The Murder of Five Captured RAF Officers. Warning: Graphic Images

Discussion in 'Prisoners of War' started by Drew5233, Feb 2, 2011.

  1. Pollux5

    Pollux5 Senior Member

     
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  2. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Incase you are interested I have all of the airmens DFM citations in a book if you are interested I'm more than happy to type them up and post them on here for you?

    Regards
    Andy
     
  3. Pollux5

    Pollux5 Senior Member

    That would be kind Andy, i´m really interested.
    I also found the correspondence between the widdow of Flt/Lt Sidney Clayden Matthews and the air ministry about the discovery of the five graves at Huchenfeld, and requesting help with identification of the bodies by laundry marks on their clothing.

    Will post it here this weekend.
     
  4. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    142217 Flying Officer Sidney Claydon Matthews DFC, 96 Squdron RAFVR.

    DFC Gazetted 15th September 1944.

    No further information listed in 'The Distinguished Flying Cross and How It Was Won'.
     
  5. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Sorties: 21

    Flying Hours: 143.20

    Air Gunner

    Air 2/8964

    Gazetted 13th July 1943.

    This NCO has completed 21 operational sorties in a total of 143.20 hours flying as rear gunner. His crew has achieved constant success on operations and their sorties have been remarkable for their successful completion in a quiet, effiecient and entirely unruffled manner. The most outstanding characteristic of Sergeant Frost's crew has been the clockwork regularity and the unhurried and trouble-free nature of their work on operations. Their sorties have included a high proportion of the more heavily defended targets including twice on Berlin, Hamburg (2), Duisburg (3) as well as one attack on Osnabruck. Their success and freedom from the attention of enemy night fighters can be directly attributed to the care and watchfulness of Sergeant Frost as the rear gunner. His cool direction once when attacked by a night fighter over Holland resulted in the safe return of his aircraft. The efficient and most reliable way in which he has guarded the rear of his aircraft inspied a great confidence in the remainder of the crew and much of their success is due to him. I strongly recommend that he be awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal.

    23rd May 1943
     
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  6. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Sorties 23

    Flying Hours 139

    Air Gunner

    Air 2/9276

    Gazetted 19th September 1944

    Sergeant Percival has completed 23 operational sorties as rear gunner of a Lancaster aircraft. He is a most valuable member of an exceptionally efficient crew which has attacked many of the most heavily defended targets in Germany, frequently at considerable heights. On such long flights, he has been subjected to intense cold for many hours, all the time maintaining a keen watch for enemy fighters which has more than once saved his aircraft and crew from possible destruction. On one occassion, the aircraft in which he was operating received five attacks from enemy fighters shortly before reaching the target. By skilful directions to the pilot, he enabled the aircraft to defeat the fighters, receiving only slight damage, at the same time handling his turret and guns with such dexterity that he succeeded in shooting down one fighter. By his prompt action he enabled the pilot to continue and bomb the target successfully. This incident is typical of the supreme courage and ability which Sergeant Percival has displayed throughout. He has set a shining example which is an inspiration to all. I strongly recommend the award of the DFM to this NCO.

    Remarks by Station Commander:

    Sergeant Percival, as rear gunner, has displayed a magnificent fighting spirit in action. His immediate recognition of danger, his superb handling of his guns and his good directions to his captain have inspired his crew with the utmost confidence made him an indispensible member. I strongly recommend that the fine fighting spirit and proved ability shown by this NCO be rewarded by the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.

    Remarks by Base Commander:

    Sergeant Percival has shown exceptional fighting qualities combined with fearless determination in the face of the enemy throughout his first operational tour worthy of high praise. I strongly recommend that his outstanding ability and strong sense of duty be recognised by the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.
     
  7. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Sorties 31

    Flying Hours 193.35

    Flight Engineer

    Air 2/8979

    Gazetted 14th September 1943

    Sergeant Vinall has taken part in 31 sorties involving 193.35 hours flying. He has completed a highly meritorious tour during which he has displayed at all times the greatest enthusiasm and efficiency in his work. The crew with which he flew owed much of its success to Sergeant Vinall's extremely capable work as Flight Engineer. His devotion to duty and his technical efficiency have been an example to all and he is strongly recommended for the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal.
     
  8. Pollux5

    Pollux5 Senior Member

    Hi, i made some Photos and a small video clip.

    This is the man, NSDAP Keisleiter Hans Christian Knab, who organized the murder even he wasn´t on side when the murder happened.

    Picture is from 1944 sitting at his desk in the NSDAP office of Pforzheim.
    I unfortunately don´t have much further biographical information about him yet.

    [​IMG]
     
  9. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Anyone know who the chap is in the picture frame behind him? I was expecting to see Hitler.
     
  10. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

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  11. haze

    haze Junior Member

    Anyone know who the chap is in the picture frame behind him? I was expecting to see Hitler.

    I think this is Gauleiter of Baden and Alsace, Rober Heinrich Wagner.
     
  12. Harry Ree

    Harry Ree Very Senior Member

    Anyone know who the chap is in the picture frame behind him? I was expecting to see Hitler.

    Just to comment how the ordinary German citizen,yet politicised and incited, came to be involved in the cold blooded murder of Allied aircrew,you have to look at the background to Wagner and the role of those above and below him in the Nazi Party structure.

    Robert Wagner,the Gauleiter of Baden and Alsace was in the chain of command structure of the Nazi Party that followed the the leadership of Goring,Himmler and Kaltenbrunner in deciding that certain Allied air operations were to be deemed as "acts of terrorism" as opposed to accepted warfare.Therefore all bombing of civilian targets was to be regarded as terrorism and they decided that lynch law would be the rule against downed Allied flyers.Goebbels also made an impact on this policy with his propaganda against the Allied Air Forces and the incitement to civilians and military personnel to murder aircrew.

    The other instigator was Bormann who ensured that the policy was communicated throughout the Nazi Party structure to Reichleiters,Gauleiters and Kreisleiters.The Kreisleiters,for their part would ensure the the policy was carried out down to the Blockmeisters. Post war,when called to book,these offenders gave rise to the excuse "we were only following orders"

    Drew,Interesting documents you have been posted.......more later.Its surprising what can be extracted from a document.
     
  13. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Oh there is more Harry-I copied a further four files yesterday for Pollux5. I just need to sort them out etc today when I have time.
     
  14. Pollux5

    Pollux5 Senior Member

    Oh there is more Harry-I copied a further four files yesterday for Pollux5. I just need to sort them out etc today when I have time.
    Thanks a lot for this Andy.

    The photo might be Gauleiter Robert Heinrich Wagner. Pforzheim belonged to the Gau Baden-Elsass.
    Here some present photos of the killing sites.

    This is the old paper factory where the mob gathered and where Hitler youth leader Max Köchlin agitated the crowd to kill the airmen.
     
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  15. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Fantastic Post ! Thank You
     
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  16. Pollux5

    Pollux5 Senior Member

    Here is a map where the distances between the villages can be seen. The city Pforzheim is above Dillweißenstein.

    [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
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  17. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Anyone know who the chap is in the picture frame behind him? I was expecting to see Hitler.

    I too was curious and thought exactly as you Andy.

    Glad that the person is identified as I spend a while last night looking at my books for a likeness.

    Excellent and very informative posts thanks to Andy and Pollux.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  18. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    This has to be one of the best threads on the forum , ever.
    Thanks for all the input chaps.
     
  19. Pollux5

    Pollux5 Senior Member

    Must be Robert Heinrich Wagner.
    The picture source is
    E. Kienast (Hg.): Der Großdeutsche Reichstag 1938, IV. Wahlperiode, R. v. Decker´s Verlag, G. Schenck, Berlin 1938

    Photographer was Hitlers photographer Heinrich Hoffmann. The photo which is in the background is also the picture of the german wikipedia article about Robert Heinrich Wagner.
    Here is the article.

    Robert Wagner (Politiker) – Wikipedia

    I have the picture of Hans Knab from the town archive of Pforzheim, where i made a photograph of it. Here is another picture of him from the pforzheim newspaper. Quality is not very good.
    [​IMG]

    Unfortunately the townarchiv of Pforzheim was destroyed during the airraid of 23. february 1945 so there exist not many photos of the former local NSDAP authorities. It´s very hard to find pictures of the involved people.
     
  20. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    It´s very hard to find pictures of the involved people.


    Not anymore :D
     

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