Gilbert Graham Wright
MilitaryJoined RAFVR, assigned to 133S, transferred to 336th FS, 4th FG, 8AF USAAF. The aircraft he was flying, Spitfire IX BS138 ran out of fuel and crashed near Plouguin, 20km NW of Brest, France while escorting American bombers attacking the German airfield of Porjeau at Morlaix, France on 26 September 1942. Initially evaded with the help of French and Belgians who sheltered, fed, clothed and transported him for seven months before his capture at the beginning of April 1943 through a French collaborator working for the Germans. Prisoner of War (POW), interned at Stalag Luft 3, Sagan.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Type Category: Fighter
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: Spitfire
- Unit: 4th Fighter Group 336th Fighter Squadron No 133 'Eagle' Squadron
Missions
- Date: 26 September 1942
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: "Duckpond"
- Site type: Memorial
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
3 August 1919 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States | |
Other Transferred |
Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK | 14 September 1942 - 26 September 1942 | Transferred to 336th FS, 4th FG, 8AF USAAF. |
Other Baled out |
Morlaix, France | 26 September 1942 | Baled out when the aircraft he was flying, Spitfire IX BS138 ran out of fuel and crashed near Morlaix, France while escorting American bombers attacking the German airfield of Porjeau at Morlaix, France. |
Other Evaded capture (EVD) |
26 September 1942 | With the help of French and Belgians who sheltered, fed, clothed and transported him for seven months before his capture through a French collaborator working for the Germans | |
Died |
Niceville, FL | 13 August 1995 | Niceville, Florida |
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Zagan, Poland | 2 July 1945 | Prisoner of War (POW). Stalag Luft III. |
Other Joined RAFVR |
Canada | Joined Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. | |
Other Assigned |
Biggin Hill, London SE19 3HY, UK | 14 September 1942 | Assigned to 133 [Eagle] Sqn RAF. |
Revisions
Belgian and French Comet network archives
Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File
Personal research for Gilbert Wright's page at https://www.evasioncomete.be
Lee Cunningham 16-Nov-2014. Added POW event. National Archives Records Administration (NARA) WWII POW database.
Lee Cunningham 22-Oct-2014. National Archives Records Administration (NARA) POW database.