I am currectly investigating the service life of my Great Uncle, Harry Selman. He was based at Lisset until going down over Germany and internment in Stalag IVb. Harry died in 1950 when his Wellington crashed over Sussex on a training flight. I am wondering if it is likely that I will be able to trace anyone who knew Harry, or the crew from his Halifax, at Lisset? The details are:
Harry Selman 172996
Halifax HR725 of 158 Squadron Mission to Berlin 23/24 August 1943
Tookoff at 19.59 from Lissett. Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed near Soltau. The two airmen killed are buried in Hannover and Becklingen War Cemetery respectively, having been exhumed from graves at Soltau.
P/O Frisby was eventually taken to Sagan, where he gained a reputation as a very skillful forger and map maker. At the time of the mass break out from Sagan in March 1944, many of those who went through the tunnel were equipped with maps and documents produced by this talented Australian who, when shot down, was nearing the end of his operational tour.
P/O H B Frisby RAAF PoW Sgt J H Jenkins killed Sgt A V Kyle PoW Sgt D R P De Laurier PoW Sgt H Selman PoW Sgt H Booth Killed P/O B P Allen RCAF PoW S Sgt G G Heyes PoW
Sgt Selman held at Camps 4B/L6, POW No:222642. He was commissioned as a Pilot Oficer during captivity.
We had a Frank Selman out here in Calgary, Alberta, who was also a P.O.W. and with the R.C.A.F. Frank died 3 or 4 years ago, but don;t know his Squadron or Stalag Luft.
Hi Iain, Try and get a look at a book by W R CHORLEY"In Brave Company",published by P A Chorley(? a relative). It tells the story of 158 operations in WW2 and contains at least one reference to the crew although not Selmer by name Regards Dick
B.P. "Barney" Allen was my great uncle. I spent a lot of time with him when I was a child. He never talked about his experiences during the war. I only knew about him being a POW from a few stories his sister told me. If you see this message feel free to email me (brent at oxaproductions.com)
My uncle was also lost on that raid on Berlin while with 158 Sqn, he was part of Bill Burgum's crew (all 7 KIA). If you can get hold of it Chorley's book 'IN brave Company' give a good account of 158 Sqn operations.
