Ward, John D

Name: John Duncan WARD

Born 6 August 1924

Birthplace: Lancashire, England

Age at arrival in Buchenwald: 20

Died July 1982 in Preston, Lancashire, age 57

Service: Royal Air Force

Service ID: 1620681

Service Rank: Flight Sergeant

Duties: Navigator

Air Group: 576 Squadron

Airbase: Elsham Wold, Lincolnshire UK

Aircraft: Lancaster bomber ME586

Date shot down: 4 May 1944

Fate of crew: 5 KIA, 2 evaded and captured, one to Buchenwald (Ward)

Evasion summary:

Date captured: 19 July 1944

Capture summary: Ward, Clarke, Phelps B, and Rowe met in Paris, at the flat of a sculptor's studio. Georges Prevot took them to his own flat on the 17th of July, where they met Marcheret. A dozen other airmen were already in the flat. Taken to hotel the next day, then arrested with others from Prevot's flat.

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

Buchenwald ID: 78396

Notes on Buchenwald internment:

Transferred from Buchenwald to:  Stalag Luft III

Kriege ID: 8119

Notes on SLIII internment:

Subsequent transfer to: Marlag und Milag Nord

Notes on internment: A large group of POWs were marched out by the SS in early April 1945, headed to Lubek. The column was attacked repeatedly by Allied aircraft. Ward is not on the list of POWs at Lubek, nor on the list of escapees, but the record does not appear to be comprehensive.

Liberation: POWs marched 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: