Personnel Index - Detail

Name
STANSILL
First Names
E
Rank
Sgt
Service
RAF
Service Number
1475828
Crew Position
Flight Engineer
PoW Date
21/02/1945
Aircraft
Lancaster PB568
Target
Mittelland Canal
PoW Camp(s)
Not known

 



Back row from left to right:
Ernie Stansill (Flight engineer - British),  John McHeffey (Bomb aimer and front gunner - Canadian),  Ray Mallinson (Pilot - British),  Joe Gascoyne   (Rear gunner - British)
Front row from left to right:
Hank Eberley (Navigator - Canadian),  Max Makofski (Wireless Operator - British),  Fred Grimsdale (Middle gunner - British)


21/22 February, 1945; GRAVENHORST (MITTELLAND CANAL):

A force of 165 Lancasters led by 12 Mosquitoes (all 5 Group) sallied forth once again in an attempt to breach the Mittelland Canal. This time in clear visibility the attack was successful. Of the 165 Lancasters sent to Gravenhorst, 13 had failed to return and two of those were from 49 Squadron. F/O Mallinson (PB568) and crew flying their 35th operation were posted missing... a severe blow to the Squadron's morale.
A few weeks later, much to everyone’s relief, six of Mallinson's crew were reported as being PoWs. It appears however, that Eberley and Makofski managed to evade capture. The one unfortunate crew member to lose his life was F/Sgt John Gascoyne A/G; he is buried in the Reichwald War Cemetery.

Lancaster PB568 (EA-Y)
F/O R. Mallinson Pilot (P.o.W.)
Sgt E. Stansill F/E (P.o.W.)
P/O H. Eberley RCAF NAV (Evaded)
F/S M.H. Makofski W/OP (Evaded)
P/O F.E. Grimsdale A/G (P.o.W.)
F/S Le Marquand B/A (P.o.W.)
F/S J.P. Gascoyne A/G (Killed)

Crew on their 35th operation

The diary of evader Max Makofski (and other evasion documents) can be viewed via Max Makofski's page.