Whilst it is well known that many 10 Squadron aircrew were amongst the nearly 11,000 prisoners of war incarcerated in the infamous Stalag Luft lll, PoW camp, none were amongst the escapers whose sad exploits gained fame in the 1963 film 'The Great Escape'.
Nevertheless, there is a close link to one particular PoW; - a 10 Squadron pilot whose name will live on in the memory of that event's subsequent outcome.
To read more: Click on the image below of the memorial built shortly after the March 1944 breakout.
The Memorial to the 'Great Escapers', many of whom were shot by the Gestapo after their re-capture
Heslington Hall is situated on University Way in south-east York.
The Hall was built in 1598 for Sir Thomas Eynns. With modifcations made in Victorian times and also in the 20th century, it was vacated in WW2 by the family of Baron Deramore and became the Headquarters of RAF No 4 Group Bomber Command. After the war it remained unoccupied until the mid-1960s when it became the Administrative Building for the newly opened York University.
A wall plaque measuring approximately 50 cms x 30 cms on a stairwell to the right side of the main Reception area pays tribute to the personnel of the Group who made the supreme sacrifice in the air and on the ground during WW2.
10 Squadron, based initially at Dishforth then Leeming and finally RAF Melbourne, comprised just one of the many Yorkshire 4 Group squadrons and lost some 839 aircrew during its WW2 bombing operations.
THE BOMBER COMMAND MEMORIAL
in Green Park, London was inaugurated by
Her Majesty The Queen
on Thursday 28 June 2012
" The Crew "
In memory of the 55,573 who gave their lives
The Memorial's Bomber Command Crest
*****
A total of 156 aircraft from 10 Squadron were lost on WW2 operations
comprising 47 Whitleys and 109 Halifaxes.
839 aircrew men from 10 Squadron were killed on active flying service between
September 1939 and December 1945.
This figure includes the deaths of POWs and casualties from flying training accidents, but it does not include victims of non-flying accidents or deaths from natural causes.
839 ......... out of 55,573
Between September 1939 and May 1945, the Squadron earned 523 awards, including ,
9 DSOs, 333 DFCs 173 DFMs
and
1 x CGM
In January 1943 the CGM (Conspicuous Gallantry Medal) Flying was established for acts of conspicuous gallantry whilst flying in active operations against the enemy, of a standard below that required for the Victoria Cross, but above that for the Distinguished Flying Medal.
