Studiegroep Luchtoorlog 1939-1945

						F/O. Peter Aldege (“Snobby”) Schnobb was the wireless operator/air gunner of Halifax HX291. In the night of 21/22 April 1944 this bomber took off from Skipton-on-Swale for a bombing raid to Düsseldorf. On the return flight the Halifax, already cripple after having sustained some flak damage, was attacked and shot down by a German nightfighter. It crashed at Meeuwen in Belgium. Three members of the crew were killed. Of the four survivors, the pilot and the navigator were soon captured by Germans. Only Schnobb and the rear gunner, W/O. Anthony (Antonio) Camenzuli (E1033) managed to stay out of the hands of the Germans, but evaded separately from each other. Camenzuli was eventually captured in Antwerp in August 1944. F/O Schnobb, who could speak French fluently, made a safe descent and landed 'somewhere' in Holland. He hid his parachute harness and life-saving jacket in a swamp, and walked for two days and nights towards the Belgian frontier. Eventually he was picked up by the Dutch or Belgian resistance. From the end of July until 10 August 1944 he hid with Hormidas Dozin at 14 Rue de Marechal Foc at Ans near Liege. He joined here two other airmen: Sgt. Vance E. Travelstead (E0407) and F/Lt. Erazm Eryk Wardzinski (E0332). Schnobb and Travelstead left on 10 August 1944 and were handed over - in the case of Travelstead again - to Maurice Tilman at 106 Rue du Calvaire at Liege. In this period Schnobb joined up with the Maquis. He lived with them for five months before he was finally liberated in September 1944 in Liege by American troops. During that time he served as an interpreter at a Maquis headquarters. After the war Schnobb received the Military Cross for his evasion and exploits with the Belgian resistance.

Peter Schnobb passed away at Smith's Falls, Ontario on 13 December 1987 at the age of 75. He is buried at Notre-Dame of Ottawa Cemetery, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.