WW2 Bristol Blenheim RAF Man

[seahall]

Hi All

A friend's father flew in WW2 with 189 Squadron Bristol Blenheims.

This photograph was with his fathers belonging.

Can anyone claim him or say more about rank etc.

T.I.A.

Sandy

[seahall]

Just a bit more to add.

Looking at his father's war diary it has dates that maybe this
other person was involved with.

Shot Down Chebourg 1941
Dulag-Luft 1941
Stalag 1xc 1941
Stalag Luft 111 1942

etc.

Sandy

[kyt]

Hi Sandy

Whoever that man is he is not 189 Squadron if he was shotdown in 1941 as 189 was disbanded in 1918 and not reformed until 1944. And it never flew Blenheims, it flew Lancasters. It was formed at RAF Bardney, then moved to RAF Fulbeck, and then ended its days back at Bardney in 1945.

The stripes indicate he is a Sergeant (by 1941 this was lowest rank of aircrew, next being Flight Sergeant but I don't see a crown above the stripes). The O with wing indicates Observer which does place him pre-1942, when the role was spilt between Navigator (N and wing) and Air Bomber (B and wing)

K

[kyt]

BTW, you don't mean 139 Squadron by any chance, do you?

K

[seahall]

Hi Kyt

That was stupid of me. 

It seems to be a sign in front of a group of men rather than a squadron number.

I made the wrong assumption.

Maybe a photograph of when his father was a P.O.W.

I will leave it until I have time to read his war diary as obviously
I do not know enough information at the moment and may glean more.

Thank you for the information you have listed. Much appreciated.

Sandy

[spof]

Hi Sandy

An explanation of the names for the POW camps from the TNA

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=303

The following abbreviations and descriptions only apply to German PoW camps: Stalag (Stammlager), although not always the case, a camp for NCOs and enlisted men; Oflag (Offizierlager), a camp for officers only; Stalag Luft (Stammlager Luftwaffe), theoretically a camp for Air Force Officers administered by the Luftwaffe; Dulag (Durchgangslager), a transit camp where captured aircrew were processed and interrogated before being sent to a permanent camp.


Wonder if he was still at Stalag Luft III in March 1944 as it was the camp where the "great escape" happened.

[kyt]

Certainly looks like a hut photo. I've been looking at that photo for some time and am getting annoyed with myself because I'm sure I've seen that man with the beard before (but just can't remember where  )

If you care to share a name we can check details of squadron, loss etc

K

[seahall]

Hi Spof

Thanks for that very informative.

Kyt

His name was William Douglas Barker.

Sandy

[kyt]

W D Barker Serial Number 951051

21 Squadron

Blenheim V6398 shot-down over Cherbourg and crashed nearby, 10th July 1941.

Took off at 10.40 from Watton to bomb the Cherbourg Docks.

Squadron Leader H J C Tudge PoW  Interned in Camps 7C/L3, PoW No.1621
Sgt C G Penn PoW Interned in Camps 9C/L6/357 PoW No.39258
Sgt W D Barker PoW  interned in Camps L6*/357** PoW No.39292

* Heydekrug
**Kopernikus

POW camp lists normally indicate the last camp that a POW was in

K