Operation: Merseburg
Date: 26/27th August 1940 (Monday/Tuesday)
Unit: No. 61 Squadron
Type: Hampden MkI
Serial: P4324
Code: QR-P
Base: RAF Hemswell
Location: Vliehors, Holland
Pilot: F/O. Peter David Tunstall 70824 RAF PoW No: 258 Camp: Stalag Saalhaus Colditz - O4C (Obituary)
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Albert Edward Murdock 565268 RAF PoW No: 225 Camp: Stalag Luft Heydekrug - 357
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Michael J. Joyce RAF PoW No: Camp: Dulag Luft - No details (1)
Air/Gnr: Sgt. John W. Brock 743038 RAF PoW No: 729 Camp: Stalag Luft Heydekrug - 357
REASON FOR LOSS:
Hampden Mk.I, P4324, QR-"P" (for Peter), of No. 61 Sqdn.,7 Aug. 1940 - In the early morning, after a nightly air raid on Merseburg/Germany it force landed on the Vliehorst (beach) of Vlieland isle, because the aircraft was running out of fuel (due to a long flight,§ under bad weather conditions).
Above: F/O. Peter David Tunstall, who gained quite a remarkable reputation during his Colditz stay!
It is believed that the Irish born Joyce, a cousin of William Joyce (2), was recruited by the Abwehr and released to try and infiltrate one of the escape lines - in this case presumably the Belgian Comete organisation. Joyce's MI9 report says he was taken to Liege where he met RAF evader Fl/Sgt Gordon Mellor (951) with whom he travelled to Paris. They were joined by P/O. Lorn Kropf (950) and Sgt. Alexis Stadnik (946) and the four men were taken across the Pyrenees from St Jean de Luz on 18th October 1942. Michael Joyce died in Ireland in 1976.
None - all PoW. F/O. Peter David Tunstall from South Africa retired 3rd December 1957 as Sq/Ldr. Escaped an earlier crash landing near Gayton, Kings Lynn, Norfolk. Running out of fuel after an operation to Hanover. Flying as W/Op. on 61 Squadron Hampden I P4349. All crew survived, the badly damaged Hampden was salvaged and used after conversion for ground training as 2157M. Peter passed away on July 27th 2013 age 94. Further details can be read about him in our obituary section.
Researched by Michel Beckers for Aircrew Remembered May 2015. photographs of F/O. Tunstall courtesy of Chris Hebers - Hampden photographs courtesy Michel Beckers.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember
them. - Laurence
Binyon
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