Herbert Massey

Infobox Military Person
name= Herbert Martin Massey
lived= 19 January 1898 – after 1970
placeofbirth=
placeofdeath=


caption=
nickname=
allegiance=flag|United Kingdom
serviceyears= 1915 – 22 June 1950
rank= Air Commodore
branch= air force|United Kingdom
commands=
unit=
battles= World War I, World War II
awards= CBE
MC
MID
laterwork=

Air Commodore Herbert Martin-Massey CBE MC MID (19 January 1898 – after 1970) was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force during World War II. After being captured by the Germans, Massey became the Senior British Officer at Stalag Luft III.

He received the following awards and honours: CBE - 2 Jan 1950, DSO - 6 Nov 1936, MC - xx xxx 1917, MiD - 23 Jul 1937, MiD - 1 Jan 1941, MiD - 24 Sep 1941, s - 2 Aug 1949.

Wounded in World War I, he lost half of his leg but was amongst the small band of amputees who remained in the RAF and continued flying. In 1936, he was wounded again while taking part in operations with No. 6 Squadron RAF in Palestine. However, he was able to make a safe landing and recovered successfully.

He was flying aboard Short Stirling N3750, piloted by Flt Lt N E Winch, during the second of the 'Thousand Plane' raids, when it was shot down near the Dutch coast, fortunately the whole crew was able to bale out and were taken prisoner. Sent to Stalag Luft III at Sagan, he became Senior British Officer and under his authority plans for a mass escape were instituted. Taking place in 1943, the "Great Escape" resulted in 76 prisoners escaping, although 73 were later recaptured and 50 were executed on Hitler's orders. However, Group Captain Massey was eventually repatriated to Britain during the war, due to ill health. After arriving back in the UK he informed the British Government that 50 recaptured prisoners had been killed, in breach of the Geneva Convention.

References

* [http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Massey.htm Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - Air Commodore H M Massey]