Assistance Flt/Lt Ken Holland RAF - Schubin Tunnel

Discussion in 'Prisoners of War' started by welshmedals, Sep 5, 2012.

  1. NickFenton

    NickFenton Well-Known Member

    Kevin,

    Please let us know the story as you have found it.

    Regards,

    Nick
     
  2. kevinf

    kevinf Member

    I am still searching for it ill let you know if i find something

    Kindly regards Kevin
     
  3. welshmedals

    welshmedals Junior Member

    Chaps just bringing this thread to life again, I managed to get the WO 208 papers on Ken Holland. He managed to bale out of the stricken aircraft which crashed only 300yards away. No mention of the others. He was indeed on the run for a few days.

    He eventually worked for big x in stalag Luft iii.

    On Critchiton and his capture I saw an account in a book a 'leap in the dark' by John Davies regarding escaping airman and the Belgium resistance. They were terrified of infiltration in the escape line and had in the past shot and buried a number of airmen who they tested and who failed and thus suspected could be spies. I thought possible that if this did occur and the unfortunate was an innocent allied airman they would like Critchiton has... disappeared into thin air.
     

    Attached Files:

  4. jeremy67

    jeremy67 Member

    Hi welshmedals... very belated reply, but I don't suppose you have the complete reference for Ken Holland's MI9 questionnaire in WO 208? I've been trying to track it down and can't find it. Thanks.
     
  5. welshmedals

    welshmedals Junior Member

    Hi Jeremy it’s WO308/3342; K Holland i have copies I can email if you want.
     
  6. jeremy67

    jeremy67 Member

    Regarding Cecil Crichton, I have just come across this:
    Name: [Cecil Ernest] Crichton . Date of Birth: [unspecified] . Age: [23]. Place of... | The National Archives
    WO 416/65/190 - German record cards of British and Commonwealth prisoners of war. Opened Dec 2014.

    I haven't been able to access the record as it has not been digitised and TNA is closed because of Covid-19. However, the description says:

    Name: Cecil Ernest Crichton
    Date of Birth:
    Age: 23
    Place of Birth: California, USA
    Service: Royal Air Force
    Rank: Pilot Officer
    Regiment/Unit/Squadron
    Service Number: 61989
    Date of Capture:
    Theatre of Capture:
    Camp Name/Number:
    PoW number:
    Date of Death: 17 June 1941
    Number of Photographs: 0
    Number of Fingerprints: 0
    Number of X-rays: 0
    Number of Cards: 1

    It sounds like a pretty sketchy record, but there's no PoW number and date of death is the same as the date of the crash. These are, apparently, German records, so it seems unlikely that Crichton evaded, otherwise they wouldn't have had a name and service number to work with. Maybe he was badly wounded at the crash site and died very soon after, or tried to escape and was shot. Neither option explains why there is no grave, since the other 3 fatalities were handed over to locals for burial in Houthalen.

    Any information gratefully received!
     
  7. jeremy67

    jeremy67 Member

    Just messaged you, thanks!
     
  8. robstitt

    robstitt Junior Member

    Richard:

    Not sure if this fits within your scope of interest but am researching the delivery of the 20 Boeing B-17Cs/Fortress Is to the UK, from April to June 1941. Am fairly certain that Kenneth Noel Holland was the navigator for Fortress I AN522 during its delivery from Montreal to the UK, arriving at Ayr, Scotland on May 15, 1941. There is an RAFFC aircrew assignment card for navigator K. N. Holland and am told that Kenneth Noel Holland is absent from the 51 Sqn ORB for March, April and the majority of May, 1941.

    Would be very interested to know if you were able to confirm if this is the same airman.

    Robert
     
  9. welshmedals

    welshmedals Junior Member

    Robert will take a look thanks for that information.
     
  10. robstitt

    robstitt Junior Member

    Thanks, Richard.

    My slip: the routing for AN522 was via New York and Gander to Ayr. Saint-Hubert Airport, Montreal, was unavailable to the Fortresses at the time.

    Robert
     

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