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INNES IAN ROSSEL CAPLE
Highly decorated WW11 RAAF Flying Officer, retired insurance executive and company director of Peregian Springs, Noosa (previously of Mosman, NSW) passed away 21st December 2019.
Born in Sydney on 28th January 1922 in Sydney to George and Alice Innes and married to Gwendolyn (now deceased) since 8th February 1947. Ian was a much loved Father of twins Sue and Gai (PLC) John (Knox Grammar) and Sally (Queenswood).
Ian flew an Australian-crewed Halifax with RAF Bomber Command 78 Squadron (Yorkshire) and was shot down by Luftwaffe fighters over occupied France on 23 June 1944 at Mailly-Le-Camp bombing strategic targets to prevent the return of Panza heavy tanks and German artillery to the coast following the D Day landings.
He parachuted to safety and (thanks to a remarkable French teacher at Sydney Boys High School), evaded capture to then join a British SAS unit and local Maquis hidden in the forests fighting at the Battle of Chatillon-Sur-Seine. All others in the Ian's crew survived the war despite speaking no French resulting in 3 of them to be rounded up and taken to Gestapo HQ in Paris for interrogation then sent to Buchenwald Concentration Camp where they were repeatedly ordered to be shot (they were eventually transferred to a Stalag Luft for Airforce POWs after direct intervention by and orders from the Head of the Luftwaffe, Generalfeldmarschall Hermann Goering
Assisted by the French Resistance, Ian was eventually passed along a line of patriot helpers back to the advancing Allied lines to England then returned home to Australia.
The British awarded him the Military Medal for service with the SAS behind enemy lines and he received France’s highest award, the Legion of Honour in 2015 recognising his service to France and the French Resistance.
Ian is the last surviving member of his Australian bomber crew. An RSL Poppy Service of Remembrance is to be held at 11a.m on 1st of February 2020 at South Pacific Resort, 179 Weyba Road, Noosaville Qld, to be followed by drinks, refreshments and colourful anecdotes. Interstate attendees can book discounted accommodation at www.southpacificresort.com.au (Promo code: VIP)
