Howard D. Wardle
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Howard Douglas Wardle MC (August 15, 1915 – January 1995), commonly known as Hank, was a Canadian pilot in the Royal Air Force during World War II.
Wardle was born in Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada.
Howard Wardle joined the Royal Air Force in December of 1938. After completing pilot training, he joined No. 218 Squadron with the rank of Pilot Officer at Auberiver-sur-Suippes, France on November 29, 1939.
Pilot Officer Wardle was shot down near Crailsheim, Germany on April 20, 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 IXA 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 October 14, 1942, Wardle, along with Captain Patrick Reid, Major Ronald B. Littledale, and Lieutenant Commander L. W. Stephens, successfully escaped from Colditz. Wardle and Reid crossed the Swiss frontier on October 18 with Littledale and Stephens arriving on the 19th. From Switzerland, Wardle was smuggled into Vichy France, through Spain and finally reached British-held Gibraltar in early 1944. He returned to England February 5, 1944.
Flight Lieutenant Wardle was awarded the Military Cross as per the London Gazette 16 May 1944.
Wardle died in 1995 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
