S/Ldr. B. G. Stapleton was born
in Durban, South Africa in 1920.
He joined the RAF on a short service commission in January 1939. He began his elemental flying training at l3 E&RFTS, White Waltham on the 23rd and moved on to 13 FTS, Dremon April 15.
With training completed He
converted to Blenheims and joined 219 Squadron on 21st October, 1939.
He was posted away in late November and after converting to Spitfires, he went to 603 Squadron at Prestwick.
On 22nd April, 1940, he baled out of his Spitfire at night after his undercarriage jammed. On 3rd July, 1940, he shared a Ju 88, on the 20th shared a Do 17. On August 29th, he got two probable Bf 109s and on the 31st probably another.
On 3rd September, he claimed a Bf 109 and a Do 17 destroyed and another Bf 109 probably destroyed.
On 5th September, Basil shot down Oberlt Franz von Werra (Gruppe Adjutant of Staab II/JG3) in his Bf109 over Kent.
Oberlt Franz von Werra was captured, and after escaping from a PoW camp in Canada, made his way to the U.S.A. and boarded a boat to Europe where he re-joined his unit and flew again against Fighter Command.
On 7th September, Basil made a forced-landing after combat with Bf109s over South London. He was unhurt.
On 11th September, he probably destroyed a Bf 110 and damaged a Bf 109.
On the 15th destroyed a Do 17 and damaged another Bf 109.
On 17th, he got a probable Bf 109.
On 15th October, he destroyed two more, probably destroyed another two on the 17th and 20th and had his final victory on 11th November, another Bf 109.
He was awarded the DFC (15/11/40).
He later served with Nos 2 and 4 Aircraft Delivery Flight, the MSFU and was a Flight Commander with 257 Squadron.
In September 1943 he was posted to Kenley as Sector Gunnery Instructor.
On 25th July, 1944, he joined 83 GSU, and on 26th August he was given command of 247 Squadron in France.
On 23rd December, 1944, he was strafing a train when the locomotive exploded and pieces of debris punctured the radiator of his Typhoon. He headed for the Allied lines but had to make a forced-landing before reaching them and
he spent the rest of the war in Stalag Luft I on the Baltic coast.
Postwar, he joined BOAC, then returned to South Africa, but since retired to Ketton in England.
