Hammer Blow by
David Pritchard.
Six signature edition - Notes on
Basil Stapleton
Basil Gerald Stapleton – 41879 FO Pilot South African 603 Squadron
Stapleton was born in Durban on May 12 1920. He joined the RAF on a short service
commission in January 1939. He began his elementary flying training at 13
E&RFTS, White Waltham on the 23rd and moved on to 13 FTS, Drem on April 15.
With training completed, Stapleton converted to Blenheims and joined
219 Squadron at Catterick on October 21
1939. He was posted away in late November and after converting to
Spitfires, he went to 603 Squadron at Prestwick. On April 22 1940 he baled out of his Spitfire at night
when his undercarriage jammed.
On July 3 1940 Stapleton
shared a Ju 88, on the 20th shared a Do 17, on August 29 he got two probable Bf
109s and on the 31st probably another. On September 3 he claimed a Bf 109 and a
Do 17destroyed and another Bf 109 probably destroyed, on the 7th Stapleton
maded a forced landing at Sutton Valance, after a combat with enemy fighters
over South London in Spitfire N 3196, unhurt.
On September 11 he probably destroyed a Bf 110 and damaged a Bf
109, on the 15th he destroyed a Do 17 and damaged another Bf 109, on the 17th he
got a probable Bf 109, on the 30th and October 15 he destroyed two more,
probably destroyed another two on the 17th and 20th and had his final victory
on November 11, another Bf 109. He was awarded the DFC (15.11.40).
Tour-expired, Stapleton was posted to No 4 Aircraft Delivery Flight
on March 27 1941. He joined
the MSFU on June 22 and was posted to 257 Squadron at Honiley on January 14 1942, as a Flight Commander.
At the end of his second tour, Stapleton went to 2 ADU on April 6 1943, remaining with it until September 1,
when he was posted to Kenley as Sector Gunnery Instructor. On July 25 9144 he joined 83 GSU and on August 26 he
was given command on 247 Squadron in France.
On December 23
1944 Stapleton was strafing a train when the locomotive exploded.
Pieces of debris punctured the radiator of his Typhoon. He headed for the
allied lines but had to make a forced landing before reaching them. He was made
a POW and spent the final months of the war in Starlag, Luft 1 at Barth.
Stapleton was freed, returned to England and was
released from the RAF on January 1
1946 as a Squadron Leader. He was awarded the DFC (Dutch) (1.1.46).
Comments on this page should be emailed to Alan @ FDLC.co.uk
Last update 12th
June 2006
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