

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.