Siddall, Bruce Stewart (Flt Lieutenant)

Prisoner of War 1944-July-05

Male Head

Birth Date: unkown date

Born:

Parents:

Spouse:

Home: Forest, Ontario

Enlistment:

Enlistment Date: unkown date

Service

RCAF

Unit

229 (B) Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Be Bold

Base

RAF Leeming

Rank

Flt Lieutenant

Position

Service Numbers

J/16174
PoW: 4356

Home

Forest, Ontario

Target

Villeneuve-Saint-Georges France

427 Lion Squadron (Ferte Manus Certas) RAF Leeming. Halifax BIII aircraft LW166 ZL-S was missing from night operations against the rail yards at Villeneuve St Georges France.

Aircraft was shot down by a night fighter shortly after completing its bombing run and crashed at Obville, Yvelines, France

Killed: Flying Officer Claude Alexander Moss RCAF J/28603 pilot KIA Allainville Communal Cemetery Joint grave. Sergeant William Arthur Steel RAF KIA Allainville Communal Cemetery Joint grave.

POWs includes Siddall: Flight Sergeant Harold Atkin RCAF R/68318 POW Stalag Luft L3 Sagan and Belaria. Sergeant George Grant Cunningham Brown RCAF R/216134 KIA Stalag Luft L7 Bankau near Kreuzburg, Upper Silesia. Sergeant James Erlund Finnie RCAF R/207670 POW Stalag Luft L7 Bankau near Kreuzburg, Upper Silesia.

Crew or Other Personnel

Halifax LW166

Pilot Officer Harold Atkin RCAF

Pilot Officer Atkin, Harold (RCAF)
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner
Prisoner of War
1944-July-05
cemetery unknown

Flying Officer John Francis Bester RCAF

Flying Officer Bester, John Francis (RCAF)
Navigator
Evader
1944-July-05
cemetery unknown

Pilot Officer George Grant Cunningham Brown RCAF

Pilot Officer Brown, George Grant Cunningham (RCAF)
Air Gunner (Mid-Upper)
Prisoner of War
1944-July-05
cemetery unknown

Flying Officer James Erlund Finnie RCAF

Flying Officer Finnie, James Erlund (RCAF)
Air Gunner (Rear)
Prisoner of War
1944-July-05
cemetery unknown

Flying Officer Claude Alexander Moss RCAF

Flying Officer Moss, Claude Alexander (RCAF)
Pilot
Killed in Action
1944-July-05
Allainville Communal Cemetery, Yvelines, France

Flt Lieutenant Bruce Stewart Siddall RCAF

Flt Lieutenant Siddall, Bruce Stewart (RCAF)

Prisoner of War
1944-July-05
cemetery unknown

Flying Officer John David Siddall RCAF

Flying Officer Siddall, John David (RCAF)
Bomb Aimer
Evader
1944-July-05
cemetery unknown

Sergeant William Arthur Steel RAFVR

Sergeant Steel, William Arthur (RAFVR)
Flight Engineer
Killed in Action
1944-July-05
Allainville Communal Cemetery, Yvelines, France

Mission

Halifax B.Mk.III LW166

Combat 1944-July-04 to 1944-July-05

427 (B) Sqn (RCAF) RAF Leeming

427 Lion Squadron (Ferte Manus Certas) RAF Leeming. Halifax BIII aircraft LW166 ZL-S was missing from night operations to bomb the rail yards at Villeneuve St Georges, France. The Halifax was shot down by a night fighter after completing its bombing run and crashed at Obville, Yvelines, France. There are multiple claims for this loss but it was most likely shot down by Hptm Fritz Sothe of 4/NJG4

The pilot, Flying Officer Claude Alexander "Bud" Moss (RCAF) and Flight Engineer, Sergeant William Arthur Steel (RAFVR) were both killed in action

Flight Sergeant Grant George Cunningham Brown (RCAF) and Flying Officer James Erlund Finnie (RCAF) survived and captured to become Prisoners of War

Flight Sergeant Harold Atkin survived and evaded for a time with the aid if the French Resistance until he was betrayed and arrested. Atkin was one of 168 Allied Airmen deported to Germany and sent to Buchenwald Concentration Camp. The German Luftwaffe intervened on behalf of these airmen and they were transferred to Luftwaffe controlled POW camps

Flying Officer John David Siddall (RCAF) and Flying Officer John Francis Bester (RCAF) survived and avoided capture as Evaders

Unvetted Source Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database