Gibson, William R

Name: William Russell GIBSON

Born 1926

Birthplace: Halifax, Nova Scotia

Age at arrival in Buchenwald: 18

Died 2 February 2004 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, age 78

Service: Royal Canadian Air Force

Service ID: R252323

Service Rank: Flight Sergeant

Duties: Gunner

Air Group: 419 Squadron

Airbase: Middleton St-George, Durham UK

Aircraft: Lancaster bomber KB727

Date shot down: 5 July 1944

Fate of crew: 7 evaded, one of them captured almost immediately, 5 captured later (Gibson, HEAD, SMITH, PRUDHAM, VINECOMBE, and STEVENSON).

Evasion summary: Desoubrie & Orsini came to Chartres on July 12th, and took them to Paris, including Stevenson (who later escaped from the train to Buchenwald). Group split in various places, then captured two days later

Date captured: 14 July 1944

Capture summary: Gibson, STEVENSON, PRUDHAM, HEAD, GRENON, HARVIE, SCULLION, and HETHERINGTON were all arrested on the same day.

Boxcar Transport: 15-20 August 1944, in boxcar #3, wounded, with Richey, Bedford, Martini, Wilson, Carr, Pennell, Perry, Bastable, Grenon, High, Hodgson, Prudham, Sonshine, Robb, R Mills, Whellum, Spierenburg, Taylor, Allen, Harvie, Larson, McLaughlin, Moser, Petrich. Roberson, Stevenson, Vinecombe, Zeiser and, at train change, Lamason, Dauteuil, Watmough, Scullion, J Smith, Head, Watson, and C Hoffman.

Buchenwald ID: 78394

Notes on Buchenwald internment:

Transferred from Buchenwald to: Stalag Luft III, East Compound

Kriege ID: 8090

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 for negotiated release in mid-May.

Repatriation from ETO:

Discharged:

Veteran status:

Notes on Post-War period: Addressed the Canadian Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs about Buchenwald in February 2000.