Edgar Humphreys
| Edgar Spottiswoode Humphreys | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Birth name | Edgar Spottiswoode Humphreys |
| Nickname(s) | Hunk |
| Born |
5 December 1914 Exmouth, Devon |
| Died | 31 March 1944 (aged 29) beside the Gorlitz to Sagan road |
| Buried | Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery, Poland |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom
|
| Service/branch |
 Royal Air Force
|
| Years of service | 1932–1944 |
| Rank | Flight Lieutenant |
| Service number | 565906 and 44177 |
| Unit | No. 107 Squadron RAF |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
Mentioned in Despatches |
| Relations | Lilian Humphreys (nee Watt) (later Phillips) |
Mentioned in Despatches
Edgar Spottiswoode Humphreys (5 December 1914 – 31 March 1944), known as Hunk, was a British Bristol Blenheim bomber pilot who was taken prisoner during the Second World War. He took part in the 'Great Escape' from Stalag Luft III in March 1944, but was one of the men re-captured and subsequently shot by the Gestapo.
Humphreys was born in Exmouth in Devon, the eldest son of Lydia and William Spottiswoode Humphreys. He was educated in the local council school where he enjoyed sports and developed an interest in aircraft. He enlisted in the Royal Air Force in 1932 to train in the 25th Entry of Apprentices at No. 1 School of Technical Training RAF, RAF Halton and graduated in 1935 as an aircraftman 2nd class (service number 565906). Having worked as ground crew servicing the aircraft Humphreys applied for flight training and was accepted to train as a pilot and promoted sergeant after gaining his pilot’s wings.
Humphreys was serving as a sergeant pilot when he was commissioned as pilot officer on 19 July 1940 (with seniority from 25 April 1940). He married Lilian Watt in the early summer of 1940 near Okehampton in Devon and they set up home in Boscombe. Flying Bristol Blenheim light bombers he served with No. 107 Squadron RAF flying from RAF Wattisham after their return from France where they had suffered a terrible casualty rate during the Battle of France. The squadron primarily flew precision daylight or nighttime bombing raids on German targets in the occupied countries, airfields, harbours and troop installations. On the evening of 15 – 16 November 1940 he was fortunate to survive when his Bristol Blenheim Mark IV (serial number "R3737") crashed as he attempted an emergency landing near Stowmarket during a mission to bomb German airbases in Europe.
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Wikipedia