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MacNeill, John Douglas (Warrant Officer 2nd Class)

Prisoner of War 1943-September-06

Male Head

Birth Date: unkown date (age unknown)

Home: Canada

Service
RCAF
Unit
149 Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Fortis Nocte Strong by night
Rank
Warrant Officer 2nd Class
Marshal
Air Chief MarshalA/C/M
Air MarshalA/M
Air Vice MarshalA/V/M
Air CommodoreA/C
Group CaptainG/C
Wing CommanderW/C
Squadron LeaderS/L
Flight LieutenantF/L
Flying OfficerF/O
Pilot OfficerP/O
Warrant Officer 1st ClassWO1
Warrant Officer 2nd ClassWO2
Flight SergeantFS
SergeantSGT
CorporalCPL
Senior AircraftmanSAC
Leading AircraftmanLAC
Aircraftman 1st ClassAC1
Aircraftman 2nd ClassAC2
Position
Rear Gunner
Service Numbers
R/92745
PoW: 537

Took off from Lakenheath at 19:19 in Stirling Mk III (Sqn code: OJ-B Bomber Command).

Crashed following total engine failure at Sorbon, (Ardennes) 5 km NNW of Rethel France.

Killed: Sergeant Leonard Gaffee RAF KIA Sorbon Churchyard, France. Sergeant Roy James Humbles RAF KIA Sorbon Churchyard.

POWs: Flying Officer Clifford Douglas Farmer RAF POW Stalag Luft L3 Sagan and Belaria. Sergeant John Robert Lilley RAF POW Stalag 4B Muhlberg (Elbe). Flying Officer Donald Alexander Luzmoor RAF POW Stalag Luft L3 Sagan and Belaria. Sergeant John Douglas MacNeill RCAF R/92745 POW Stalag Luft L6 Heydekrug.

Evaders: Sgt H N CHARK Evader Sgt HN CLARKE RAF Evader

Home
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Target
Google MapMannheim Germany

Stirling BF477

Short Stirling

Source: Harold A Skaarup Web Page (L. Faux Photos)
In June 1944, this Short S.29 Stirling B Mk. IV (Serial No. LK589), coded V3, RAF, was flown across the Atlantic as part of a navigation training exercise and did a tour of bases in Eastern Canada. It is shown here at Malton, Ontario. It was flown back to the UK after a two-week visit.

The Short Stirling was a British four-engined heavy bomber of the Second World War. It has the distinction of being the first four-engined bomber to be introduced into service with the Royal Air Force (RAF).

The Stirling was designed during the late 1930s by Short Brothers to conform with the requirements laid out in Air Ministry Specification B.12/36. Prior to this, the RAF had been primarily interested in developing increasingly capable twin-engined bombers but had been persuaded to investigate a prospective four-engined bomber as a result of promising foreign developments in the field. Out of the submissions made to the specification Supermarine proposed the Type 317, which was viewed as the favourite, whereas Short's submission, named the S.29, was selected as an alternative. When the preferred Type 317 had to be abandoned, the S.29, which later received the name Stirling, proceeded to production. In early 1941 the Stirling entered squadron service. During its use as a bomber pilots praised the type for its ability to out-turn enemy night fighters and its favourable handling characteristics whereas the altitude ceiling was often a subject of criticism. The Stirling had a relatively brief operational career as a bomber before being relegated to second line duties from late 1943. This was due to the increasing availability of the more capable Handley Page Halifax and Avro Lancaster, which took over the strategic bombing of Germany. Decisions by the Air Ministry on certain performance requirements (most significantly to restrict the wingspan of the aircraft to 100 feet) had played a role in limiting the Stirling's performance; the 100ft limit also affected earlier models of the Halifax (MkI & MkII) though the Lancaster never adhered to it.

During its later service, the Stirling was used for mining German ports; new and converted aircraft also flew as glider tugs and supply aircraft during the Allied invasion of Europe during 1944"“1945. In the aftermath of the Second World War, the type was rapidly withdrawn from RAF service, having been replaced in the transport role by the Avro York, a derivative of the Lancaster that had previously displaced it from the bomber role. A handful of ex-military Stirlings were rebuilt for the civil market. Wikipedia

Wkikpedia Wikipedia Short Stirling

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

CASPIR Aircraft Groups:
Canadian Crewed (397)
last update: 2021-10-15 17:38:33

Stirling Mk. III BF477



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