Sean,
The H Olsen in the crew was Harry 'Ollie' Olsen from Winnipeg in Canada who was serving in the RAF as a Tail Gunner. Prior to flying with 405 Squadron he flew with 35 Squadron who were based at Linton-on-Ouse, Yorks.
After being shot down, Harry was taken to Stalag Luft III at Sagan, Silensia and from there to a new camp Stalag luft VI at Heydekrug in Lithuania. His POW no. was 542. In 1944 the advancing Russians enforced the transfer of prisoners from Stalag Luft VI to Thorn, in Poland. Shortly afterwards in July 1944 they were moved to Stalag 357 at Fallingbostel near Hanover. Harry was one of the thousands of POW's who endured the long marches in 1945.
On 10th May 1945 he was flown back to England and arrived at No.3 Personnel Reception Centre at Bournemouth. After a medical examination he was sent to RAF Hospital at Cosford to have a fractured arm attended to. A few days later he was back in Bournemouth, however he was in poor health. The six weeks marching on top of the pain and disability resulting from the unattended injury to his fractured right arm had taken their toll. He was a sick and tired man and was anxious to be home in Canada.
On 8th July he embarked at Greenock for Canada and arrived six days later in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He was 29 years old. Back in Canada he obtained a place on a Diploma Course in Agriculture at the University of Manitoba. He graduated in March 1947.
In August 1947 he bough his own farm in Balmoral, Manitoba. Laterly Harry worked for the Dept of Justice in Stoney Moutain in Manitoba.
He died of a heart attack, at home, on 22nd October 1966. He was 50 years old.
Regards
Linzee
