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Hoffman, Charles R

Name: Charles Richard HOFFMAN

Born 14 July 1920

Hometown: Gull Lake, Saskatchewan

Age at arrival in Buchenwald: 24

Died 23 November 1953 in Vancouver, British Columbia, age 33

Service: Royal Canadian Air Force

Service ID: J/20263

Service Rank: Flying Officer

Duties: Bombardier

Air Group: 432 Squadron

Airbase: East Moor, Norfolk UK

Aircraft: Halifax bomber LW582

Date shot down: 8 June 1944

Fate of crew: 1 KIA, 4 evaded, 2 captured (Hoffman and WATSON).

Evasion summary: Left Mrs Perdereau on Aug 1st (Noyers). Crossed the Seine river, then went to a garage. Desoubrie came and took them in the outskirts of Paris, probably 2 square des Aliscamps (some were moved to a hotel).

Date captured: 2 August 1944

Capture summary: Arrested in Paris with CRAWFORD, FERNANDEZ, HUGHES, BRYDEN, PEIRSON, NUTTALL, LUCAS, and WALDRAM.

Boxcar Transport: 15-20 August 1944, in boxcar #1 or #2, then at train change into #3 with Lamason, Dauteuil, Watmough, Scullion, J Smith, Head, and Watson, to join Richey, Bedford, Martini, Wilson, Carr, Pennell, Perry, Bastable, Grenon, Gibson, High, Hodgson, Prudham, Sonshine, Robb, R Mills, Whellum, Spierenburg, Taylor, Allen, Harvie, Larson, McLaughlin, Moser, Petrich. Roberson, Stevenson, Vinecombe, and Zeiser.

Buchenwald ID: 78429

Notes on Buchenwald internment:

Transferred from Buchenwald to: Stalag Luft III, East Compound

Kriege ID: 8052

Notes on SLIII internment:

Subsequent transfer to: Marlag und Milag Nord

Notes on internment: Approximetly 300 POWs were marched out by the SS in early April 1945, headed to Lubek. The column was attacked repeatedly by Allied aircraft. Hoffman is not on the list of POWs at Lubek, but that list is not comprehensive (only 200 names +/-).

Liberation: Those on the march to Lubek were freed by the British Guards Armored Division on 27 April 1945. Those remaining at Marlag-Milag were liberated by the British 2nd Army on 2 May 1945, and airlifted to the UK by 15 May 1945.

Repatriation from ETO:

Discharged:

Veteran status:

Notes on Post-War period:

Documents:

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