Guy Capon of Broke House was an excellent cricketer whilst at school and played for the OI team for many years. After school he served firstly in 100 Squadron as a wireless operator in Avro Lancasters Bombers from Waltham near Grimsby. 

RAF 550 Squadron was formed out of 100 Squadron in November 1943 and moved to North Killingholme in November 1943 from where the Squadron flew on bombing missions to Germany with bomber Command. 

At 1718 hours on the 15th March 1945 the aircraft, Serial No.NG287 Aircraft code BQ-Q, flew to undertake a mission to bomb Misburg. The crew completed their mission but the aircraft was hit by flack as it was returning and fire and smoke enveloped the central and rear portions of the fuselage. The Pilot gave the abandon aircraft order and Guy Capon went towards the front escape hatch with his parachute. He reached the Flight Engineer's panel but remembered nothing more until he found himself descending, having pulled his ripcord. He lost his Flying Boots in descending and landed in a ploughed field without injury except for a deep head wound presumably sustained as he left the plane. He was picked up by civilians and escorted the nearest village. He was placed in the local jail and interrogated by a Luftwaffe Officer but not ill-treated. His wound was treated by a German woman who arranged for him to see the graves of the 5 members of the crew who were killed (Pilot and Captain R. F. Wallace, Navigator Sgt H. J. E. Brownett, Air Bomber P/O R.W.Stephens, Flight Engineer Sgt W. Field and Rear Gunner Sgt I. F. Tait). He also saw the remains of the aircraft which was completely smashed up and scattered over the countryside.

He met the only other survivor Sgt R.H. Laney who had bailed out of the rear turret. They were taken to POW Camp No. 904 and subsequently separated. Guy Capon then escaped when advanced patrols of the 4th Armoured Corps of the U.S. Army came across the prisoners as they were being transferred on foot to another camp. At this point Guy Capon escaped into U.S. hands and finally arrived back in North Killingholme on 9th April 1945. He was, at one time in that intervening period until he returned, posted as an "evader" or escapee. He later reported the facts in Station Narrative No.15 which is included in the Station Operational Record Book of 550 Squadron.

He re-joined J. H. Grimwade and Sons Ltd for a time and then went to work for Colgate Palmolive where he remained for 15 years. Then, with his wife Cherry, he took over the Cherry Tree Inn at Tendring in Essex.

At School he was Captain 1st X1 in 1942. He won the Jervis Cup for Cricket in 1941. In his final year at School, he captured 4 or more wickets on six occasions with his slow right arm bowling,his best analysis being 8 for 33. He also won the School high jump and was an enthusiastic hockey player. 

To read more OI stories from WWII please visit the Ipswich School Museum and Archive