Westville Nova ScotiaShot down by flak on 23 January 1943, during Rhubarb in Cricquetot area. He reported he was "going in" but no crash observed. Sgt. J.R. MacLeod POW. Had 286:15 logged time when lost.
On the 23rd of January 1943: "while attacking the first locomotive near Criquetot, Sgt. J. R. McLeod's aircraft was hit by flak. His comrades heard his call over the R/T, 'I'm going in' but no one could see exactly what happened. Sometime later, word came through that he was a prisoner of war. Then in the spring of 1944, McLeod appeared in Switzerland as an escaped POW, and a few months later he was able to return to the United Kingdom where he subsequently received the DCM 'in recognition of distinguished services.' That the services were indeed distinguished is indicated by the fact that McLeod who had been promoted to Warrant Officer while a POW and was later commissioned was the only member of the RCAF to be awarded this decoration when an anti-aircraft burst put his Spitfire out of commission, McLeod crash landed near Le Havre and was captured. For nine months, he was confined to a POW camp and then in company with three other prisoners, he made his escape and succeeded in reaching a nearby airfield. The quartet's attempt to make off with a Junkers training machine was foiled when the control tower caught sight of them in time to effect their recapture. For this adventure, McLeod after spending 15 days in solitary confinement, was court-martialled and sentenced to two years penal servitude at hard labour. His escape enthusiasm was not quenched however and despite the failure of two further attempts he persisted until finally on April 23rd, 1944, he got away together with an RAF Sergeant. Running into some woods and crawling across an open field, they reached a main highway and undetected made their way to Mulhouse and Alsace. Thence, disguised as farmers, carrying pitchforks, they succeeded in crossing the border into neutral Switzerland." Page 24, 416 Squadron History.
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