489:. The escape took place on 9 September 1942. All went well as the six escapers and two assistants entered the office during the previous evening and opened up the tunnel. However, around midnight there was an alarm and the Germans searched the castle. Fortunately for the prisoners, the office door had been relocked and this satisfied the searchers that nobody had entered the office. After entering the clothing store the tunnel was sealed to allow later use (it was discovered the following day during the search for the missing officers). At 0730 the escape party left the store, timed to be shortly after the change of the German sentries; the idea being that the new sentries would be unaware of who had already entered the store. The party, led by van Doorninck (dressed as the German NCO), proceeded past several sentries and using a
115:
96:
453:) office located near the prisoner's sick quarters. The starting location was chosen because it was a place unlikely to be thoroughly searched. Fowler was involved from the outset. The prisoners picked the office's lock and over a few nights built a tunnel which led from under the Stabsfeldwebel's desk to a clothing store with access to the outside. The tunnel was partly constructed by Captain
430:
38:
378:
parcels. During his time in captivity Fowler had been making a bogus German uniform out of various bits of material and a civilian suit, smuggling them into the parcel office which was outside the main prisoners' compound. On 5 November 1941, he dressed in his bogus German uniform from the parcel
401:
claims that Fowler, whilst at Barth, was the first in WWII to use the term 'goons' to describe the guards, referencing a well-known comic strip. Tunstall claims the term caught like wildfire through all the prison camps in
Germany.
460:
From the clothing store the prisoners were to leave the castle disguised as a work party removing clothes from the store, four to be dressed as Polish orderlies, one disguised as a German officer, the other as a German
1145:
445:. For this, Fowler – as many others – spent time in solitary confinement. During August 1942 an escape plan was prepared for a party of officers moving through a short tunnel which started in the German
1150:
319:
commenced on 10 May 1940, the
Squadron was still converting onto Hurricanes, although they were in action from the very start. Fowler made his first 'kill' on 12 May 1940 when he shot down a
1135:
331:
Forest where he met some French soldiers retreating from the front line. However the next day, 16 May, the group was surrounded and forced to surrender. As a result, Fowler became a
1125:
520:
policeman, but their forged papers were sufficient to pass inspection. They crossed into
Switzerland at 0130 on 13 September 1942, and were taken to the British
1105:
312:
1115:
1110:
1140:
690:
668:
327:
on 14 May 1940 as well, followed by another Bf 109 the next day. During the same engagement he was also shot down. He bailed out and landed in the
1100:
1071:
496:
Outside the camp the party changed into civilian clothes and separated, Fowler travelling with van
Doornick. They travelled on foot to
1048:
1029:
632:
735:
Note: An enemy aircraft had been claimed damaged by F/O L Fredman on 10 May 1940, but Fowler's kill was the first aircraft destroyed.
379:
office and climbed over the lightly guarded perimeter fence. Outside the camp he changed into his civilian suit. He managed to reach
383:
and attempted to stow away on a
Swedish ship; but whilst at the docks he was arrested by a German policeman. He was returned to
967:
233:
Fowler was born in London on 8 June 1916. He was educated at Rugby School. His father was a
Paymaster-Commander in the
1130:
547:
into Spain on 30 January 1943. They were arrested by the
Spanish authorities later the same day. They were taken to a
486:
258:
1120:
462:
556:
441:', which involved harassing and annoying the German guards as much as possible, under the able direction of
698:
676:
603:
1041:
Fighter
Command Victory Claims: A Listing of Combat Claims Submitted by RAF Fighter Pilots 1939 to 1940
555:
and held in filthy and cramped conditions until 22 February 1943. They were then taken to the
British
1095:
1090:
540:
320:
290:
152:
387:
and sentenced to 14 days solitary confinement, before being transferred to the 'escape proof' camp
947:
927:
778:
474:
1063:
952:
932:
783:
653:
466:
282:
148:
602:
on 26 March 1944. The
Typhoon disintegrated following a dive, killing Fowler. He was buried at
311:
Fowler and 615 Squadron arrived in France in November 1939 as part of the Air Component of the
1067:
1044:
1025:
628:
339:
301:
648:
316:
305:
222:
167:
587:
548:
332:
294:
262:
210:
206:
138:
120:
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571:
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100:
95:
27:
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in South Australia in 1920, before returning to the UK in 1924 so Fowler could attend
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993:
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442:
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384:
359:
324:
286:
274:
544:
537:
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417:
297:
254:
512:
where they stayed overnight in a small hotel. The next day they caught a train to
410:
described the machine gun towers, any manmade uniforms used to escape were called
971:
482:
323:. This was also the Squadron's first kill. He was credited with shooting down a
238:
189:
595:
513:
478:
429:
388:
351:
234:
214:
564:
560:
509:
375:
355:
242:
567:, arriving on 25 March 1943. Fowler returned to the UK shortly afterwards.
37:
858:
552:
521:
454:
380:
328:
250:
414:
and their favourite recreation of winding the guards up become known as
505:
490:
218:
277:
on 19 February 1937. He was trained at No 6 Flying Training School at
1013:
Those who dared: A comprehensive list of World War II allied escapers
501:
82:
65:
820:
818:
994:"Squadron Leader Hedley Nevile Fowler | War Casualty Details"
497:
428:
246:
516:
and walked to the Swiss border. En route they were stopped by an
525:
756:'RAF Fighter Command Losses 1939-1941' by Norman Franks page 23
543:, who had escaped from Colditz with Pat Reid, travelled across
304:. He joined the Squadron in October 1939 before converting to
273:
Fowler was granted a short-service commission in the RAF as a
1146:
Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents in England
1020:
Cull, Brian; Lander, Bruce; Weiss, Heinrich (30 June 1995).
875:
WO208/3288 Official Camp History O4C – Chapter II para 21(k)
812:
WO208/3282 Official Camp History SL1 – Chapter II para 17(d)
528:. The other four escapers were recaptured close to Colditz.
257:. He returned to Australia in 1933, before enlisting in the
796:
794:
374:
By November 1941, Fowler was acting as a distributor of
893:
WO208/3288 Official Camp History O4C – Chapter X para 3
848:'Colditz – The Full Story' by Pat Reid pages 162-165
536:
Fowler left Switzerland on 25 January 1943 and with
185:
175:
160:
144:
134:
126:
106:
89:
72:
52:
44:
20:
1151:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1944
570:For his successful escape, Fowler was awarded the
205:(8 June 1916 – 26 March 1944) was a British
437:During his time at Colditz, Fowler took part in '
1136:Royal Air Force personnel killed in World War II
623:Champ, Jack; Burgess, Colin (18 November 1985).
765:
711:
590:, and posted to the Armament Test Squadron at
500:(about 31 km) and from there by train to
936:(Supplement). 10 December 1943. p. 5438.
871:
869:
867:
787:(Supplement). 19 November 1940. p. 6633.
406:became a warning cry for approaching guards,
8:
598:. He was killed during an air test flying a
586:On reaching the UK, Fowler was promoted to
36:
17:
956:(Supplement). 13 July 1943. p. 3206.
342:on 3 September 1940 whilst in captivity.
884:'The Colditz Story' by Pat Reid Page 179
824:
465:. The six officers were Fowler, Captain
744:
723:
615:
1126:Royal Air Force pilots of World War II
485:officers, Lt Beitz, Lt Donkers and Lt
261:in 1936, and then transferring to the
914:
902:
836:
800:
7:
1106:British escapees from Colditz Castle
425:Colditz Castle and successful escape
285:on 22 May 1937. He then served as a
249:was named. Fowler's family moved to
493:pass, left the castle unaccosted.
14:
366:, arriving there on 5 July 1940.
237:and he was great-grandson of Sir
1116:Royal Air Force squadron leaders
1111:Recipients of the Military Cross
113:
94:
1141:People educated at Rugby School
1039:Foreman, John (17 April 2003).
395:, arriving on 1 December 1941.
1101:Military personnel from London
691:"1937 | 1540 | Flight Archive"
669:"1937 | 0812 | Flight Archive"
370:Stalag Luft I and first escape
213:and successfully escaped from
1:
766:Cull, Lander & Weiss 1995
712:Cull, Lander & Weiss 1995
657:. 2 March 1937. p. 1417.
563:from where they travelled to
358:before being transferred to
508:. They caught the train to
317:German invasion of the west
198:Hedley Nevile 'Bill' Fowler
1167:
487:Damiaen Joan van Doorninck
259:Royal Australian Air Force
35:
1058:Tunstall, Peter (2014).
857:'The Colditz Story' by
281:before being posted to
1011:Brown, George (1983).
968:"Test Flying Memorial"
627:. Orbis. p. 131.
625:The Diggers of Colditz
434:
156:Armament Test Squadron
578:on 14 December 1943.
432:
241:, a Premier of South
127:Years of service
695:www.flightglobal.com
673:www.flightglobal.com
541:Ronald B. Littledale
22:Hedley Nevile Fowler
701:on 20 October 2012.
679:on 20 October 2012.
350:Fowler was sent to
338:He was promoted to
209:pilot who became a
1131:Shot-down aviators
1022:Twelve Days in May
953:The London Gazette
933:The London Gazette
784:The London Gazette
654:The London Gazette
435:
1073:978-0-71564-923-7
747:, pp. 42, 44
545:unoccupied France
340:flight lieutenant
306:Hawker Hurricanes
302:Gloster Gladiator
195:
194:
1158:
1121:English aviators
1077:
1060:The Last Escaper
1054:
1035:
1016:
998:
997:
990:
984:
983:
981:
979:
974:on 2 August 2009
970:. Archived from
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938:
937:
924:
918:
912:
906:
900:
894:
891:
885:
882:
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855:
849:
846:
840:
834:
828:
827:, Location 2339.
822:
813:
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804:
798:
789:
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775:
769:
763:
757:
754:
748:
742:
736:
733:
727:
721:
715:
709:
703:
702:
697:. Archived from
687:
681:
680:
675:. Archived from
665:
659:
658:
645:
639:
638:
620:
532:Return to the UK
354:transit camp at
223:Second World War
204:
168:Battle of France
119:
117:
116:
108:
99:
98:
85:, United Kingdom
79:
68:, United Kingdom
62:
60:
40:
30:
18:
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1159:
1157:
1156:
1155:
1081:
1080:
1074:
1057:
1051:
1038:
1032:
1024:. Grub Street.
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835:
831:
825:Tunstall (2014)
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622:
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588:squadron leader
584:
549:military prison
534:
427:
372:
348:
346:Prisoner of war
333:prisoner of war
295:Squadron Leader
271:
263:Royal Air Force
231:
211:prisoner of war
207:Royal Air Force
200:
155:
151:
139:Squadron leader
121:Royal Air Force
114:
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93:
81:
77:
64:
58:
56:
31:
26:
24:
23:
12:
11:
5:
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1123:
1118:
1113:
1108:
1103:
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1083:
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1079:
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1072:
1062:. London, UK:
1055:
1050:978-0953806188
1049:
1036:
1031:978-1898697206
1030:
1017:
1006:
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1000:
999:
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959:
939:
919:
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829:
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790:
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758:
749:
737:
728:
716:
704:
682:
660:
640:
634:978-0856138805
633:
614:
613:
611:
608:
600:Hawker Typhoon
583:
580:
572:Military Cross
533:
530:
473:), Lieutenant
451:sergeant major
447:Stabsfeldwebel
433:Colditz Castle
426:
423:
393:Colditz Castle
371:
368:
347:
344:
270:
267:
230:
227:
193:
192:
187:
183:
182:
180:Military Cross
177:
173:
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164:World War II:
162:
158:
157:
146:
142:
141:
136:
132:
131:
128:
124:
123:
110:
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101:British Empire
91:
87:
86:
80:(aged 27)
74:
70:
69:
54:
50:
49:
46:
42:
41:
33:
32:
25:
21:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
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943:
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935:
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923:
920:
917:, p. 121
916:
911:
908:
905:, p. 120
904:
899:
896:
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887:
881:
878:
872:
870:
868:
864:
860:
854:
851:
845:
842:
839:, p. 117
838:
833:
830:
826:
821:
819:
815:
809:
806:
803:, p. 115
802:
797:
795:
791:
786:
785:
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774:
771:
768:, p. 148
767:
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644:
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619:
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609:
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605:
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597:
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592:Boscombe Down
589:
581:
579:
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568:
566:
562:
558:
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539:
531:
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494:
492:
488:
484:
480:
476:
472:
468:
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458:
456:
452:
448:
444:
443:Douglas Bader
440:
431:
424:
422:
421:
419:
413:
412:"goon skins,"
409:
405:
400:
399:Pete Tunstall
396:
394:
390:
386:
385:Stalag Luft I
382:
377:
369:
367:
365:
361:
360:Stalag Luft I
357:
353:
345:
343:
341:
336:
334:
330:
326:
325:Dornier Do 17
322:
318:
314:
309:
308:in May 1940.
307:
303:
300:, flying the
299:
296:
293:commanded by
292:
288:
287:fighter pilot
284:
280:
276:
275:pilot officer
269:Fighter pilot
268:
266:
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76:26 March 1944
75:
71:
67:
55:
51:
47:
43:
39:
34:
29:
19:
16:
1059:
1043:. Red Kite.
1040:
1021:
1012:
988:
976:. Retrieved
972:the original
962:
951:
942:
931:
922:
910:
898:
889:
880:
853:
844:
832:
808:
782:
773:
761:
752:
745:Foreman 2003
740:
731:
726:, p. 37
724:Foreman 2003
719:
707:
699:the original
694:
685:
677:the original
672:
663:
652:
643:
624:
618:
594:to act as a
585:
574:, which was
569:
535:
495:
481:) and three
475:Geoff Wardle
471:British Army
459:
439:goon baiting
436:
418:goon baiting
415:
411:
408:"goon boxes"
407:
403:
397:
373:
349:
337:
310:
298:Joseph Kayll
291:615 Squadron
272:
255:Rugby School
232:
197:
196:
161:Battles/wars
153:615 Squadron
78:(1944-03-26)
15:
1096:1944 deaths
1091:1916 births
948:"No. 36092"
928:"No. 36285"
779:"No. 34996"
714:, p. 5
649:"No. 34376"
467:Lulu Lawton
315:. When the
239:Henry Ayers
221:during the
190:Henry Ayers
63:8 June 1916
45:Nickname(s)
1085:Categories
1005:References
915:Brown 1983
903:Brown 1983
837:Brown 1983
801:Brown 1983
606:cemetery.
604:Durrington
596:test pilot
514:Tuttlingen
479:Royal Navy
404:"Goons up"
389:Oflag IV-C
352:Dulag Luft
283:3 Squadron
279:Netheravon
247:Ayers Rock
235:Royal Navy
229:Early life
215:Oflag IV-C
149:3 Squadron
90:Allegiance
59:1916-06-08
1064:Duckworth
978:22 August
565:Gibraltar
561:Barcelona
510:Stuttgart
376:Red Cross
356:Oberursel
245:for whom
243:Australia
186:Relations
130:1936–1944
861:page 176
859:Pat Reid
576:gazetted
553:Figueras
522:legation
455:Pat Reid
381:Sassnitz
329:Ardennes
251:Adelaide
107:Service/
506:Zwickau
265:(RAF).
219:Colditz
1070:
1047:
1028:
631:
557:Consul
502:Plauen
491:forged
321:Bf 109
176:Awards
118:
109:branch
83:Dorset
66:London
610:Notes
582:Death
538:Major
498:Penig
483:Dutch
364:Barth
289:with
1068:ISBN
1045:ISBN
1026:ISBN
980:2009
629:ISBN
526:Bern
504:via
449:'s (
145:Unit
135:Rank
73:Died
53:Born
48:Bill
559:in
551:at
524:at
463:NCO
391:at
362:at
313:BEF
217:at
1087::
1066:.
950:.
930:.
866:^
817:^
793:^
781:.
693:.
671:.
651:.
518:SS
457:.
420:."
335:.
225:.
202:MC
28:MC
1076:.
1053:.
1034:.
1015:.
996:.
982:.
637:.
477:(
469:(
416:"
61:)
57:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
