? Leslie Gordon Preece JD118 and possibly LV183

[NutLoose]

Brian has posted his first post where it might not get seen, so I have moved a copy here, can anyone help the Gentlemen out?

Greetings This is my first message. During WW2 I met a young RCAF flier in Parkstone, Dorset, and I am trying to trace his wartime history. He spent time as a POW, and I am told he was captured in Belgium. He was apparently in Stalag Luft III and possibly in Stalag Luft V..His Service number may have been J86903, and he may have been on LV813 in 78 Sqn,- but incorrectly shown as British. For JD118 in 78 sqn he was shown as both British and Canadian. He died in Canada in Dec 2012. Much of the above is gleaned from forces-war-records. Can you help, or give me any advice, please regards Brian Everett

From

http://www.pprune.org/military-aircrew/329990-gaining-r-f-pilots-brevet-ww11-186.html

[Wensleydale]

From my records...

19-20 Nov 43; FS LG Preece RCAF 78 Sqn Halifax MkII JD118 EY-U
Airborne from Breighton at 1616 on raid to Leverkussen. Crashed on return at North Cave Humberside. Survived.

20-21 Jan 44; (no record as Canadian this time) 78 Sqn Halifax MkIII LV813 EY-?
Airborne from Elvington at 0045 on raid to Stutgart. Crash landed on return at Dunsford. Survived.


I have no further losses involving him logged. If he was captured then was he acting as Liaison with the army?

W.

Have completed a Google search for Preece and the service number. This came up with a prisoner of war record for RCAF airmen. There is no date of loss in the record although it does confirmm that he was in StalagLuft III.

[Wensleydale]

I've been looking for the POW connection....

Not the same chap, but a Sgt FL Preece (not listed as RCAF) became a POW on 3-4 May 44 after his 192 Sqn Halifax that was involved in Bomber Support operations from Foulsham was shot down and crash landed at Ville Aux Bois. Perhaps his middle name was also Leslie (or Les) and hence the confusion over POW status? In all, 5 airmen with the surname Preece were shot down in 1944, but "FL" was the only POW. Martin Middlebrook reports that three RCM sorties took place that night with one of the halifaxes shot dowm. The main raid that night was the infamous "Mailly la Camp" debacle that cost 43 Lancasters from the attacking force.

W.

An afternote. There are reports in the Canadian press about a LAC GL Preece who survived the war. These are linked to an ancestory thread that you may have started? Having read these threads, there seems to be some confusion about different related "Preece" Canadians - some of whom are listed as KIA in my records. It is all about as clear as mud, but there seems to be the odd misprint somewhere in the record that is causing confusion as to who is who in this search. (This is not unusual). My guess is that Flt Sgt LG Preece did not become a POW although another Preece did. This would explain why FS LG Preece does not appear as failed to return (POW) in Bomber Command records.

[Petet]

Been trying to help with this one but I am also struggling to find a "failed to return" aircraft where LG Preece was a crew member (although I can find the two crashes listed in the previous thread)

However, there were two POW's named Preece; the first FL Preece (RAF 1487510) and the second LG Preece (RCAF J/86903)

Source: Air Force POW index (http://www.rafcommands.com/Air%20Force%20PoWs/RAF%20POWs%20Index.html)

Regards

Pete

[XH175]

F/Sgt L G Preece RCAF was PoW 4919.

He was posted to No.78 Sqn.

He and the Nav baled out of Halifax LV939, F/L Harris, 27/4/44 on the raid to Montzen after it was attacked by fighters. The aircraft returned to base at 03:25 hrs.

The events are described in the Squadron Operations Record Book (ORB) held in The National Archives.

The two sections covering April 1944 (AIR 27/661) can be downloaded from the TNA web site for just under £7.

Regards
Ross

[brianofchester]

Thank you all for all your hard work in sorting out my problem. There is a Gordon Leslie Preece, as well as a Leslie Gordon Preece, both RCAF, both Bomber Command, and both living in Ontario until recently.. Gordon Leslie had 2 brothers, both of whom were RCAF and KIA. Leslie is for some reason a very name common christian name for a Preece. Yes, the ancestry string was mine. The connection with Stalag luftV was that I was encouraged to write to him there when he was a POW, but I was only 8 or 9, so possibly LuftV is a red herring. I will write back if I find news that may be of interest. Regards Brian E