Bastable, Harry
Name: Harold Denis BASTABLE
Born 26 April 1916
Birthplace: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Age at arrival in Buchenwald: 28
Died 23 September 2007, age 89
Service: Royal Canadian Air Force
Service ID: J-27478
Service Rank: Flying Officer
Duties: Navigator
Air Group: 640 Squadron
Airbase: Leconfield, Yorkshire UK
Aircraft: Halifax bomber LK866
Date shot down: 8 June 1944
Fate of crew: 2 KIA, 5 evaded, 4 of those captured, 2 of them sent to Buchenwald (Bastable and ROWE).
Evasion summary: Shifted from Emance to Arteney within the Picourt network. Difficult period due to the fact that he’d broken an ankle on landing.
Date captured: 19 July 1944
Capture summary: Bastable, HIGH, and SMITH were picked up by Desoubrie in the Chartres area and driven to Paris. Bastable’s arrest was remembered by Brandstetter. Caged overnight and then taken to Fresnes Prison.
Boxcar Transport: 15-20 August 1944, in boxcar #3 with PENNELL, PERRY, MARTINI, GIBSON, HIGH, HODGSON, PRUDHAM, SONSHINE, ROBB, R MILLS, WHELLUM, SPIERENBURG, TAYLOR, ALLEN, HARVIE, LARSON, MCLAUGHLIN, MOSER, PETRICH, ROBERSON, STEVENSON, VINECOME, and ZEISER. After transferring to another train, the men were joined by LAMASON, WATMOUGH, SCULLION, JA SMITH, HEAD, WATSON, and C HOFFMAN.
Buchenwald ID: 78378
Notes on Buchenwald internment: Developed pneumonia and pleurisy on top of other conditions, including an untreated broken ankle. Too sick to move when most of the airmen were evacuated.
Transferred from Buchenwald to: Stalag Luft III, East Compound, arriving 28 November 1944
Kriege ID: 8927
Notes on SLIII internment: Poor health, struggled on forced march when leaving SLIII.
Subsequent transfer to: Stalag IIIA, Luckenwalde
Notes on SIIIA internment:
Liberation: 22 April 1945 by units of the Red Army. Released 10 May 1945.
Repatriation from ETO:
Discharged:
Veteran status:
Notes on Post-War period: