Fairclough, Mervyn J

Name: Mervyn James FAIRCLOUGH

Born 30 December 1922

Hometown: Perth, Western Australia

Age at arrival in Buchenwald: 21

Died July 1964, Katanning, Western Australia, age 41

Service: Royal Australian Air Force

Service ID: A427078

Service Rank: Flight Sergeant

Duties: Rear Gunner

Air Group: 51 Squadron

Airbase: Marham, Norfolk UK

Aircraft: Halifax bomber LV880

Date shot down: 11 April 1944

Fate of crew: 4 KIA, 3 evaded, 2 later captured (Fairclough and HEGARTY)

Evasion summary: Sheltered in church and then in the Breteuil region with a dozen or more airmen for over ten weeks.

Date captured: 27 July 1944

Capture summary: Robert Moulet (FFI) and his assistant collected the four men who were hiding in several places around Breteuil. The trap was organized by two French traitors working for the SD in Beauvais. The airmen were arrested soon after and sent to Beauvais' prison, then Fresnes after interrogation and sentencing.

Boxcar Transport: 15-20 August 1944, in boxcar #1 or #2

Buchenwald ID: 78427

Notes on Buchenwald internment:

Transferred from Buchenwald to: Stalag Luft III

Kriege ID: 8087

Notes on SLIII internment:

Subsequent transfer to: Stalag IIIA, Luckenwalde

Notes on internment:

Liberation: 22 April 1945 by units of the Red Army, but held in camp until negotiated release. Arrived in the UK by 21 May 1945.

Repatriation from ETO:

Discharged:

VA status: