Sergeant William George Grove (RAFVR) and four crewmates evaded capture with the help of the French Resistance, using the Oaktree Escape Line to make his way to Gibraltar via the Pyrenees Mountains into Spain, returning safe to the UK by ship 1943-07-24
RAF Evaders, The Comprehensive Story of Thousands of Escapers and Their Escape Lines, Western Europe,1940-1945 by O0iver Clutton-Brock, pages 163-4, 376Grove, William George (Sergeant)
Evader 1943-April-17
Birth Date: 1920-January-29
Born:
Parents:
Spouse:
Home:
Enlistment:
Enlistment Date: unkown date
Service
RAFVR
Unit
214 (B) Sqn- Squadron (RAF)
Ultor In Umbris Avenging in the shadows
Base
RAF Chedburgh
Rank
Sergeant
Position
2nd Pilot
Service Numbers
921996
Target
Mannheim Germany
Escaper ListCrew or Other Personnel
Stirling BK653
Mission
Stirling BK653
Bombing Mannheim Germany 1943-April-16 to 1943-April-17
214 (B) Sqn (RAF) RAF Chedburgh
214 Federated Malay States Squadron (Ulter in umbris) RAF Chedburgh. Stirling III aircraft BK 653 BU-A was attacked by three ME109 fighter aircraft during an operation against targets in Mannheim, Germany. The Stirling was shot down by Leutnant Norbert Pietek of 2/NJG4 and the aircraft was abandoned before crashing at Bonneuil-les-Eaux, Oise, Hauts-de-France, in France
Rear Air-Gunner Sergeant Eric Makham Lee (RAFVR) was killed in action
Mid-Upper Air Gunner Sergeant Gerard Brendan Gallahger (RAFVR) and Bomb Aimer Sergeant Clifford George Walton (RAFVR) survived and were taken as Prisoners of War
Pilot, Flight Sergeant David Eric James (RCAF), 2nd Pilot William George Grove (RAFVR), Flight Engineer James Hall (RAFVR), Wireless Operator/Air Gunner Sergeant Reginald Walter Adams (RAFVR) and Navigator James Arthur Smith (RAFVR) all survived and avoided capture as Evaders
Nachtjagd Combat Archive 1943 Part 1 1 January - 22 June by Theo Boiten, page 71Stirling BK653 - Bombing Mannheim Germany - 1943-04-16 to 1943-04-17
Squadron: 214 (B) Sqn (RAF)
Start Date: 1943-04-16
Completion Date: 1943-04-17
Mission: Bombing
Operation: unspecified
Target City: Mannheim Germany
Target Specific:
Base: RAF Chedburgh
Take Off Time: 21:50:00
Squadron Code: BU-A
Radio Code:
Return Base:
Return Time:
Crash City: France
Crash Specifics: near Bonneuil-les-Eaux, Oise, Hauts-de-France
Crash Latitude: 0.00000000
Crash Longitude: 0.00000000
Crash Reason: fighter
Flak Battery:
Enemy Claim: Leutnant Norbert Pietek of 2/NJG4
War Diary Unavailable
6 Bomber Group April 16/17, 1943
27 Halifaxes from 408 and 419 Squadron were ordered on an attack at Pilsen. The crews were over the target at between 7,000 and 14,000 feet, releasing 104,000 lbs of high explosives and 31,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, this attack was a failure as there was no damage to the Skoda armaments factory.
While the Halifaxes went to Pilsen, 100 Wellingtons from 420, 424, 425,426, 427, 428, 429, and 431 Squadrons were ordered on an attack at Mannheim.The crews were over the target at between 12,000 and 16,000 feet, releasing118,000 lbs of high explosives and 91,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, bombing was accurate with severe damage being caused. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
214 Federated Malay States Squadron (Ulter in umbris) RAF Chedburgh. Stirling III aircraft BK 653 BU-A was attacked by three ME109 fighter aircraft during an operation against targets in Mannheim, Germany. The Stirling was shot down by Leutnant Norbert Pietek of 2/NJG4 and the aircraft was abandoned before crashing at Bonneuil-les-Eaux, Oise, Hauts-de-France, in France
Rear Air-Gunner Sergeant Eric Makham Lee (RAFVR) was killed in action
Mid-Upper Air Gunner Sergeant Gerard Brendan Gallahger (RAFVR) and Bomb Aimer Sergeant Clifford George Walton (RAFVR) survived and were taken as Prisoners of War
Pilot, Flight Sergeant David Eric James (RCAF), 2nd Pilot William George Grove (RAFVR), Flight Engineer James Hall (RAFVR), Wireless Operator/Air Gunner Sergeant Reginald Walter Adams (RAFVR) and Navigator James Arthur Smith (RAFVR) all survived and avoided capture as Evaders
Nachtjagd Combat Archive 1943 Part 1 1 January - 22 June by Theo Boiten, page 71