Studiegroep Luchtoorlog 1939-1945

						Sgt. Robert Edwin (John) Stubbs was the rear gunner of Halifax HX320 that was shot down by a German night fighter in the early hours of May 25, 1944. The whole crew bailed out in time and Stubbs came down in the vicinity of Lieshout. He hid himself until dawn and then approached a nearby farm where he found a hiding place in the haystack. A few hours later he was found by the farmer who took Stubbs to the house of a friend that was located in a small forest. Here he was united with fellow crewmember Sgt. W.J. (Johnny) Christie (E0514), the mid upper gunner.

They hid in this house until June 4 when Sgt. (Wachtmeester) Jan Bode of the Marechaussee (Dutch Military Police) escorted the two airmen to the town hall of Lieshout. Here they were put in a prison cell but later that day, Bode took the airmen to the Otten family at the Kerkstraat 6 in Erp. They stayed here, in the so called Pyama House, for two days. On June 6, both airmen cycled to Dinther, escorted by Antoinette and Harrie Otten. At the Zuid-Willemsvaart they were handed over to Cor van Laanen from Dinther. Not much is known about their further journey but they probably went to Sprang-Capelle to cross the border into Belgium. Stubbs was made prisoner in Wuustwezel on June 26 while Christie was arrested in Antwerp on June 27, 1944.