WONZ 303 – The Great Escape 80th Anniversary

The Wings Over New Zealand Show

Guests: Larry Hill, Andrew White and Tony Hoskins

Host: Dave Homewood

Recorded: 6th of March 2024

Published: 24th of March 2024

Duration: 2 hours, 57 seconds

In this episode Dave Homewood marks the 80th Anniversary of The Great Escape by talking with Larry Hill, Andy White and Tony Hoskins.

The Great Escape is the name given to a breakout of Allied prisoners from the German POW camp Stalag Luft III, at Sagan, West Silesia in Germany, on the night of the 24th-25th of March 1944. A total of 76 prisoners, all members of the Royal Air Force and Allied Air Forces, managed to escape through a tunnel before the tunnel entrance was discovered by a German guard. Over the next few weeks 73 of the escapees were rounded up and recaptured after a massive manhunt. Three escaped. And of those recaptured, the Gestapo murdered 50 of the airmen, upon Hitler’s orders. Three New Zealanders were among the murdered airmen, and other Kiwis were involved in the escape. They’re all discussed here.

Andy and Tony give a great background to the prisoner of war camp and the escape. And Larry tells some stories of the New Zealanders involved that he knew personally.

Above: Larry Hill

Above: Tony Hoskins

Above: Andy White

Above: Porokoru Patapu “John” Pohe, RNZAF Great Escaper, and murdered by the Gestapo.

Above: Pilot Officer Arnold Christensen, RNZAF Great Escaper, and murdered by the Gestapo. From The Weekly News issue 25 November 1942, via the Air Force Museum of New Zealand.

Above: Squadron Leader John Edwin Ashley “Willy” Williams DFC, New Zealand-born Australian RAF Great Escaper, and murdered by the Gestapo.

Above: Image from the Edith Lyle personal album collection. “F/L Mick Shand.” No. 485 Squadron pilot Flight Lieutenant Michael Moray Shand DFC sitting in the cockpit of his Spitfire. Unknown location. Handwritten on the reverse of the print “F/L Shand DFC. 485 Sqd RNZAF. Who was lost on a Rhubarb over Holland, he was Flight Commander of B Flight. Fought through “the Battle of Britain” and had many great successes. He was lost in November 1943, but there may be a chance of him being a prisoner of war.” NB. Shand was involved in The Great Escape while interred in Stalag Luft 3. Image via the Air Force Museum of New Zealand.

Above: Squadron Leader Leonard Trent DFC, pilot with No. 487 Squadron. Taken before his Victoria Cross action. Enlargement from PR10415, via the Air Force Museum of New Zealand.

Above: No. 485 Squadron’s Sergeant Jack Rae, crouching on snowy ground. Unknown location in England. This was published in Houlton’s autobiography ‘Spitfire Strikes. A New Zealand Fighter Pilot’s Story’, published 1985 by John Murray Ltd. London. Copy negative from the John Arthur Houlton personal collection. Image via the Air Force Museum of New Zealand.

Above: Jack Rae, RNZAF fighter pilot, and Larry Hill with the parachute Jack used when he baled out and was captured.

Above: Jack Rae’s parachute, Caterpillar Club card and the paper with the name of the German pilot who shot him down, now all framed by Larry Hill.

Above: The books mentioned in this discussion, left is Sandy’s Spitfire by Tony Hoskins, and right is Extremes of Fortune by Andrew White. See links below.

Quick Links:
• Born To Fly – A documentary on John Pohe
• The Great Escape Stalag Luft III Facebook Group
• Sandy’s Spitfire Book by Tony Hoskins
• Spitfire AA810 – Restoring Sandy’s Spitfire On Facebook
• Extremes of Fortune by Andrew White
• For You The War Is Over Podcast, cohosted by Tony Hoskins
• The Imperial War Museum’s Interview with Jack Rae

Related Episodes:
• WONZ 6 – Larry Hill
• WONZ 59 – Forum Meet 2014 – Part 1
• WONZ 281 – Wings Over Britain: Sandy’s Spitfire

The tune at the end is the main theme from The Great Escape (1963) by Elmer Bernstein.