Glasgow, ScotlandDue to the Allied advances in the area, Prisoners of War in were evacuated from Stalag 357 1945-04-06, for a forced march back east. Warrant Officer Melrose managed to escape from the column into the woods where he met up with another escaper an American Sergeant. However, they were quickly captured by a Hungarian soldier who turned them over to a German officer. Belsen Concentration Camp was in the area, operated by the German SS. The SS officers used their two captives to approach British troops in an effort to negotiate a ceasefire that would allow the Germans to leave Belsen and have the British take control of the Camp. Taken into British custody, Melrose was liberated and returned to the UK
Footprints on the Sands of Time, RAF Bomber Command Prisoners of War in Germany 1939-45 by Oliver Clutton-Brock, page 361Melrose, John Douglas Fitzgerald "Jack" (Warrant Officer)
Prisoner of War 1942-October-13
Birth Date: 1921
Born:
Parents:
Spouse:
Home: Glasgow, Scotland
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: 1939-September-04
Service
RAF
Unit
214 (B) Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Ultor In Umbris Avenging in the shadows
Base
RAF Chedburgh
Rank
Warrant Officer
Position
Air Gunner (Mid-Upper)
Service Numbers
983731
PoW: 842
Crew or Other Personnel
Stirling BK599
Mission
Stirling Mk. l BK599
Bombing Kiel Germany 1942-October-13 to 1942-October-13
214 (B) Sqn (RAF) RAF Chedburgh
214 Federated Malay States Squadron RAF (Ultor In Umbris) RAF Chedburgh. Stirling I aircraft BK 599 BU-R was coned by searchlights, struck by flak and attacked by night fighter pilot Oberfeldwebel Karl Fleischmann of the 6/NJG 3, crashing near Felde, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Only two of the crew of seven managed to bale before the crash
Davison, Phalempin, Dempsay, Cameron, and Murray had previously survived the ditching of #22 Operational Training Unit Wellington Ic aircraft X 9701 LT-D 1942-06-25 returning from an operation over Germany. They survived adrift in their dinghy for several days until picked by air-sea rescue until 1942-07-01
[Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...
No 214 (FMS) Squadron RAF - Crews and Losses - Short Stirling
Stirling BK599 Mk. l - Bombing Kiel Germany - 1942-10-13 to 1942-10-13
Squadron: 214 (B) Sqn (RAF)
Start Date: 1942-10-13
Completion Date: 1942-10-13
Mission: Bombing
Operation: unspecified
Target City: Kiel Germany
Target Specific:
Base: RAF Chedburgh
Take Off Time: 18:45
Squadron Code: BU-R
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City: Germany
Crash Specifics: crashing near Felde, Schleswig-Holstein
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason: flakfighter
Flak Battery: 6.Mar.Fla.Abt.251 / 4 x 10.5cm at Hohenschulen
Enemy Claim: Oberfeldwebel Karl Fleischmann of the 6/NJG 3
War Diary Unavailable
6 Group Unavailable
6 Group Unavailable
214 Federated Malay States Squadron RAF (Ultor In Umbris) RAF Chedburgh. Stirling I aircraft BK 599 BU-R was coned by searchlights, struck by flak and attacked by night fighter pilot Oberfeldwebel Karl Fleischmann of the 6/NJG 3, crashing near Felde, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Only two of the crew of seven managed to bale before the crash
Davison, Phalempin, Dempsay, Cameron, and Murray had previously survived the ditching of #22 Operational Training Unit Wellington Ic aircraft X 9701 LT-D 1942-06-25 returning from an operation over Germany. They survived adrift in their dinghy for several days until picked by air-sea rescue until 1942-07-01
[Royal Air Force Serial and Image Database]...
No 214 (FMS) Squadron RAF - Crews and Losses - Short Stirling