• Handley Page HP.52 Hampden

Service number:

590560

Nationality:

British

Maurice Stretton initially either served or worked as an apprentice clerk, but later as a Sergeant pilot, flying operations with No's. 44 and 49 Squadron, RAF Bomber Command. On September 17th, 1940 he and his crew were shot down over Holland and crashed near Breda flying a Hampden on a mission to attempt to bomb the oil target of Merseburg. He was captured and imprisoned initially at Dulag Luft (Frankfurt), then at Stalag Luft 1 (Barth) (September 1940 - September 1941), at Stalag VIIIB (Lamsdorf) (September 1941 - May 1942), Stalag Luft III (Sagan) (May - June 1941), Stalag Luft VI (Heydekrug) (June 1943- July 1944) Stalag 357 (Thorn, later at Fallingbostel) (July 1944 until his liberation in April 1945).

His medals and private papers are held in The Imperial War Museum.
Currently there are no biographical details available.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Sergeant

Unit:

No. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

September 13th, 1940

Recommendation:
"This NCO pilot has conducted himself with great skill and courage both as a Navigator and first pilot in the course of 28 operations against the enemy. Amongst other successful operations in which he was Navigator, he distinguished himself in mining operations near Oslo and low-level attacks on the safety gates of the Dortmund-Ems Canal aqueducts. Sergeant Stretton has recently qualified as a first pilot. His enthusiasm for operations has been outstanding at all times. His initiative, skill and continuous devotion to duty have been an inspiration to other pilots and Navigators in his squadron."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• - The London Gazette Issue 34945 published on the 13 September 1940
  - Imperial War Museum - Collections
  - 49 Squadron Association