Spierenburg, Splinter A

Name: Splinter Adolph SPIERENBURG

Born 17 May 1920

Birthplace: The Hague, Holland

Age at arrival in Buchenwald: 24

Died April 1997 in Newcastle-on-Tyne, UK, age 76

Service: Royal Air Force

Service ID: 171436

Service Rank: Pilot Officer

Duties: Pilot

Air Group: 582 Squadron

Airbase: Little Staughton, Huntingdonshire UK

Aircraft: Lancaster bomber ND921

Date shot down: 29 July 1944

Fate of crew: 3 KIA, 4 evaded, one of them captured (Spierenburg).

Evasion summary:

Date captured: 14 July 1944

Capture summary: Mrs Preux took him to Paris by train on July 3rd, and passed him to her mother (Mme Nicot) in Montreuil. Went to Prevot's flat where he met de Marcheret, then to a hotel until capture.

Boxcar Transport: 15-20 August 1944, in boxcar #3 with Richey, Bedford, Martini, Wilson, Carr, Pennell, Perry, Bastable, Grenon, Gibson, High, Hodgson, Prudham, Sonshine, Robb, R Mills, Whellum, 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: 78443

Notes on Buchenwald internment: Important translator, fluent in German

Transferred from Buchenwald to: Stalag Luft III

Kriege ID: 8068

Notes on SLIII internment: 

Subsequent transfer to: Marlag und Milag Nord

Notes on internment: The SS marched a large group of POWs to Lubek in early April 1945, and Spierenburg is listed as being on the march. He is also listed among those believed to have escaped en route. A separate account indicates that he escaped from a wood-dathering party and, after evading for five days, he was returned to Marlag und Milag and liberated from there three weeks later. 

Liberation: Marlag und Milag was liberated on 27 April 1945 by the British Guards Armored Division, which is the date indicated on his debriefing report.  

Repatriation from ETO: 10 May 1945

Discharged:

Veteran status: