P/O. Selwyn George DeVis
Royal Australian Airforce 77 Sqn.
from:Magill, South Australia
(d.19th March 1945 )
My cousin Selwyn de Vis was the son of Frederick Selwyn de Vis and Hazel Doreen Victoria de Vis (nee Bird) (DOB 20 Jul 1897), of Magill, South Australia, Australia. Hazel was my mother’s sister (Dorothy Edith Bird) I have one photo somewhere of Selwyn in uniform. I remember after Hazel passed away there was a war service medal which has since disappeared.
From the brief information it would appear that the story of that last fateful mission. All I know is that the Halifax RG529 took off from RAF Full Sutton at 0047 hours on the night of 18/19th March 1945, detailed to bomb Witten, Germany. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take-off and it failed to return to base. One report suggests that the aircraft crash landed and all the crew survived only to be captured by locals. While in captivity several German civilians murdered all the captured crew. All except for one instigator who disappeared were brought to trial and executed.
It is a strange story and there must be more to it. An interesting book could be written. There are more questions than answers. If the story is accurate then there would have been a trial perhaps, maybe records? Also, what made a 20 year old enlist in the RAAF only to be killed some 12 months later only a short time before the war ended? I would be interested in any information you may have. I am 64 years and wish to leave this part of my family history for my children. I believe they should have some tangible connection to their heritage.
