Operation: Photographic Reconnaissance, France

Date: 12th January 1941 (Sunday)

Unit No: 3 Photo Reconnaissance Unit (PRU), 3 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Spitfire PR.III

Serial: X4386

Code: None

Base: RAF Oakington, Cambridge

Location: In the vicinity of Laval, France

Pilot: Flt Lt. Henry Cuthbert ‘Johnny’ Marshall 36103 RAF Age 34. PoW No. 461 *

* Stalag Luft 3, Sagan-Silesia, Germany, now Żagań in Poland

Note: In conformity with the normal practice of these units the aircraft carried no individual identification letter.

REASON FOR LOSS:

Flt Lt. Marshall commanded ‘A’ Flight of Photo Reconnaissance Unit (PRU) which covered Europe in daylight hours.

He recorded on his “General Questionnaire for British/American Ex-PoWs” that he was captured near Laval in France on the day of the mission which was confirmed by other official records. He severely injured a knee whilst crash landing his Spitfire.

This brings into question the numerous publications that record that the mission by Spitfire PR.III X4386 was to Bremen and that it was intercepted and claimed by a German fighter over Texel in the Netherlands, which is some 800 km (500 mls) to the NNE of Laval where Flt Lt. Marshall was known to have been captured.

There is no explanation as to why Flt Lt. Marshall crash-landed his aircraft during which he severely injured a knee. On the 14th January whilst being transported by car to Dulag Luft, Oberursel he escaped into nearby woods after the car was parked but was immediately captured. He arrived at Dulag Luft the next day.

On the 16th February whilst being transported by train to Stalag Luft 1 in Barth-Vogelsang he and a Flt Lt. B. Everton-Jones jumped out of the window of the moving train near Prenzlau, which is some 91 km (57 mls) NNE of Berlin. He exacerbated his knee injury but the pair managed to evade capture for nine days (9) until they were arrested by the German police in Berlin.

Plt Off. Ben Everton-Jones 72393 RAF PoW No 46. He was the pilot from Blenheim IV R3818 lost on operations on the 16th June 1940 (1 KiA, 2 PoWs).

They finally arrived at Stalag Luft 1 on the 26th February. The camp was the first permanent prisoner of war camp for members of the Western Allied Air Forces was established in Barth and was opened in 1941 to hold British officers, but was closed in April 1942, when they were transferred to other camps.

Flt Lt. Marshall was transferred to the East Compound of Stalag Luft 3 in Sagan-Silesia and in April 1943 he was moved to the North Compound.

Flt Lt. Marshall had acquired a great deal of skill and knowledge from tunnel activities at Dulag Luft and Stalag Luft 1 and became a member of the Tunnel Committee at the East Compound. After moving to the North Compound he was one of three (3) engineers who made themselves familiar with the lay-out of the compound ostensibly to help building the Compound theatre. The engineers searched the best sites for the tunnel traps. (Ref 2 pp 171-172).

As one of the most experienced tunnellers Flt Lt Marshall was assigned to manage the tunnel named “Tom”. (Ref 1 p.115).

On the night of the 24th/25th March 1944, seventy-six (76) officers escaped from the north compound of Stalag Luft 3 which, at that time, held between 1000 and 1500 RAF PoWs. The escape was made by the means of a tunnel. At about 05:00 hrs on the 25th March the 77th PoW was spotted by guards as he emerged from the tunnel.

Flt Lt. Marshall was to exit the tunnel at 21:00 hrs but owing to a number of technical difficulties this was not possible. With the assistance of Flt Lt. Bull, who carried out all the digging, he was able to complete the tunnel just before 22:30 hrs. He exited the tunnel at 22:30 hrs followed by Flt Lt. Valenta, Sqn Ldr. Bushell, Lt. Scheidhauer, Lt. Stevens, Lt. Gouws, Flt Lt. Plunkett, Flt Lt. Dvorak, Lt. Fuglesang and Lt. Espedid.

Flt Lt. Plunkett and Flt Lt. Dvorak were initially sent to Stalag Luft 1, Barth. Flt Lt. Dvorak was then sent to Oflag IVc, Colditz Castle, but he was liberated before the threat of a death sentence could be carried out, whilst Flt Lt. Plunkett remained at Stalag Luft 1 and was liberated;

The other seven (7) officers were amongst the fifty (50) who were murdered by the Gestapo.

They set off in pairs for Sagan railway stations at 5 minute intervals. His partner was Flt Lt. Valenta and their intention was to take a train to Breslau. However, because of the delay in opening the tunnel and an air-raid the station was closed so they decided to walk the ninety (90) miles to the Czech border. (Ref 2 pp 204-205).

The walked all night until 09:00hrs the next morning and hid in a fir plantation during the day during which time it snowed heavily and they suffered badly from the cold and exposure. That evening they set off again but at 04:00hrs whilst walking down a small country lane there were stopped by two members of the Volksstrurm (German Home Guards) and were arrested. There were marched to the burgomaster’s house and then to a local prison. They managed to destroy all their papers before being searched. At the prison they met Flt Lt. Armstrong, Plt Off. Royle and Flt Lt. Humphreys after which they were all driven to Sagan Military prison. Here they were put into a large cell with fifteen (15) others who had been captured. (Ref 2 pp 204-205).

Flt Lt. Armstrong and Plt Off. Royle were returned the Stalag Luft 3;

Flt Lt. Humphreys was amongst the fifty (50) who were murdered by the Gestapo.

On the night of the 26th/27th March they were all transported to the Görlitz Gestapo prison and he was held in a cell with Flt Lt. Leigh, Flt Lt. Humphreys and Flt Lt. Grisman. (Ref 2 pp 204-205).

Flt Lt. Leigh and Flt Lt. Grisman were amongst the fifty (50) who were murdered by the Gestapo.

On the 28th March five (5) officers were removed from various cells and on the 30th March a further thirteen (13) were taken away. By the 8th April he and seven (7) others including Flt Lt. Churchill, Flt Lt. Armstrong, Fg Off. Cameron and Plt Off. Royle (Insert Link) were the only ones left and they were taken back to Stalag Luft 3. (Ref 2 pp 204-205).

On the night of the 27th January 1945, with Soviet troops only 26 km (16 mls) away, orders were received to evacuate the PoWs to Spremberg which is to the West in Germany. Flt Lt. Marshall was amongst the 500 PoWs who were too ill to travel who remained at the camp and were looked after by medical staff. On the 6th February these PoWs were also evacuated and after a few days they joined up with the East Compound PoWs at Stalag 13D at Nürnberg.

He was amongst the large numbers of PoWs that between the 2nd and 12th April 1945 were forced-march to Stalag 7A at Moosburg in Bavaria. The camp was liberated on the 29th April 1945 by elements of the US 14th Armoured Division. Flt Lt. Marshall was interviewed on the 30th May 1945.

Henry Cuthbert Marshall was born on the 6th November 1907 in Edmonton, Middlesex. He enlisted in the regular Royal Air Force (RAF) on the 7th January 1924.

364920 Sgt. Henry Cuthbert Marshall was granted a permanent commission as Plt Off. On probation effective from 5th May 1937 (London Gazette, 18th May 1937). He was promoted to Fg Off. with effect 5th November 1938 (London Gazette, 22nd November 1938).

He was promoted to Acting Flt Lt. on the 7th August 1939 (London Gazette, 8th September 1939). He relinquished the rank of Acting Flt Lt. with effect 31st October 1939 (London Gazette, 26th March 1940).

He was promoted to Flt Lt. with effect 3rd September 1940 (London Gazette, 4th October 1940). Promoted to temporary Sqn Ldr. with effect 1st January 1946 (London Gazette 5th March 1946). He was appointed to a permanent position of Flt Lt. with seniority of the 5th November 1940 (London Gazette 21st May 1946).

Flt Lt. Marshall was awarded the MBE(M) which was promulgated London Gazette on the 27th September 1946.

Citation reads: “In January, 1941, Squadron Leader Marshall was forced to make a crash landing during a sortie over France. He sustained severe injuries to his knee and on landing was handed over to the German police. He attempted to escape but was handicapped by his injury and was recaptured after several shots had been fired. He was interned at a prisoner of war camp in Germany and, whilst being transferred from Oberursel to Barth, by train, he and other officers attempted an escape. The train was in motion at about 30 miles per hour when Squadron Leader Marshall jumped from it and he suffered further injury to his knee. Despite this, he and a companion continued the attempt but were finally recaptured in Berlin in a very exhausted condition. Between June, 1941 and February, 1942, Squadron Leader Marshall assisted in the construction of four escape tunnels, the last of which demanded considerable physical endurance. Before he was able to escape by this tunnel, he was transferred to Sagan where he again took a leading part in arduous tunnelling projects and became a member of the escape committee. In March, 1944, Squadron Leader Marshall took part in the mass tunnel breakout from Stalag Luft III which unfortunately coincided with an air raid which prevented escape by rail. During the ensuing walk to the Czechoslovakia frontier, he suffered severely from cold and exposure. He was captured two days later. By his continued and active participation in escape attempts this officer set a fine example to other prisoners of war”.

He was promoted to permanent Sqn Ldr. with effect 1st October 1946 and with a seniority of 1st December 1941 (London Gazette, 1st November 1946). He was promoted to Temporary Wg Cdr. with effect 1st November 1946 and a seniority of 1st July 1944 (London Gazette, 3rd December 1946).

On the 1st November 1947 he relinquished the Temporary Rank of Wg Cdr. retaining the substantive rank of Sqn Ldr. (London Gazette, 18th November 1947).

Henry passed away in the 3rd Qtr of 1980 in Gloucester.

Burial details:

None – Survived

Researched by Ralph Snape for Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to this Pilot and his family (Mar 2025).

Other sources listed below:

References:

1. The Great Escape – The full dramatic story with contributions from survivors and their families - Anton Gill - ISBN: 878-0-75531-037-1.

2. Stalag Luft III - An official history of the “Great Escape” PoW Camp - Published by Frontline Books - ISBN: 978-1-47388-305-5.

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