Hoffman, Charles R
Name: Charles Richard HOFFMAN
Born 14 July 1920
Hometown: Gull Lake, Saskatchewan
Age at arrival in Buchenwald: 24
Died 23 November 1953 in Vancouver, British Columbia, age 33
Service: Royal Canadian Air Force
Service ID: J/20263
Service Rank: Flying Officer
Duties: Bombardier
Air Group: 432 Squadron
Airbase: East Moor, Norfolk UK
Aircraft: Halifax bomber LW582
Date shot down: 8 June 1944
Fate of crew: 1 KIA, 4 evaded, 2 captured (Hoffman and WATSON).
Evasion summary: Left Mrs Perdereau on Aug 1st (Noyers). Crossed the Seine river, then went to a garage. Desoubrie came and took them in the outskirts of Paris, probably 2 square des Aliscamps (some were moved to a hotel).
Date captured: 2 August 1944
Capture summary: Arrested in Paris with CRAWFORD, FERNANDEZ, HUGHES, BRYDEN, PEIRSON, NUTTALL, LUCAS, and WALDRAM.
Boxcar Transport: 15-20 August 1944, in boxcar #1 or #2, then at train change into #3 with Lamason, Dauteuil, Watmough, Scullion, J Smith, Head, and Watson, to join Richey, Bedford, Martini, Wilson, Carr, Pennell, Perry, Bastable, Grenon, Gibson, High, Hodgson, Prudham, Sonshine, Robb, R Mills, Whellum, Spierenburg, Taylor, Allen, Harvie, Larson, McLaughlin, Moser, Petrich. Roberson, Stevenson, Vinecombe, and Zeiser.
Buchenwald ID: 78429
Notes on Buchenwald internment:
Transferred from Buchenwald to: Stalag Luft III, East Compound
Kriege ID: 8052
Notes on SLIII internment:
Subsequent transfer to: Marlag und Milag Nord
Notes on internment: Approximetly 300 POWs were marched out by the SS in early April 1945, headed to Lubek. The column was attacked repeatedly by Allied aircraft. Hoffman is not on the list of POWs at Lubek, but that list is not comprehensive (only 200 names +/-).
Liberation: Those on the march to Lubek were freed by the British Guards Armored Division on 27 April 1945. Those remaining at Marlag-Milag were liberated by the British 2nd Army on 2 May 1945, and airlifted to the UK by 15 May 1945.
Repatriation from ETO:
Discharged:
Veteran status:
Notes on Post-War period:
