I am researching an old house in Biggin Hill (for my website) that, during WW2, was owned by a Stanley Sparks. He flew Lancasters and was shot down in Holland en route to a target at Helenaveen. The man who rescued him wrote him in 1986. The new owners of the house found out that Stanley Sparks now lives in Canada.
Is there anywhere I can find out what plane he was flying early 1944 when he was shot down?
By: Tony at BH - 22nd September 2008 at 16:29
Hi Paul,
Many thanks for the info. Yes I did get your email. I will be replying to it soon. I’m sure i’ll have some more questions for you.
Hi Nick,
I don’t think this is the same person. I spelt his name, in error, without the ‘e’ in Sparkes. But from what Paul has said he was in a different squadron flying different planes.
By: Nick Warner - 22nd September 2008 at 13:38
Tony, did Stanley Sparks become a POW? In “Footprints on the SAnds of Time” there is a gunner Sgt. T.S. Sparks of 214 Squadron who was shot down over Holland 21.6.44. His aircraft was a Fortress SR382. There are other Sparks listed as taken prisoner but none others with the abbreviation of S.
By: Paul - 22nd September 2008 at 13:37
Hi all,
Stanley Sparkes did not fly Lancasters during the war (Why did every fighter pilot fly spits and every bomber pilot fly lancs)?
I’ve recently been in correspondance with Stanley Sparkes Son Barry in Canada, I will send you an email with his details.
Stanley Sparkes was on Halifaxes with 578 squadron based at Burn Selby. and was shot down by flak in MZ563 LK-Y on April 22nd 1944. He evaded capture with the help of the Dutch resistance and spent most of the time in a secret woodland camp with the resistance. Stanley Sparkes had quite an eventful war being a Dunkirk survivor whilst in the Army. He remustered for aircrew and was shot down in April 44.
There is a “lulu” book about the crash and about Stanley’s escape, and wartime conditions in Holland at the time written by a Dutch man (Hugh Timmerman) who witnessed the crash as a thirteen year old boy: He finally gets to meet Stanley in Canada in 2006. (http://www.lulu.com/browse/book_view.php?fCID=1230633).
Regards,
Paul.
(webmaster 578 Squadron Association: http://www.578squadron.org.uk/)
By: Whitley_Project - 22nd September 2008 at 00:13
Tony – try posting that on the RAF commands forum (you can find it on google). I’m sure someone there (or here) can help.
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September 21, 2008 at 9:46 pm