POW -Stalag Luft III
Captured!
Len Bennett brought his Mustang P51 down in a cornfield 2 km south of Adinkerke, 15 km east of Dunkirk. The plane’s wing has been badly damaged when, flying at 0 feet, Len banked in a tight turn and clipped a tree. On landing, Len tried to set fire to the Mustang but was prevented from destroying it by soldiers of the German army rushing in to arrest him. The aircraft was 15% damaged and was eventually taken to a Beutepark der Luftwaffe where the aircraft would be salvaged for parts and , if possible, made fit for flying so that it could be used for training Luftwaffe pilots
Len was taken to Dunkirk where he was interrogated at the Police Station. All his personal effects were taken from him and placed in an envelope along with a list of all the contents and he was placed in a cell with an armed guard. The following day he was taken by train in, through Brussels to Frankfurt and Dulag Luft which was the interrogation centre for pilots
You can read all about Dulag Luft at these websites:
http://www.49squadron.co.uk/pow_camps/oberursel
https://www.b24.net/powDulag.htm
After a short while in Dulag Luft Len was transferred by train to Stalag Luft 3. the prisoner of war camp for officers of the RAF and other nations.
Stalag Luft 3 was the camp where “The Great Escape” took place, as well as the “Wooden Horse” escape. Len was moved to the Belaria compound of Stalag Luft 3
The images below were taken of day to day life in camp.
Stalag Luft 3, Belaria
A full description of the Belaria compound can be found on the 427 Squadron website
Cy Grant, is mentioned, and after the war became a TV personality appearing on the Tonight program singing topical news calypsos.
Letters from Home
Letters, sent through the Prisoner of War Post were few and far between. This letter from Dr. John Mennell was received in December 1943. “Doc” Mennell was the medical officer for 239 Squadron and mentions the squadron’s Wing Commander, Peter Legge in the letter. John Mennell refers to Len as “Joe” his nickname in the squadron
My Dear Joe
When I last heard news of you I heard that you were languishing in hospital with jaundice, a miserable complaint, from which I hope that you have by now recovered. My news of you cam from David who is flourishing though changed a lot since the Hampshire days and rather worried about himself – but I could think of no way of helping him. Your address I got from Peter Legge who is just getting over a bout of ‘flu’
I wonder whether you even got my letter which I wrote to you after your fruitless visit to me last time you were at home. I was sad to miss you, and it was very sweet of you to come all that was on the off chance of finding me – and I only hope that you will think it worthwhile to repeat the effort when the opportunity arises again. At the moment I taking what I consider to be a well earned vacation shooting in the West Country – everything is very wild but it’s good fun. I would be happy to get a line from you if you can spare one of your letter allowances, and if there is anything I Can do for you, get for you or send to you I would be very happy to do anything, anyhow let me know
Ever yours
John Mennell
The End of the War
In January 1945 prisoners of Stalag Luft 3 were sent on a forced march.Many accounts have been given from the perspective of the prisoners each of which reflect the experiences of Len. You can read some of the accounts at the following websites
Liberation from 427 Squadron website
Len was repatriated in 1945