Sgt John Beecroft was pilot of a Wellington that suffered engine failure over Northern France while on a bombing raid to Mannheim on 20 May 1942. The story of John's evasion and return to England is told in ‘RAF Evaders: The Comprehensive Story Of Thousands Of Escapers And Their Escape Lines, Western Europe, 1940-1945’ by Oliver Clutton-Brock. I understand that he later joined a Mosquito squadron and for a time after the war was a test pilot for Martin Hearn at Hooton Park. Can anyone tell me any more about John after his evasion and return to England? David
May have been accompanied by Sgt J.P. Hanwell as their reports are consecutive and both 101 Squadron. Brian
Well, well, well - this is a turn-up for the books! Literally just registered with this forum, and I find the one item I didn't expect in this thread! David, John Beecroft and Henry Hanwell (Front Gunner) were crew-mates of my Grandfather, Sgt Jack Love (Observer), and W/Op Sgt Sid Bradley, plus Tail Gunner, Sgt Alec Crighton, aboard Wellington X3472, 101 Squadron. Beecroft and Hanwell did indeed eventually make it back to England from Switzerland, via the "Pat O'Leary" escape line. Beyond their return to "Blighty", however, I cannot expand... I am finally getting the entire story ready forpublishing, covering their crash and evasion (for Beecroft & Hanwell), and the sad drowning of 'Brad' as he tried to follow across that fateful river, and also the capture of my Grandfather and Crighton, just yards along the riverbank as they sought to find a shallower point to wade across. I'll post more details as I go...
Hi, I've just spotted the above comments but realise they were written in 2011. My Great Uncle was Alexander Crichton (Sye) and he was the rear gunner in the Wellington that crashed! Uncle Sye survived the war after being held as a prisoner of war and spoke to my dad about what happened. My dad has collected information about Sye and has researched documents relating to the above flight. My dad remembers being told by his father that the pilot later went to Meigle in Scotland where Sye lived, to speak with Sye's father (my great grandfather), to tell him what had happened and that he thought Sye would eventually make it home safely. If anyone would like to more I will try to help or if anyone has more information about anything, my dad and I would be very interested. Thanks Susan i Hi, I've just spotted and read your comments above. I realise this was written in 2011 but
