The incredible story of survival by his father, a Bomber Command pilot, has been revealed by the son of this pilot.
Gerald Sherwood, 80, from St Austell, Cornwall, told how Wing Commander John ‘Flap’ Sherwood took part in a daring mission before being captured in his new book.
He also highlighted how the RAF hero was chucked in Stalag Luft III – the Luftwaffe-run prisoner of war camp made famous by the Great Escape.
John flew at 250ft across 600 miles of enemy territory with no fighter escort during a daring daylight raid on Augsburg on April 17, 1942.
After direct hits on the Bavarian U-Boat diesel engine factory, his Lancaster was blasted by anti-aircraft guns, erupted in flames and plummeted to the ground.
It was blown to pieces upon impact and another pilot, who witnessed the ‘orange fireball which lit up the sky’, told his superiors no one could have lived.
The tragic news of Wg/Cmdr Sherwood’s presumed death was relayed to his wife Bernice.
But, instead of breaking down in tears, she remained unmoved, saying: ‘I would know if he was dead and I think he’s okay.’
Gerald Sherwood, 80, from St Austell, Cornwall, told how Wing Commander John ‘Flap’ Sherwood (pictured) took part in a daring mission before being captured in his new book
During a daring daylight raid on Augsburg, April 17, 1942, John flew at 250ft over 600 miles of enemy territory without any fighter escorting. He is pictured fifth from left with 76 Squadron in 1938
After scoring direct hits on the Bavarian U-Boat diesel engine factory, his Lancaster was hit by anti-aircraft guns, causing it to catch fire and plummet into the ground. Pictured: Wing Commander John ‘Flap’ Sherwood is seated two places left of Simba the dog – the squadron mascot
After being captured he is pictured on the right with colleagues outside their Luft III Kriegie hut
She was proved right as while the rest of Wg/Cmdr Sherwood’s seven-man crew were killed in the crash he was catapulted clear of the blast in his pilot seat.
Wg/Cmdr Sherwood, of 97 Squadron, was found unconscious but alive, spending six weeks in hospital for his ‘burnt face’ before being taken to Stalag Luft III, the Great Escape camp.
He witnessed first-hand the ‘Wooden Horse’ escape and preparations for the Great Escape on March 24, 1944, which was immortalised in the 1963 Steve McQueen film.
In the final months of World War Two he endured a dreaded Long March, where prisoners who could not keep up were shot.
Wg/Cmdr Sherwood left the RAF in 1958 and died aged 54 in 1973.
Pictured: Gerald’s book on his father’s incredible survival story
Almost half a century later, his son Gerald has published a book, titled Bomber Command Pilot, recounting his incredible wartime service.
He made notes of talks he had with his father in the final years of his life, but did not have the time to research further until his retirement.
Since 2014, he has spent hours studying the National Archives to learn more about his father’s 43 raids, including daylight missions to bomb German cruisers at Brest.
But one subject Wg/Cmdr Sherwood would not talk about was the Great Escape, as the reprisal executions of 50 RAF officers deeply upset him.
It is believed he had a peripheral role in the bid for freedom, although he had fonder memories of the ‘Wooden Horse’ escape, where a vaulted gymnastics horse was used to cover a tunnel’s entrance.
A 100ft tunnel was dug and three prisoners, Lieutenant Michael Codner, Flight Lieutenant Eric Williams and Flight Lieutenant Oliver Philpot, managed to escape the Sagan camp in October 1943, boarding ships back to Britain.
Gerald said: ‘I’ve always wanted to write a book about my father but I didn’t have the time until my retirement and then you find yourself looking after young grandchildren.
‘My father and I worked together in the final years of his life (in the finance and insurance industry) and during those one-on-one conversations he opened up to me about his wartime experience.
‘I also studied the National Archives and spoke to a fellow World War Two airman to learn more.
Wing Commander John ‘Flap’ Sherwood and wife Bernice are pictured on their wedding day
Bernice received the sad news that Wg/Cmdr Sherwood had died. But, instead of breaking down in tears, she remained unmoved, stating matter-of-factly: ‘I would know if he was dead and I think he’s ok.’ Pictured: John is second from right with 97 Squadron officers in 1941
The 97 Squadron Avro Manchester flown and photographed by Wing Commander John ‘Flap’ Sherwood.
“My father experienced feelings of guilt, trauma, and distress when he arrived at Stalag Luft III. All this was due to the fact that he survived the crash with the seven-man Lancaster OFK King crew.
“He understood that luck alone had made him the sole survivor of the blast.
“Post-war, he only ever gave very little information about the Great Escape.
“If the conversation continued on that topic for too long, he would soon change to the much happier outcome associated with Wooden Horse escape project.
“He had the pleasure of jumping over the horse while the nearby German spectators, who were easily entertained, remained completely unaware to the activity beneath the horse.
“My dad was shocked at the cold-blooded execution 50 fellow RAF officers (per Hitler’s orders after the Great Escape).
“He was a gentleman. He had an extraordinary war. People who have read the book have said that they would not believe it if it was a Hollywood film.
Wg/Cmdr Sherwood was born in Egypt and was commissioned into RAF in 1936 after he had left a British school.
Pictured: A photo from the original June 4, 1942, Air Ministry Telegram
Pictured: The letter from the 97 Squadron Commanding officer to Bernice, shortly after Flap’s death in enemy hands was revealed
Wg/Cmdr Sherwood was born in Egypt and was commissioned into RAF in 1936 after he had left a British school.
He earned a Distinguished Flying Cross after completing a 30-sortie tour against enemy target targets in the summer 1940.
He also added a bar to the Augsburg Raid award, his citation reading: “He led his squadron in the daylight attack against the important Diesel Engine Factory at Augsburg.
“With great skill and ability, Squadron Leader Sherwood led formation at very low levels across 900 miles in enemy occupied territory. He then took all his aircraft directly to the target.
Pictured: Henri Picard’s Flap caricature, 1943, while he was still a POW
‘On the approach towards the target itself, heavy, accurate anti-aircraft firing was experienced. However, with extreme courage and cool-headedness, he carried out the attack with the Section. His bombs were able to strike directly at the factory from a very low height.
“While bombing the target, his aircraft was hit with anti-aircraft guns and caught on fire.
Sherwood, the ‘Squadron leader, continued to lead his group away from the target by keeping one wing well alighted until the aircraft became impossible to control.
“Squadron Leader Sherwood led the operation to its success by his extreme devotion to duty and continued his courageous leadership until the end.
“His bravery and conspicuous courage on this occasion was the culmination of a distinguished career in service to his country.”
Ernest Rodley, a flight officer, was close behind Sherwood’s plane and reported back to base that Sherwood had ‘exploded into an all consuming orange fireball which rebrightened the fading evening lights’.
Seven weeks later, Bernice received a telegram from the Air Ministry informing her of Sherwood’s survival.
It said, “Mrs JS. Sherwood Lingfield Tor-o-Moor Rd Woodhall Spa Lincs at Air Ministry Kingsway 61822 3/6. The International Red Cross Committee has received additional information that your husband, Squadron Leader John Seymour Sherwood DFC, is a prisoner-of-war in German hands.
Pictured: 1936 Air Service Training student intake. John is in the third row, back row.
One of the last photos of Wing Commander John “Flap” Sherwood shows him smiling at a harbour.
Pictured: December 1941. A bomb explodes around the Gneisenau in Brest harbour. This image was taken from ‘Flap’s Manchester L7492 OFA at 15,000ft by crewman, Sgt. K. Williams
Sherwood wrote to Stalag III to an airforce friend on June 26, 1942 in a letter that appears in the book: “Dear Hind, Just a few lines to let you know that I am OK, but still not a little ‘browned’.”
“I got away with a burned face and Scarlet Fever. I have no news of the rest of the crew & fear the worst.
“It is nice to think that we did our jobs well. I hear that all of us are ‘heroes’ at our home. All the best to Flap.
Only five of the 12 aircraft that took part in the raid returned, a chilling 58% loss rate.
Sir Winston Churchill described the raid as: “We must simply regard the attack of Lancasters on the U.-boat engine factory in Augsburg at Augsburg, as an outstanding achievement by the RAF.
“Unterred by heavy losses at their outset, the bombers pierced openly into the heart of Germany and struck an important point with deadly precision.
‘Please convey the appreciation of his Majesty’s government to the officers/men who accomplished this remarkable feat in arms in which no human life was lost in vain.
Bomber Command Pilot: From the Battle of Britain to the Augsburg Raid: The Unique Story of Wing Commander J S Sherwood, is published by Pen & Sword and costs £25.