Personnel Index - Detail

Name
TURNBULL
First Names
L C
Rank
Sgt
Service
RAF
Service Number
634175
Crew Position
Unknown
PoW Date
04/09/1940
Aircraft
Hampden P1347
Target
Stettin
PoW Camp(s)
PoW Number
285

 

German photos of P1347 via Association Bretonne du Souvenir Aérien 39-45


German photos of P1347 via Association Bretonne du Souvenir Aérien 39-45

German pictures of the downed Hampden



Near Pordic, an emergency landed English (plane)



Thanks to Oliver Clutton-Brock we have four additional images of P1347 in the field near Pordic.









The Hampden found the perfect field for a skilful dawn landing.
 

Image courtesy of Bob Hitchings
 

Image courtesy of Bob Hitchings

Sgt LC Turnbull (front) and Sgt SJ Hitchings in Stalag Luft 1


4/5 September, 1940; STETTIN - OIL TARGET:

Five aircraft from 49 Squadron operated from Mildenhall this night. Four were successful in bombing the primary target, whilst the crew captained by F/O Hodges (P1347) failed to return.

In the cold grey light of dawn, F/O Bob Hodges and crew sighted the coastline of what they presumed to be Cornwall. Having been airborne for over 9 hours, shortage of fuel made landing imperative. As they entered the circuit of what they thought to be St.Eval, much to their consternation, they were greeted by light flak. Beating a hasty retreat the pilot gradually climbed to a safe height, and with his engines showing the first signs of fuel starvation, he ordered his crew to bale out.
After holding his aircraft steady whilst his crew escaped, the pilot then elected to crash land the aircraft (there being insufficient height for his own safe escape). A successful crash landing was made, and much to the surprise of the pilot, Sgt Wyatt was still aboard; intercom problems prevented him from receiving the order to jump. The broken wreck of Hampden D-Donald had come to rest in a field near St Brieuc... in Brittany! The crew became prisoners or war, but while in a camp at Toulouse in southern France, F/O Hodges and Sgt Wyatt managed to escape and returned to England via Gibraltar. Over a year later, Bob Hodges, by now a Wing Commander, joined 161 Special Duties Squadron at Tempsford where he participated in many clandestine operations. Happily he survived the war, receiving a Knighthood for his deeds as a mark of gratitude from a thankful nation.
 

F/O L.M. Hodges Pilot (Escaped)
Sgt S.J. Hitchings (P.o.W.)
Sgt J.H. Wyatt (Escaped)
Sgt L.C. Turnbull (P.o.W.)