P/O John Humberstone - 35 Squadron

Pilot Officer John Humberstone - 35 Squadron

Pilot Officer John Humberstone - RAFVR

Pilot Officer John Humberstone was serving as Navigator on board Halifax Mk. III HX324 coded TL-B during an operation to Magdeberg on January 21, 1944. The aircraft was intercepted by a night-fighter and shot down near Hannover, killing four of the crew. The remaining crewmembers, including P/O Humberstone, escaped the aircraft and became prisoners of war.

The crew consisted of:

Name	Service	Trade
S/L John Jagger	RAFVR	Pilot
F/Sgt William Percival	RAFVR	Flight Engineer
F/Sgt J. Humberstone - POW	RAFVR	Navigator
F/L T. McGarry - POW	RAFVR	Bomb Aimer
W/O D. Smedley - POW	RAFVR	Wireless Operator
F/Sgt Nelson Rapere	RAFVR	Air Gunner
F/Sgt Eric Hie	RAFVR	Air Gunner

John Humberstone recounts: "We were shot down by a night-fighter coming up from Hanover and I was captured at Dannenburg after walking for a couple of days to find the River Elbe in an attempt to establish where I was, and to make my way to Holland. Unfortunately I was captured. I was to take part in the long march."

P/O Humberstone was taken to Camp Stalag Luft III ,Sagan/Belaria, (Camp number 3366) before it was evacuated on the 28^th January 1945.

F/L McGarry’s parachute failed to open but he survived when he landed in a tree and was hospitalised before being taken to Camp L1.

Warrant Officer Smedley was captured and taken to Camp L6/357


P/O H.Maskell, John Humberstone, F/O Max Muller in Cambridge

The crewmembers who were killed are remembered on the Runnymede Memorial.

Photo courtesy of John Humberstone, research by Linda Ibrom.