Howard D. Wardle

Who was Howard D. Wardle?

Howard Douglas Wardle MC, commonly known as Hank, was a Canadian pilot in the Royal Air Force during World War II.

Wardle was born in Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada.

Wardle joined the Royal Air Force in December 1938. After completing pilot training, he joined No. 218 Squadron with the rank of Pilot Officer at Auberiver-sur-Suippes, France on 29 November 1939.

Pilot Officer Wardle was shot down near Crailsheim, Germany on 20 April 1940 while conducting a reconnaissance mission in a Fairey Battle light bomber. He was the only member of the crew of three to survive bailing out of the aircraft and after being interrogated at a nearby Luftwaffe base was transferred to the POW camp Oflag IX-A/H Spangenberg. While a prisoner at this camp, Wardle made the first of his escapes but was recaptured after 24 hours on the run. After recapture, he was moved to Oflag IVc at Colditz Castle.

On 14 October 1942, Wardle, along with Captain Pat Reid, Major Ronald B. Littledale, and Lieutenant Commander L. W. Stephens, successfully escaped from Colditz. Wardle and Reid went via Hans Larive's Singen route to cross the Swiss frontier on 18 October with Littledale and Stephens arriving on 19 October. From Switzerland, Wardle was smuggled into Vichy France, through Spain and finally reached British-held Gibraltar in early 1944. He returned to England 5 February 1944.