The Airmen's Stories - P/O H A Sprague

Henry Arnold Sprague of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada joined the RCAF on 6th November 1939. He did his elementary flying training at EFTS Calgary, moved to No.1 FTS Camp Borden on 1st February 1940 and then to ATS at Trenton on 21st May.

Sprague was posted to the UK and joined 112 (RCAF) Squadron at High Post on 10th September 1940.

He left the squadron on the 19th and two days later was at 6 OTU Sutton Bridge to convert to Hurricanes. He then joined 3 Squadron at Castletown on 5th October.

He was posted away to Squires Gate on 18th December to join the newly-formed 96 Squadron. On 6th February 1941 Sprague went to No. 1 (RCAF) Squadron at Castletown, later re-numbered 401 Squadron.

On 31st July he moved to 56 Squadron at Duxford.

After rejoining 401 Squadron at Biggin Hill on 19th September 1941, Sprague was shot down on 22nd November. His Spitfire Vb AD516 was shot down by fighters of JG26 near Boulogne. He was captured and ended up in Stalag Luft III.

He was freed in May 1945, returned to Canada and was released from the RCAF on 23rd August that year as a Flight Lieutenant.

Sprague died on 30th April 2015, four months short of his 100th birthday.