Gostling, Frank Edward (Sergeant)

Prisoner of War 1942-June-02

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Birth Date: unkown date

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Service

RAF

Unit

1652 HCU- Heavy Conversion Unit (RAF)

Base

RAF Marston Moor

Rank

Sergeant

Position

Navigator

Service Numbers

1385898
PoW: 568

Target
Google MapEssen Germany

Halifax Mk II R9372

Took off from Marston Moor at 00:08 in Halifax Mark II (Sqn code: GV-K Bomber Command) on an operation to Essen Germany.

Lost power in one engine over the target, coned by searchlights over Holland and shot down by flak, crashing in the dunes 1 km SW of Ijmuiden, Noord-Holland. All seven crewmen were made POW.

POWs includes Gostling: Sergeant Henry Jasper Daly RCAF R/77008 A-G POW Stalag Luft L6, Heydekrug, POW# 403. Sergeant Harry Vincent Jackson RAF 966224 F-E POW Stalag Luft L7, Bankau, POW# 424. Sergeant Charles Richard Read RAF 994359 bomber POW Stalag 357, Kopernikus, POW# 439. Sergeant Harry Aston Williams RAF 116901 pilot POW Stalag Luft L3, Sagan & Belaria, POW# 386. Sergeant John Williams RAF 1054950 WOp POW Stalag 357, Kopernikus, POW# 457.

Unit Desciption

1652 HCU (1652 Heavy Conversion Unit)

The Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU) trained bomber crews who had finished an Operational Training Unit to fly the four-engined heavy bombers (Stirling, Halifax and Lancaster) before they joined a squadron.