Gerald Stapleton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Basil Gerald Stapleton
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Stapleton in 2004
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| Nickname(s) | "Stapme" |
| Born | 12 May 1920 Durban, Natal, Union of South Africa |
| Died | 13 April 2010 (aged 89) |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1939–46 |
| Rank | Squadron Leader |
| Service number | 41879 |
| Unit | No. 603 Squadron No. 257 Squadron |
| Commands held | No. 247 Squadron |
| Battles/wars | Second World War |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross Airman's Cross (Netherlands) |
| Relations | Deryck Stapleton (brother) |
| Other work | BOAC pilot |
Basil Gerald "Stapme" Stapleton (born May 12, 1920 – died April 13, 2010) was a brave pilot in the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War. He was known as a "fighter ace" because he shot down many enemy planes. He flew famous planes like the Spitfire and the Typhoon.
Gerald preferred to be called Gerald. His nickname "Stapme" came from a funny phrase in his favorite cartoon strip, Just Jake. He was a very successful pilot during the Battle of Britain. He shot down 6 enemy planes by himself and shared credit for 2 more. He also probably destroyed 8 planes and damaged 2 others.
Gerald was seen as a true hero and a classic example of a Battle of Britain pilot. He even had a cool handlebar moustache!
Contents
Early Life and Education
Basil Gerald Stapleton was born on May 12, 1920, in Durban, which was then part of the Union of South Africa. He moved to England for his schooling. He attended King Edward VI School in Totnes, Devon.
Military Career: Flying for Freedom
Joining the Royal Air Force
In January 1939, Gerald Stapleton joined the RAF for a short time. After learning to fly, he first flew Blenheim night fighters. In October 1939, he joined No. 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron in Scotland.
In the early part of the war, German bombers often attacked Scotland. On October 16, 1939, Stapleton's squadron stopped one of the first German air raids on Britain. During this raid, he helped shoot down two German bombers. These were some of the first enemy planes shot down in the Second World War.
The Battle of Britain: A Hero's Stand
For the first part of the Battle of Britain, 603 Squadron stayed in Scotland. On August 27, 1940, they moved south to RAF Hornchurch in Essex. This was a very important time in the battle. German planes were attacking British fighter airfields. Many pilots were lost during this period.
To try and avoid more losses, the squadron's leader, Squadron Leader 'Uncle' George Denholm, used a clever trick. After taking off, they would fly in the opposite direction from what controllers told them. They would only turn towards the enemy once they were high enough. Even with this trick, many pilots were still lost.
No. 603 Squadron lost 13 pilots in the summer of 1940. Many more were badly hurt. These included his friend Richard Hillary, who was shot down and badly burned. Hillary later wrote a famous book about his experiences. But the RAF, including Stapleton and 603 Squadron, were also shooting down many German planes.
After the war, Stapleton found out that one of the pilots he fought was Oberleutnant Franz von Werra. Von Werra became famous for being the only German POW to escape from Canada during the war and return to Germany. On September 7, the German air force changed its plan and started bombing British cities.
Gerald Stapleton was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on November 15, 1940. This award recognized his bravery and skill. In December, his unit returned to Scotland.
Other Important Missions
In April 1941, Stapleton left 603 Squadron. He served in different units. He flew "Hurricats," which were Hurricane fighters launched from ships to protect convoys. He also became a flight commander with 257 Squadron. Later, he was an instructor at a gunnery school.
In August 1944, he took command of No. 247 (China-British) Squadron. This squadron flew Typhoons from northern France. They helped close the Falaise Gap, trapping many German soldiers. As the Allied forces moved forward, his squadron followed them across Europe.
Operation Market Garden: Supporting the Troops
No. 247 Squadron provided air support during the Arnhem campaign. This was part of Operation Market Garden, a large Allied plan to capture bridges in the Netherlands.
In January 1946, Gerald Stapleton received the Dutch DFC. This award was given to him by Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands. It was for his excellent leadership of 247 Squadron during Operation Market Garden. He received the medal in the mail.
Becoming a Prisoner of War
On December 23, 1944, Stapleton's plane was forced to land behind enemy lines. He was captured and became a prisoner of war.
Life After the War
Gerald Stapleton left the RAF in April 1946. He then worked for British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC). He flew different types of planes on routes to West Africa until 1948. After that, he returned to the United Kingdom.
Later, Stapleton moved to South Africa. He had many different jobs, including some in Botswana. He called Botswana "God's Own" country. In 1994, he and his wife, Audrey, returned to the UK.
In 2007, a special tribute was made to Stapleton. A Supermarine Spitfire plane, P7350, which fought in 603 Squadron during the Battle of Britain, carried his personal aircraft letters, XT-L. This was to celebrate 50 years of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
Biography
In 2002, an official book about Gerald Stapleton's life was published. He wrote it with David Ross. In the book, Stapleton shared his amazing wartime stories. They both also attended many events to remember the war. David Ross also wrote a book about Richard Hillary.
See also
- List of World War II aces from South Africa
- Non-British personnel in the RAF during the Battle of Britain
