28 August 1941

Hawker HURRICANE Mk IIc - BD857 (code HP-P )
Near Fort Lanvéoc (29)
(contributors : Claude Archambault, Frédéric Hénoff, Vincent Sevellec, Philippe Dufrasne, The Wartime Memories Project)

Pilot :

photo "The Weekly News", September 17, 1941 (see appendices)
Sergeant Stanley Oldfield John MURPHY, RNZAF (matricule 40860), P.O.W.
Stalag Luft I and Stalag 357, POW 9527

No. 247 (China-British) Squadron (RAF)

THE STORY
Stanley Oldfield John MURPHY took part in an attack mission on the airfield at Morlaix (29) and made a forced landing after hitting trees. More details can be found below in the paragraph “Stanley Oldfield John MURPHY.” Below are two photos of the Hurricane landed in the countryside near Lanvéoc.

Photos source unkown

Stanley Oldfield John " Spud " MURPHY
(information source : The Wartimes Memories Project)

Stanley Murphy was born on February 16, 1922, in Bolton, in Lancashire, England. A few months later, in October 1922, he emigrated to New Zealand with his parents, James and Beatrice Murphy, and his older brother Frank. The family arrived in Auckland after traveling third class from Southampton. Stan grew up in Wellington, where he continued his studies until graduating from university in 1939.

When the Second World War was declared, Stanley was among the first New Zealanders to enlist in the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) in March 1940. He was sent for training at Wigram air base. In June 1941, he was serving with No. 247 Squadron RAF, stationed at RAF Predannack in Cornwall. The unit, equipped with Hawker Hurricane fighters, carried out night interceptions of German bombers as well as offensive « intruder » missions against Luftwaffe airfields in northern occupied France.

On August 28, 1941, Stanley took part in an operation code-named « Mandolin V », targeting the airfield at Morlaix. He was flying a Hurricane Mk IIc. The four aircraft were :
• S/L O’Brian, Red 1, BD859
• Sgt Murphy, Red 2, BD857
• F/L Carver, Blue 1, Z3089
• Sgt McClelland, Blue 2, Z3088

They took off at 8:00 p.m. and reached the French coast forty minutes later. Flying at very low altitude, they attacked the airfield from the west. The squadron leader opened fire on a hangar, triggering an intense response from German anti-aircraft defenses. Stan was seen diving to the right to strafe ground positions. Shortly afterward, his aircraft appeared to « slip », probably damaged. He did not return to base. In fact, after striking trees, he was forced to crash-land near Morlaix.

Alone in occupied territory, Stan tried for three days to make his way south. Hungry and exhausted, he encountered farmers in Saint-Thegonnec, who took him in and offered him soup. However, fearing German reprisals - two women had recently been arrested for helping Allied airmen - the local authorities informed the occupying forces, and Stanley was arrested by a German soldier armed with a pistol. He was captured on September 1, 1941.

After passing through the Luftwaffe headquarters in Morlaix, he was probably sent in a Dulag Luft transit camp, then transferred to Stalag Luft I in Barth, Germany. In 1942, he was moved to Stalag 357 (XXA), initially located in Thorn, Poland, and then transferred in 1944 to Fallingbostel, Germany. Stanley thus spent nearly four years in captivity. On April 16, 1945, British troops liberated the camp. Stanley was among the first New Zealanders to be repatriated to the United Kingdom. Shortly afterward, he appeared as a witness at his brother’s wedding in Windsor on April 28, 1945, before returning to New Zealand. He was demobilized on January 7, 1946, and later served in the Reserve from 1950 to 1954.

APPENDICES

♦ Exract of document AIR-27-1487-21 (Operational Record Book No 247 Squadron RAF) for the date of August 28, 1941.
   (document source : The National Archives)

This document is not easy to read, but it says :
" Four aircraft took off from Predannack at 20 :00 hours to carry out a low attack on Morlaix aerodrome, North-West occupied France. The Channel is crossed at fifty feet and landfall is made west of Batz island bringing the two sections in to the attack from just north of west. The aerodrome is sighted, including what appeared to be a landing floodlight and all four open fire. At this point no does Jerry and the air is filled with flak, a great deal of it being tracer. All is over in a few seconds and the return is made in the dark. The C.O. and Sgt. McClelland return together, Flt. Lt. Carver by himself. Of Sgt. Murphy no more is heard. We all feel that it takes more than one aerodrome full of Jerries to loose old « Spud » and we  hopefully await news. « Spud », a New-Zealander, has been with us many months and proved himself an outstanding pilot and first-class N.C.O. having been recommended for a commission and being one of the strongest and xxx members of the Squadron. His loss is more keenly felt than perhaps any other in the unit before him, certainly among the Sergeants. We feel certain without doubt that he gave the xxx a good pasting while he could and a very probable ruyn for huis money he xxx landed safely. "   

pages 7 et 8 du document AIR-27-1487-21
 (source documents  : The National Archives)

♦ Extract of document AIR-27-1487-22 (Operational Record Book no 247 Squadron RAF) for the date of August 28, 1941.
   (document source : The National Archives)

This document reveals that MURPHY carried out an air test flight from 19:20 to 19:30 before taking off again at 20:05 for the mission to Morlaix from which it did not return ("Failed to return").

page 14 of document AIR-27-1487-22
 (document source  : The National Archives)

♦ The Weekly News, September 17, 1941.
This newspaper lists the New Zealand soldiers and airmen missing in action, including Sergeant Murphy (red arrow).