RAF Historian, Dai Lawrence, from 'Tales of the Air', joined us to tell us about the life of Ian Cross, his illustrious family history, and who overcame a sickly childhood to join the RAF, being shot down during the Kriegsmarine's 'Channel Dash', and getting involved in dispersal for the Great Escape.

For You The War Is Over is a podcast, hosted by Dave Robertson and Tony Hoskins, which looks at the real life stories of Prisoner-of-War escapes from the the Second World War.

If you would like to follow us on Twitter we can be found @FYTWIO we can also be found on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FYTWIO/ or if you would prefer to send a more long form message we can also be reached via email at FYTWIOpodcast@gmail.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guido Almekinders joined us to tell us about Chaz Hall, a photo reconnaissance pilot who had trained to be a photographer before the war, but he had to bail out after engine failure on only his third flight. As a trained photographer he was tasked with taking and developing the photographs for the escapers ID cards. After his recapture, he wrote in Latin, on the wall of his cell in Gorlitz prison, the prophetic words “We who are about to die salute you”.

For You The War Is Over is a podcast that looks at the real life stories of Prisoner-of-War escapes from the the Second World War. Hosted by Dave Robertson and Tony Hoskins, each episode looks at a new escape.

If you would like to follow us on Twitter we can be found @FYTWIO we can also be found on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FYTWIO/ or if you would prefer to send a more long form message we can also be reached via email at FYTWIOpodcast@gmail.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Porokoru Patapu Pohe, known as 'John' or 'Johnny', was a true trailblazer, being the first Maori pilot in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, the first to attack occupied Europe, and the first to attack Germany itself, as well as being the only Maori in the Great Escape. A truly remarkable life story which deserves to be much better known.

For You The War Is Over is a podcast, hosted by Dave Robertson and Tony Hoskins, which looks at the real life stories of Prisoner-of-War escapes from the the Second World War.

If you would like to follow us on Twitter we can be found @FYTWIO we can also be found on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FYTWIO/ or if you would prefer to send a more long form message we can also be reached via email at FYTWIOpodcast@gmail.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Leigh was Australian born, but spent most of his life in the UK. A tragic life story, he was to experience the loss of both his parents in childhood, while his brother would also be killed in service during the Second World War, shortly after Tom himself was murdered for his part in the Great Escape.

For You The War Is Over is a podcast that looks at the real life stories of Prisoner-of-War escapes from the the Second World War. Hosted by Dave Robertson and Tony Hoskins, each episode looks at a new escape.

If you would like to follow us, you can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram or if you would prefer to email us, we can also be reached on FYTWIOpodcast@gmail.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of only two Scots in the Great Escape, Alastair McDonald was an inveterate escaper who took part in nine different escape attempts while a prisoner of war. He escaped alone for the Great Escape but gave himself up after the conditions proved to be too challenging, although he was to be one of those who survived.

For You The War Is Over is a podcast that looks at the real life stories of Prisoner-of-War escapes from the the Second World War. Hosted by Dave Robertson and Tony Hoskins, each episode looks at a new escape.

If you would like to follow us, you can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram or if you would prefer to email us, we can also be reached on FYTWIOpodcast@gmail.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

George Wiley was one of the youngest Great Escapers, just 22 when he escape, having required his father to sign his enlistment papers. Jean-Michel Turcotte, a Canadian POW historian, joined us to tell us more about Wiley's life.

For You The War Is Over is a podcast, hosted by Dave Robertson and Tony Hoskins, which looks at the real life stories of Prisoner-of-War escapes from the the Second World War.

If you would like to follow us on Twitter we can be found @FYTWIO we can also be found on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FYTWIO/ or if you would prefer to send a more long form message we can also be reached via email at FYTWIOpodcast@gmail.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brian Evans had a short but very eventful operational career, but he was to utilise his pre-war surveying skills for the Great Escape, helping to estimate the length required for the tunnel digging.

For You The War Is Over is a podcast that looks at the real life stories of Prisoner-of-War escapes from the the Second World War. Hosted by Dave Robertson and Tony Hoskins, each episode looks at a new escape.

If you would like to follow us, you can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram or if you would prefer to email us, we can also be reached on FYTWIOpodcast@gmail.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Although Albert Hake was an NCO, as a Spitfire pilot the Germans assumed he must be an officer, and so they promoted him to an officers rank when they captured after being shot down. His main contribution to the Great Escape was producing hundreds of hand-made compasses for his fellow escapers, stamping on each compass “Made in Stalag Luft III - Patent Pending”. We were joined by author and historian, Kristen Alexander, to share with us Hake's story.

For You The War Is Over is a podcast that looks at the real life stories of Prisoner-of-War escapes from the the Second World War. Hosted by Dave Robertson and Tony Hoskins, each episode looks at a new escape.

If you would like to follow us, you can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram or if you would prefer to email us, we can also be reached on FYTWIOpodcast@gmail.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.