Flight Sergeant William Stevenson (Bill) McPhail served as flight engineer with No. 106 Squadron RAF. On the night of 24–25 June 1944 his Lancaster (LL975, ZN‑H) was shot down over Pommereval during an operation against V‑weapon sites; five crew members were killed and McPhail was one of two who initially left the aircraft alive.
After bailing out McPhail was captured by German forces, interrogated by the Gestapo, and held as a prisoner of war at Stalag Luft VII. He subsequently escaped from captivity and made a long overland return to the UK via Poland and Russia.
We became aware of this story from one of our members, George Roberts, who was sifting through the archives of the Tayside Aircrew Association, specifically some items related to the late Bill Knaggs. Bill had been president and chairman of the Tayside Aircrew Association and had written a book “The Easy Trip” where he describes the history of Lancaster LL975.
The remarkable details of Bill McPhail’s capture and escape are recorded in the MI9 debrief and reproduced below.
Timeline of Events
24–25 June 1944 — Sortie and Capture
On the evening of 24 June 1944, I took off from RAF Coningsby in a Lancaster with my crew: Pilot Officer Wright of the R.A.A.F., Flight Sergeant Smith our navigator, Flight Sergeant Knaggs the bomb aimer, Flight Sergeant McGregor of the R.A.A.F. our wireless operator, Sergeant Clark the mid‑upper gunner, Flight Sergeant Beutel of the R.A.A.F. in the rear turret, and myself as flight engineer. We set out to bomb V‑1 sites in the Pas‑de‑Calais. Just after midnight, as we left the target area, our aircraft was struck by cannon fire, probably from a fighter. The machine began to disintegrate, and I baled out immediately. I landed in a wood several miles south of Calais and was captured on 25 June. I was not wounded.
July – October 1944 — Imprisonment at Kreuzburg / Bankau
After capture I was processed through a transit camp near Wetzlar and then transferred to Stalag Luft VII at Kreuzburg, close to Bankau. I arrived there on 11 July 1944. At first we were billeted in small wooden huts, six men to a hut, while the main camp was still under construction. On 10 October I moved into the main camp itself. Conditions were as good as could be expected under the circumstances, and I remained there until January 1945.
19–20 January 1945 — Evacuation March
On 19 January the Germans told us we were being moved to Stalag Luft III at Sagan. At 0500 hours I was marched westwards with ten RAF officers and about 1,700 NCOs. We halted overnight, then continued the next morning toward Karlsruhe. We were told transport awaited us across the River Oder, but this was untrue. There was no transport, and we were forced to march on.
20 January 1945 — Hiding in the Brickworks
By 1600 hours on 20 January, I was in a large brickworks near Karlsruhe. With Warrant Officer Naysmith, Flight Sergeant Such, Sergeant Walters, Flight Sergeant Grant of the R.C.A.F., and Sergeant Tweddle, I hid in the rafters. We were still in RAF uniform but removed our NCO badges and took officers’ rank to improve our chances. At 2030 hours the guards came in and turned out the prisoners. We stayed hidden, but the guards returned and fired their tommy guns into dark corners and into the roof where we were concealed. Fortunately, none of us was hit, and they left without finding us.
21 January 1945 — Discovery and Liberation
At 0600 hours the next morning, two Polish workmen discovered us. They were friendly, bringing blankets and food, and advised us to stay hidden because German patrols were searching nearby. Later that day, around 1700 hours, the Poles returned to tell us Russian tanks were outside the factory. We went out and were greeted by the Russian tank commander. Three more airmen — Flight Sergeant Dyson, Warrant Officer Mutrhead of the R.A.A.F., and W.Q. Marini of the R.C.A.F. — joined us, making our party nine in total. The tank commander took us aboard his vehicle, and we moved toward Karlsruhe, firing at retreating German forces along the way.
21–22 January 1945 — Karlsruhe and Laski
We spent the night of 21 January in a large house in Karlsruhe. The next morning we were interviewed by senior Soviet officers, including a General, who treated us politely. From Karlsruhe we were taken by truck to Laski, about 65 miles east of Breslau, arriving at midday on 22 January. We remained there until 26 January, awaiting transport into Russia.
Late January – February 1945 — Evacuation to Odessa
Eventually we were evacuated eastward to Odessa. In Lublin we were assisted by an English woman teacher from Warsaw, who helped nine of us airmen on our way home. Dr. Litamur, a reporter for the London News Chronicle, also gave us support in Lublin, cabling Moscow for assistance and arranging food and accommodation through the Russian Army. Miss Walker was mentioned in the report as another contact who cabled Moscow on our behalf. Thanks to these helpers and the Russian Army, we were able to continue our journey.
20 February – 18 March 1945 — Repatriation
On 20 February 1945 I left Odessa. By 18 March 1945 I had arrived safely back in the United Kingdom.
Interview Details
- Interviewee: W/O William Stevenson McPhail
- Service Number: 1125822
- Rank and Role: Warrant Officer, Flight Engineer, 106 Squadron, RAF Bomber Command
- Date of Interview: 30 October 1945
- Report Classification: Top Secret (MI9 debrief)
Crew and Companions
Lancaster crew
- P/O Wright R.A.A.F. — Pilot
- F/Sgt Smith — Navigator
- F/Sgt Knaggs — Bomb Aimer
- F/Sgt McGregor R.A.A.F. — Wireless Operator
- Sgt Clark — Mid‑Upper Gunner
- F/Sgt Beutel R.A.A.F. — Rear Gunner
- W/O William S. McPhail — Flight Engineer (author of the account)
Men who hid and escaped with McPhail
- W.O. Naysmith R.A.F.
- F/Sgt Such R.A.F.
- Sgt Walters R.A.F.
- F/Sgt Grant R.C.A.F.
- Sgt Tweddle R.A.F.
- F/Sgt Dyson R.A.F.
- W.O. Mutrhead R.A.A.F.
- W.Q. Marini R.C.A.F.
Helpers and Contacts
- Two Polish workmen (unnamed) — discovered the hiding airmen, brought blankets and food, and warned them about German patrols.
- Russian tank commander (unnamed) — took the escapees aboard his tank and transported them toward friendly lines.
- Miss Walker — mentioned in the MI9 appendix as having been cabled to Moscow on behalf of the airmen.
- English woman teacher in Warsaw (unnamed) — assisted nine airmen to reach Odessa; contacted in Lublin.
- Dr. Litamur — reporter for the London News Chronicle in Lublin; cabled Moscow and helped arrange food and accommodation through the Russian Army.
- Lublin contacts and the Russian Army — coordinated evacuation, food, and shelter for the group.