The Wings Over New Zealand Show by Dave Homewood
Dave Homewood
Categories: Sports & Recreation
Add to My List
Listen to the last episode:
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,
Previous episodes
-
581 - WONZ 303 – The Great Escape 80th Anniversary Sun, 24 Mar 2024
-
580 - WONZ 302 – Wings Over Britain: OFMC’s Sarah Carr Fri, 08 Mar 2024
-
579 - WONZ 301 – Warbirds Over Wanaka 2024 Mon, 04 Mar 2024 - 0h
-
578 - WONZ 300 – Brendon Deere’s Mustang Sat, 02 Mar 2024
-
577 - WONZ 299 – Bomber Memories Sun, 25 Feb 2024 - 0h
-
576 - WONZ 298 – Wings Over Britain: RAF Hunsdon Sat, 17 Feb 2024
-
575 - WONZ 297 – Wings Over Britain: Bottisham Thu, 15 Feb 2024 - 0h
-
574 - WONZ 296 – Wings Over Britain: IWM Duxford Mon, 05 Feb 2024 - 0h
-
573 - WONZ 295 – Wings Over Britain: Hornchurch Fri, 19 Jan 2024 - 0h
-
572 - WONZ 294 – Wings Over Britain: Steve Bridgewater Wed, 20 Dec 2023
-
571 - WONZ 293 – Fletcher McKenzie Wed, 13 Dec 2023 - 0h
-
570 - WONZ 292 – Wings Over Britain: Andy Saunders Sun, 10 Dec 2023
-
569 - WONZ 291 – Wings Over Britain: RAF Museum Midlands Sat, 18 Nov 2023 - 0h
-
568 - WONZ 290 – Wings Over Wairarapa 2023 Tue, 14 Nov 2023 - 0h
-
567 - WONZ 289 – Wings Over Britain: The de Havilland Aircraft Museum Fri, 10 Nov 2023 - 0h
-
566 - WONZ 288 – Wings Over Britain: The BBMF Fri, 03 Nov 2023
-
565 - WONZ 287 – Wings Over Britain: Dave Gledhill Sun, 29 Oct 2023 - 0h
-
564 - WONZ 286 – Wings Over Britain: The International Bomber Command Centre Thu, 05 Oct 2023 - 0h
-
563 - WONZ 285 – Wings Over Britain: East Kirkby Thu, 28 Sep 2023
-
562 - WONZ 284 – Grace Hills Fri, 22 Sep 2023 - 0h
-
561 - WONZ 283 – Wings Over Britain: Conversations from Shuttleworth Sat, 16 Sep 2023
-
560 - WONZ 282 – David Barnston Sun, 10 Sep 2023
-
559 - Warbird Radio Downunder Ep 1 – John Parker Fri, 08 Sep 2023 - 0h
-
558 - WONZ 281 – Wings Over Britain: Sandy’s Spitfire Sun, 20 Aug 2023
-
557 - WONZ 280 – Wings Over Britain: The Fleet Air Arm Museum Tue, 15 Aug 2023
-
556 - WONZ 279 – Wings Over Britain: Biggin Hill Tue, 08 Aug 2023
-
555 - WONZ 278 – Wings Over Britain: Brooklands Museum Sat, 22 Jul 2023
-
554 - WONZ 277 – Wings Over Britain: Navy Wings Sat, 15 Jul 2023 - 0h
-
553 - WONZ 276 – Wings Over Britain: Ross Boyens Fri, 30 Jun 2023
-
552 - WONZ 275 – Lew Day Mon, 19 Jun 2023
-
551 - WONZ 274 – Jason “Easty” Easthope Tue, 16 May 2023
-
550 - WONZ 273 – Harvard NZ1044 Fri, 28 Apr 2023
-
549 - WONZ 272 – Classic Fighters 2023 Sat, 01 Apr 2023 - 0h
-
548 - WONZ 271 – Wings Over Britain Preview Thu, 09 Mar 2023
-
547 - WONZ 270 – Wally Steward: Army Pilot Sun, 29 Jan 2023
-
546 - WONZ 269 – To The Four Winds: No. 40 Squadron Thu, 22 Dec 2022 - 0h
-
545 - WONZ 268 – Changing Times at No. 5 Squadron Mon, 12 Dec 2022
-
544 - WONZ 267 – Vampire Month: Brett Emeny Tue, 29 Nov 2022
-
543 - WONZ 266 – Vampire Month: Jim Barclay Thu, 24 Nov 2022
-
542 - WONZ 265 – Vampire Month: Mayn Hawkins Thu, 17 Nov 2022
-
541 - WONZ 264 – Vampire Month: Dave Greenlees Thu, 10 Nov 2022
-
540 - WONZ 263 – Vampire Month: Tommy Thompson Fri, 04 Nov 2022
-
539 - WONZ 262 – 2022-2023 Airshow Season Thu, 20 Oct 2022 - 0h
-
538 - WONZ 261 – Lancaster Tue, 30 Aug 2022
-
537 - WONZ 260 – Dave Cohu Sun, 17 Jul 2022
-
536 - WONZ 259 – Larry Olsen: Strikemaster 50th Sun, 15 May 2022
-
535 - WONZ 258 – Great Escapes: Sean Singleton-Turner Fri, 22 Apr 2022 - 0h
-
534 - WONZ 257 – The Air Force Heritage Flight Thu, 07 Apr 2022
-
533 - WONZ 256 – The Falklands Air War Fri, 01 Apr 2022
-
532 - WONZ 255 – Cris George – Wasp Pilot Fri, 11 Mar 2022
Show more episodes
5