Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Memorial – Warrant Officer Class II James Stanley Marshall is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

Memorial – Warrant Officer Class II James Stanley Marshall is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

Memorial – Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

Photo of JAMES STANLEY MARSHALL – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Cemetery – The churchyard in Svino, Denmark.

Grave marker

Group Photo – Photo of crew of Stirling I R9261. Standing: Vance, Smith, Parish, Lees, Marshall. Kneeling: Krulicki, Farley. Stirling I R9261 from 7 (RAF) Sqn was on a mission to Stettin April 21, 1943. While attacking, the aircraft was hit in one of the engines and left the target area in a height of 2000 feet on a north westerly course which would take the aircraft across the island of Falster and The Great Belt. When Pilot F/Lt Charles W. Parish spotted a ship, he turned right which brought the Stirling over Sjælland. Flt.Engr. Sgt Donald V. Smith, DFM, RCAF, now spotted a Messerschmidt Bf 110 night fighter on the Stirling¿s port side and shouted on the intercom for Parish to take evasive action. At the same moment the Stirling came under fire; was hit, and went out of control. Parish gave orders to leave the plane, and Smith crawled towards the aft emergency exit. When he reached it, he found W/Op Krulicki sitting crouching next to the only half opened door. Smith succeeded in opening it fully, and the vacuum this created sucked Smith out of the exit. During this, Smith could hear the rear gunner Sgt Jack Lees commence fire at the night fighter. Smith succeeded in deploying his parachute, and in the few seconds it took to reach the ground, he saw R9261 explode in a fireball. At 01:55 hours the Stirling fell to the ground approx. 500 meters North West of Kelstrup near Slagelse. All except Smith perished. Apart from Parish and Krulicki the crew included S/L Wilfred A. Blake, RAF, acting as second pilot, Navigator P/O Elmer R. Vance RCAF, Air Bomber, F/S James S. Marshall RCAF, and RAF Sgts (AG) Dennis C. Farley and Jack Lees. They were all laid to rest on Svinø cemetery on April 24 1943. Story of crash and photos courtesy of Airwar Over Denmark www.flensted.eu.com

Memorial – Monument erected in memory of crew in 1993. The only survivor, the RCAF flight engineer Donald V. Smith, took part in the unveiling. The story of his escape can be found on Airwar Over Denmark www.flensted.eu.com. Stories and photos used with permission.

Plaque – Plaque on memorial erected in 1993 gives the names of the RAF and RCAF crew of Stirling I R9261 on the night of April 21, 1943.

Grave Marker – The only survivor of the crash, Donald V. Smith visited Denmark several times after the war and met those who had helped him to escape. He died in Ontario on October 10. 1998. His last wish was to rest among his crew on Svinø cemetery. During a ceremony held on May 4. 1999 his urn was set down next to the graves of his comrades. Attending were Danish friends and family from Canada, as well as a representative from no. 7 Sqn. Re-union Association. The story of his escape can be found on Airwar Over Denmark www.flensted.eu.com. Photos and story used with permission.

Newspaper Clipping – From the Edmonton Journal. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me