 March 1945	Fortress	HB779 BU-K	Bomber Support	None	Baled out - pilot flew home alone. Murdered 17 March 1945.
P/O P Fussey	706	14 September 1942	Stirling	R9166 BU-H	Bremen	L3	Sole survivor of crew
Sgt J R Fry RNZAF	12	9 May 1941	Wellington	R1447 BU-?	Mannheim	18A-L6-357
Sgt G B Gallagher	1067	16 April 1943	Stirling	BK653 BU-A	Mannheim	L1-L6-357
Sgt R Gamble	NK	14 March 1945	Fortress	HB802 BU-O	Lutzkendorf	NK	UK 9 May 1945
FS F E Gatland RNZAF DFM	27404	28 November 1942	Stirling	R9194 BU-N	Turin	8B-344-L3
Sgt J A E Giblin	222698	31 August 1943	Stirling	EE970 BU-B	Berlin	4B
Sgt H E Y Gillies	25	9 May 1941	Wellington	R1447 BU-?	Mannheim	18A-357
FS Thomas Duke Glenn	18	24 May 1944	Fortress	SR384 BU-A	Special duties	L7-S3A
Sgt Stanley George Goodey	39727	11 June 1942	Stirling	R9326 BU-G	Minelaying	9C-L6-L4
Sgt AB Grainger	222407	2 August 1943	Stirling	EF409 BU-V	Hamburg	4B
FS R F Gullick	155	14 May 1943	Stirling	R9242 BU-0	Bochum	L6-357
FS Robert Yewen Gundy RNZAF	23	24 May 1944	Fortress	SR384 BU-A	Special duties	L7
F/O Gordon Hall	NK	15 March 1945	Fortress	HB779 BU-K	Bomber Support	None	Baled out - pilot flew home alone. Murdered 17 March 1945.
Sgt Walter William Hallett	24	24 May 1944	Fortress	SR384 BU-A	Special duties	L7
Sgt Leslie Hancock	18328	29 September 1941	Wellington	X9884 BU-?	Stettin	L6-8B-357
Sgt E A Harvey	582	27 September 1943	Stirling	EF402 BU-E	Hannover	L6-357
P/O Dudley P Heal	None	15 March 1945	Fortress	HB779 BU-K	Bomber Support	Augsburg	Baled out - pilot flew home alone.
FS Charles L Honeychurch RCAF	326	11 June 1942	Stirling	R9326 BU-G	Minelaying	L3-L6-357
Sgt W D Horne	327	11 June 1942	Stirling	R9326 BU-G	Minelaying	L3-L6-L4
W/O A R Irvine RAAF	NK	14 March 1945	Fortress	HB802 BU-O	Lutzkendorf	NK	UK 8 May 1945
W/O Douglas R Jennings RCAF	None	21 June 1944	Fortress	SR382 BU-B	Scholven / Buer	None	Escaped from hospital
FS G J E Jennings DFM	NK	24 February 1945	Fortress	HB805 BU-C	Special duties	NK	Should it be HB806?
Fl/Lt Marshall A Johnson RCAF	39260	14 July 1941	Wellington	R1613 BU-G	Bremen	9C-L6-357
Sgt A N Jones	18329	29 September 1941	Wellington	X9884 BU-?	Stettin	L6-8B-L3-357
Sgt J A Lawson	27509	3 February 1943	Stirling	R9282 BU-Q	Hamburg	8B-344
W/O John R Lee	5291	25 August 1944	Fortress	HB763 BU-T	Russelsheim	L1
Sgt R F Lloyd	34	24 May 1944	Fortress	SR384 BU-A	Special duties	L7
Sgt E N Lovatt	35	24 May 1944	Fortress	SR384 BU-A	Special duties	L7
F/O W J Lovell-Smith RNZAF	NK	14 March 1945	Fortress	HB802 BU-O	Lutzkendorf	NK	UK 8 May 1945
FS Raoul Trichon Lyall RAAF	36	24 May 1944	Fortress	SR384 BU-A	Special duties	L7
Sgt A D Mackintosh	NK	14 March 1945	Fortress	HB802 BU-O	Lutzkendorf	NK	UK 8 May 1945
F/O Marcus M Marsh	1344	9 May 1941	Wellington	R1447 BU-?	Mannheim	9AH-DL-9AH-L3	Wrote Racing with the gods
Flt/Lt Sidney C Matthews DFC	None	15 March 1945	Fortress	HB779 BU-K	Bomber Support	None	Baled out - pilot flew home alone. Murdered 17 March 1945.
Sgt J E McCutchan	39	24 May 1944	Fortress	SR384 BU-A	Special duties	L7
Sgt A. A. R. McGarvey	1325	2 August 1943	Stirling	EF409 BU-V	Hamburg	L1-L6-357
F/O W Milne	472	11 July 1944	Fortress	SR382 BU-B	Scholven / Buer	L7	Captured several weeks after the aircraft came down.
F/O A R Minton	472	14 May 1943	Stirling	R9242 BU-0	Bochum	L3
F/O R M D Mitchell	295	20 June 1942	Stirling	N3762 BU-C	Emden	L3
Sgt G D Morton	342	11 June 1942	Stirling	R9326 BU-G	Minelaying	L3-L6-357
Sgt R Murray	24850	12 February 1942	Wellington	Z1081 BU-B	Warships	8B-344	Sole survivor
Sgt J D Musgrove	597	27 September 1943	Stirling	EF402 BU-E	Hannover	L4-L6
F/O C D Noble DFC MBE RCAF	477	20 June 1942	Stirling	N3762 BU-C	Emden	L3	MBE 1/10/1946 for escaping activities
Sgt G Parnell	502	22 September 1943	Stirling	EF393 BU-R	Hannover	L6-357
P/O Harold Johnstone Paterson DFC	NK	20 April 1941				L1-DL-L3
FS Ed Percival	None	15 March 1945	Fortress	HB779 BU-K	Bomber Support	None	Baled out - pilot flew home alone. Murdered 17 March 1945.
Sgt Ken C Phelan	NK	7 March 1945	Fortress	KJ106 BU-G	Jostle Patrol Harburg	10B	To RAF Cosford hospital on return to UK
FS J E M Pitchford	754	25 August 1944	Fortress	HB763 BU-T	Russelsheim	L7
Sgt L J Pound	NK	14 March 1945	Fortress	HB802 BU-O	Lutzkendorf	NK	UK 8 May 1945
Flt/Lt G P POW DFC	NK	15 March 1945	Fortress	HB779 BU-K	Bomber Support	NK
Sgt Geoff H Ransome	353	11 June 1942	Stirling	R9326 BU-G	Minelaying	L3-L6-357
F/Lt Norman Rix	NK	14 March 1945	Fortress	HB802 BU-O	Lutzkendorf	NK	UK 8 May 1945
P/O H T Sargeant RAAF	NK	14 March 1945	Fortress	HB802 BU-O	Lutzkendorf	NK	UK 8 May 1945
FS Smith	720	25 August 1944	Fortress	HB763 BU-T	Russelsheim	L7
FS J A Smith	NK	16 April 1943	Stirling	BK653 BU-A	Mannheim	NK
Sgt Tom S. Sparks	414	8 July 1944	Fortress	SR382 BU-B	Scholven / Buer	L7-3A	Captured in Antwerp several weeks after the aircraft came down.
WO Frederick J W Steele	448	7 December 1940				L1-L6-357	Baled out in error from his aircraft when it hit a barrage balloon and taken POW. During the Long Marches of 1945 he was one of 60 prisoners killed in "friendly fire" by RAF Typhoons at Gresse in Germany on 19 April 1945.
FS L Sutcliffe	10582	14 May 1943	Stirling	R9242 BU-0	Bochum	L3
F/O Tom H Tate	None	15 March 1945	Fortress	HB779 BU-K	Bomber Support	NK	Baled out - pilot flew home alone.
Sgt K S Thompson	309	27 September 1940	Wellingtom	L7843	Mannheim	L1-L6-357
Sgt. B.L. Tillotson	13	9 May 1941	Wellington	R1447 BU-?	Mannheim	18A-L6-357
Sgt James Cheyne Todd	526	22 September 1943	Stirling	EF393 BU-R	Hannover	L6-357
Sgt. Len Tonkin RAAF	365	11 June 1942	Stirling	R9326 BU-G	Minelaying	L3-L6-357
FS A J Tyrell	27746	12 March 1943	Stirling	BF469 BU-M	Stuttgart	8B-344
F/O James Vinnall	None	15 March 1945	Fortress	HB779 BU-K	Bomber Support	None	Baled out - pilot flew home alone. Murdered 17 March 1945.
F/Lt Peter Fowler Walker	34					L3	Caught in tunnel awaiting escape from Sagan 24 March 1944, part of "The Great Escape".
Sgt C G Walton	1165	16 April 1943	Stirling	BK653 BU-A	Mannheim	L3-L6-357
Sgt W E Warren	584	27 September 1943	Stirling	EF402 BU-E	Hannover	L6-357
Sgt Douglas Wilmott Waters	736	13 March 1941	Wellington	N2746 BU-M	Hamburg	L1-L4-L6
FS H. Whatton	423	8 July 1944	Fortress	SR382 BU-B	Scholven / Buer	L7-3A	Captured in Antwerp several weeks after the aircraft came down.
Sgt T F Williams.	312	27 September 1940	Wellington	L7843	Mannheim	L1-L6-357
Plt.Off. I.K. Woodroffe	1343	9 May 1941	Wellington	R1447 BU-?	Mannheim	9AH-L3

TOP OF PAGE