Herbert Massey
Encyclopedia
Air Commodore
Herbert Martin Massey CBE
DSO
MC
(19 January 1898 – c. 1976) was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force
during World War II
. After being captured by the Germans, Massey became the Senior British Officer at Stalag Luft III
.
Wounded in World War I
, he lost half of his leg but was amongst the small band of amputees who remained in the RAF and continued flying. In 1936, he was wounded again while taking part in operations with No. 6 Squadron RAF
in Palestine
. However, he was able to make a safe landing and recovered successfully.
He was flying aboard Short Stirling
N3750, piloted by Flt Lt N E Winch, during the second of the 'Thousand Plane' raids, when it was shot down near the Dutch coast. All of the crew were able to bail out and were taken prisoner. Sent to Stalag Luft III
at Sagan, he became Senior British Officer and under his authority plans for a mass escape were instituted. Planning began in 1943, and the "Great Escape" of March 1944 resulted in 76 prisoners escaping, although 73 were later recaptured and 50 were executed on Hitler's orders. However, Group Captain Massey was eventually repatriated to Britain during the war, due to ill health. After arriving back in the UK he informed the British Government of the Stalag Luft III murders
, a violation of the Geneva Convention, setting in motion a formal investigation.
After Massey's death, a memorial service in his honour was held on 22 May 1976 at St Clement Danes
Church.
Massey was the basis for the character Group Captain Ramsey in the film The Great Escape
(who also walks with a stick), played by actor James Donald
.
Air Commodore
Air commodore is an air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
Herbert Martin Massey CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(19 January 1898 – c. 1976) was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After being captured by the Germans, Massey became the Senior British Officer at Stalag Luft III
Stalag Luft III
Stalag Luft III was a Luftwaffe-run prisoner-of-war camp during World War II that housed captured air force servicemen. It was in the German Province of Lower Silesia near the town of Sagan , southeast of Berlin...
.
Wounded in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he lost half of his leg but was amongst the small band of amputees who remained in the RAF and continued flying. In 1936, he was wounded again while taking part in operations with No. 6 Squadron RAF
No. 6 Squadron RAF
No. 6 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 at RAF Leuchars.It was previously equipped with the Jaguar GR.3 in the close air support and tactical reconnaissance roles, and was based at RAF Coltishall, Norfolk until April 2006, moving to RAF Coningsby until...
in Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
. However, he was able to make a safe landing and recovered successfully.
He was flying aboard Short Stirling
Short Stirling
The Short Stirling was the first four-engined British heavy bomber of the Second World War. The Stirling was designed and built by Short Brothers to an Air Ministry specification from 1936, and entered service in 1941...
N3750, piloted by Flt Lt N E Winch, during the second of the 'Thousand Plane' raids, when it was shot down near the Dutch coast. All of the crew were able to bail out and were taken prisoner. Sent to Stalag Luft III
Stalag Luft III
Stalag Luft III was a Luftwaffe-run prisoner-of-war camp during World War II that housed captured air force servicemen. It was in the German Province of Lower Silesia near the town of Sagan , southeast of Berlin...
at Sagan, he became Senior British Officer and under his authority plans for a mass escape were instituted. Planning began in 1943, and the "Great Escape" of March 1944 resulted in 76 prisoners escaping, although 73 were later recaptured and 50 were executed on Hitler's orders. However, Group Captain Massey was eventually repatriated to Britain during the war, due to ill health. After arriving back in the UK he informed the British Government of the Stalag Luft III murders
Stalag Luft III murders
The Stalag Luft III murders was a war crime perpetrated by members of the Gestapo following the "Great Escape" of Allied prisoners of war from the German Air Force prison camp known as Stalag Luft III on March 25, 1944. Of a total of 76 successful escapees, 73 were recaptured, mostly within days of...
, a violation of the Geneva Convention, setting in motion a formal investigation.
After Massey's death, a memorial service in his honour was held on 22 May 1976 at St Clement Danes
St Clement Danes
St Clement Danes is a church in the City of Westminster, London. It is situated outside the Royal Courts of Justice on the Strand. The current building was completed in 1682 by Sir Christopher Wren and it now functions as the central church of the Royal Air Force.The church is sometimes claimed to...
Church.
Massey was the basis for the character Group Captain Ramsey in the film The Great Escape
The Great Escape (film)
The Great Escape is a 1963 American film about an escape by Allied prisoners of war from a German POW camp during World War II, starring Steve McQueen, James Garner, and Richard Attenborough...
(who also walks with a stick), played by actor James Donald
James Donald
James Donald was a Scottish actor. Tall and thin, he usually specialised in playing authority figures.Donald was born in Aberdeen, and made his first professional stage appearance sometime in the late-1930s, having been educated at Rossall School on Lancashire's Fylde coast...
.
Honours and awards
He received the following awards and honours:- CBEOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
- 2 Jan 1950 - DSODistinguished Service OrderThe Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
- 6 Nov 1936 - MCMilitary CrossThe Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
- 1917 - Mentioned in Dispatches - 23 Jul 1937, 1 Jan 1941 and 24 Sep 1941